AerCap N.V. (AER) vs Paychex (PAYX)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
AerCap N.V. (AER) has outperformed Paychex (PAYX) over the past year, gaining 15.3% versus a loss of 20.1%. Over five years, AER leads with a +133.2% price change compared with -14.8% for PAYX. Paychex is the larger company by market cap ($36.15 billion vs $22.41 billion), about 1.6 times the size.
On valuation, AerCap N.V. trades at a lower forward P/E (7.8x vs 15.9x for Paychex). Paychex offers the higher dividend yield (4.47% vs 1.03%). AerCap N.V. converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 44.0% versus 27.0%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | AER | PAYX |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $142.56 | $101.55 |
| Market cap | $22.41B | $36.15B |
| 1-day change | -2.54% | +0.52% |
| YTD return | -0.83% | -9.48% |
| 1-year return | +15.31% | -20.05% |
| 5-year return | +133.25% | -14.77% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 7.17 | 20.03 |
| Forward P/E | 7.82 | 15.90 |
| EPS (TTM) | $19.89 | $5.07 |
| Dividend yield | 1.03% | 4.47% |
| Annual dividend | $1.47 | $4.54 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $8.52B | $6.51B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +6.50% | +16.88% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $3.75B | $1.76B |
| Gross margin | — | 74.29% |
| Operating margin | — | 38.55% |
| Net margin | 44.04% | 27.03% |
| 52-week high | $158.81 | $129.24 |
| 52-week low | $118.96 | $85.45 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -10.23% | -21.43% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +25.77% | +12.19% |
| Average volume | 1.06M | 3.01M |
| Shares outstanding | 157.18M | 355.98M |
| Employees | 668 | 17,600 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Industrials |
| Industry | Diversified Commercial Services | Diversified Commercial Services |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- AER has outperformed PAYX by 35.4 percentage points over the past year.
- Paychex trades at a higher earnings multiple (20.0x vs 7.2x trailing P/E).
- Paychex offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (4.47% vs 1.03%).
- AerCap N.V. is more profitable, keeping 44.0 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 27.0 cents for Paychex.
- Paychex grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+16.88% vs +6.50%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: AerCap N.V. in Consumer Discretionary and Paychex in Industrials.
About AerCap N.V.
AER stock →AerCap Holdings N.V. engages in the lease, financing, sale, and management of commercial flight equipment in the United States, China, and internationally.
Consumer Discretionary · Diversified Commercial Services · 668 employees
About Paychex
PAYX stock →Paychex, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides human capital management solutions (HCM) for human resources, payroll processing, employee benefits, and insurance services for small to medium-sized businesses in the United States, Europe, Canada, India, and Israel. It offers technology and advisory solutions; and payroll tax administration services.
Industrials · Diversified Commercial Services · 17,600 employees
AER vs PAYX FAQ
Which is bigger, AerCap N.V. or Paychex?
Paychex (PAYX) is larger, with a market capitalization of $36.15B compared with $22.41B for AerCap N.V. (AER).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, AER or PAYX?
AER returned +15.31% over the past 12 months, compared with -20.05% for PAYX (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, AER or PAYX?
AER has the lower trailing P/E at 7.2, versus 20.0 for PAYX. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, AerCap N.V. or Paychex?
Paychex has the higher yield at 4.47%, compared with 1.03% for AerCap N.V..
Are AerCap N.V. and Paychex in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Diversified Commercial Services industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.