Compare A O Smith Corp (AOS) vs Paychex, Inc. (PAYX) Price & Performance
Price performance
Price movement over the last 24 hours
Key statistics
Key statistics
A O Smith Corp vs Paychex, Inc. — how do they compare? A O Smith Corp trades at $60.44 (market cap $8.33B), while Paychex, Inc. trades at $108.43 (market cap $38.25B). The key difference: Paychex, Inc. is far larger — about 4.6× A O Smith Corp's market cap, and Paychex, Inc. pays the higher dividend (4.43%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AOS | PAYX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $8.33B | $38.25B |
Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $80.47 | $147.99 |
52-Week Low | $55.78 | $85.57 |
Enterprise Value | $8.78B | $41.73B |
Dividend Yield | 2.35% | 4.43% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
A.O. Smith (AOS) trades at $60.44, up 2.41% today, with a bearish technical signal despite recent leadership changes. The company reported mixed Q1 2026 earnings, missing EPS estimates at $0.85 versus $0.94 expected, while maintaining solid profitability with a 13.84% net margin. Cash flow trends show improving operations, and the stock offers a dividend with a recent $0.36 payout announced.
The outlook is cautious due to earnings volatility and bearish technicals, but valuation appears reasonable with a P/E of 16.12. Risks include China market weakness and competitive pressures, while analyst consensus leans hold with a $68 price target suggesting modest upside potential from current levels.
Paychex (PAYX) trades at $107.54, up 1.16% with a bullish technical signal and consistent earnings beats. The stock shows strong profitability with 27.03% net margin and 44.77% ROE, though valuation ratios like P/E of 22 and P/S of 5.95 are elevated. Recent Q1 2026 EPS of $1.32 beat expectations, and the company maintains dividend payments with a $1.19 distribution scheduled for May 29, 2026. Cash flow from operations remains robust at $1.90B for 2025.
Outlook is cautiously optimistic with a consensus price target of $110.00, though analyst ratings are mixed (63.33% Hold). Key risks include macroeconomic sensitivity to small business hiring and integration challenges from acquisitions. The stock's current price near resistance at $110 suggests limited near-term upside without significant catalysts.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
About A O Smith Corp
A.O. Smith Corporation manufactures and markets comprehensive lines of residential and commercial gas, gas tankless, and electric water heaters. Supplementary products include water heating equipment, condensing and noncondensing boilers, and water system tanks. The company's two operating segments are by geographic region: North America (majority of total revenue) and the Rest of the World. A material portion of sales in North America derive from replacing existing products, and the company utilizes a wholesale distribution channel and multiple selling locations. The Rest of the World segment sells primarily to Asian countries and operates sales offices to expand distribution and market its product portfolio.
Read more on AOS →About Paychex, Inc.
Paychex is a leading provider of payroll, human capital management, and insurance solutions servicing small and midsize clients primarily in the United States. The company, established in 1979, services over 730,000 clients and pays over 1 in 12 U.S. private-sector workers. Alongside its traditional payroll services, Paychex offers HCM solutions such as benefits administration and time and attendance software, as well as human resources outsourcing and insurance agency services.
Read more on PAYX →
