Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. vs Paycom Software Inc — how do they compare? Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. trades at $302.33 (market cap $66.70B), while Paycom Software Inc trades at $145.42 (market cap $6.48B). The key difference: Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. is far larger — about 10.3× Paycom Software Inc's market cap, and Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.42%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| APD | PAYC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $66.70B | $6.48B |
Sector | Basic Materials | Technology |
52-Week High | $314.19 | $238.80 |
52-Week Low | $230.42 | $113.59 |
Enterprise Value | $84.11B | $7.09B |
Dividend Yield | 2.42% | 1.08% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
APD trades at $299.53, up 1.24% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and strong analyst support. Recent earnings beats and strategic project exits, like the Louisiana Clean Energy Complex, have boosted investor confidence. The company maintains solid profitability margins but faces pressure from a negative net income in 2025 due to a pre-tax charge. Cash flow trends show volatility, with significant investing outflows for growth initiatives.
The outlook is positive with a consensus price target of $324.89, implying ~8% upside. Risks include high debt levels, execution on new projects, and macroeconomic sensitivity. Long-term growth is supported by renewable energy investments, but near-term profitability recovery is key for sustained gains.
Paycom Software (PAYC) trades at $139.08, down 0.34% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages. The stock shows strong profitability with a 22.44% net income margin and 37.15% ROE, though recent Q3 2025 EPS slightly missed expectations. Recent board appointments and industry awards highlight ongoing corporate development. The consensus price target is $151.00, suggesting potential upside from current levels.
The outlook remains balanced with solid fundamentals supporting growth, but risks include competitive pressures and execution challenges. Analyst sentiment is mixed with near-equal buy and hold ratings. Revenue growth stability and margin maintenance are key for sustained investor confidence amid a neutral oscillator signal.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Since its founding in 1940, Air Products has become one of the leading industrial gas suppliers globally, with operations in 50 countries and 19,000 employees. The company is the largest supplier of hydrogen and helium in the world. It has a unique portfolio serving customers in a number of industries, including chemicals, energy, healthcare, metals, and electronics. Air Products generated $10.3 billion in revenue in fiscal 2021.
Read more on APD →Paycom is a fast-growing provider of payroll and human capital management, or HCM, software primarily targeting clients with 50-10,000 employees in the United States. Paycom was established in 1998 and services about 18,000 clients as of 2021, based on parent company grouping. Alongside its core payroll software, Paycom offers various HCM add-on modules, including time and attendance, talent management, and benefits administration.
Read more on PAYC →