Paychex (PAYX) vs Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Paychex is the larger company by market cap ($36.72 billion vs $30.47 billion), about 1.2 times the size. On valuation, Sunbelt Rentals trades at a lower forward P/E (15.2x vs 16.1x for Paychex). Paychex offers the higher dividend yield (4.40% vs 1.92%).
Paychex converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 27.0% versus 11.9%.
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 | PAYX | SUNB |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $103.15 | $74.35 |
| Market cap | $36.72B | $30.47B |
| 1-day change | +1.58% | -0.56% |
| YTD return | -9.48% | — |
| 1-year return | -20.05% | — |
| 5-year return | -14.77% | — |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 20.47 | 22.46 |
| Forward P/E | 16.15 | 15.25 |
| EPS (TTM) | $5.04 | $3.31 |
| Dividend yield | 4.40% | 1.92% |
| Annual dividend | $4.54 | $1.43 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $6.51B | $11.15B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +16.88% | +3.36% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.76B | $1.32B |
| Gross margin | 74.29% | 38.46% |
| Operating margin | 38.55% | 19.55% |
| Net margin | 27.03% | 11.88% |
| 52-week high | $129.24 | $86.68 |
| 52-week low | $85.45 | $61.03 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -20.19% | -14.22% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +10.45% | +19.13% |
| Average volume | 3.00M | 4.54M |
| Shares outstanding | 355.98M | 409.76M |
| Employees | 17,600 | 26,613 |
| Sector | Industrials | Consumer Discretionary |
| 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
- Paychex offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (4.40% vs 1.92%).
- Paychex is more profitable, keeping 27.0 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 11.9 cents for Sunbelt Rentals.
- Paychex grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+16.88% vs +3.36%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Paychex in Industrials and Sunbelt Rentals in Consumer Discretionary.
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
About Sunbelt Rentals
SUNB stock →Sunbelt Rentals Holdings, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the construction, industrial, and general equipment rental business under the Sunbelt Rentals brand name in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. The company operates through North America-General Tool, North America-Specialty, and United Kingdom segments.
Consumer Discretionary · Diversified Commercial Services · 26,613 employees
PAYX vs SUNB FAQ
Which is bigger, Paychex or Sunbelt Rentals?
Paychex (PAYX) is larger, with a market capitalization of $36.72B compared with $30.47B for Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB).
Which has the lower P/E ratio, PAYX or SUNB?
PAYX has the lower trailing P/E at 20.5, versus 22.5 for SUNB. 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, Paychex or Sunbelt Rentals?
Paychex has the higher yield at 4.40%, compared with 1.92% for Sunbelt Rentals.
Are Paychex and Sunbelt Rentals in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Diversified Commercial Services industry within the Industrials sector.