Clorox Co vs Paychex, Inc. — how do they compare? Clorox Co trades at $108.39 (market cap $13.09B), while Paychex, Inc. trades at $121.38 (market cap $43.14B). The key difference: Paychex, Inc. is far larger — about 3.3× Clorox Co's market cap, and Clorox Co pays the higher dividend (4.62%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CLX | PAYX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.09B | $43.14B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Industrials |
52-Week High | $127.16 | $140.81 |
52-Week Low | $86.12 | $85.57 |
Enterprise Value | $18.47B | $46.63B |
Dividend Yield | 4.62% | 3.92% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Clorox (CLX) trades at $105.69, down 1.87% on the day, with a mixed technical picture showing bullish moving averages but overbought RSI signals. Recent Q4 2026 earnings beat expectations with EPS of $1.66 versus $1.64 estimated, though revenue trends remain pressured by inflation and consumer value-seeking. The company increased its quarterly dividend to $1.25 per share, signaling confidence in cash flow stability.
Outlook is cautious amid margin pressures and competitive threats, with Wall Street largely neutral (69% hold rating). The consensus price target of $97.50 suggests limited upside from current levels, while debt-to-asset ratio rising to 66.4% in 2026 highlights balance sheet risks. Investment appeal hinges on successful cost management and category recovery.
Paychex (PAYX) trades at $120.34, down 0.69% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages but overbought RSI readings. The company shows strong profitability with a 27.03% net income margin and consistent earnings beats, though valuation ratios like a P/E of 24.81 are elevated. Recent news highlights steady small business employment data and product expansion, supporting its core HR services business.
The outlook is mixed: solid fundamentals and dividend payments offer stability, but high valuation and analyst caution (63.33% hold rating) suggest limited near-term upside. Risks include economic sensitivity and debt levels, yet long-term growth in HR outsourcing remains a tailwind for patient investors.
Trailing returns across standard periods
With a history dating back more than 100 years, Clorox now plays in a variety of categories across the consumer products space, including cleaning supplies, laundry care, trash bags, cat litter, charcoal, food dressings, water-filtration products, and natural personal-care products. Beyond its namesake brand, the firm's portfolio includes Liquid-Plumr, Pine-Sol, S.O.S, Tilex, Kingsford, Fresh Step, Glad, Hidden Valley, KC Masterpiece, Brita, and Burt's Bees. Just shy of 85% of Clorox's sales stem from its home turf.
Read more on CLX →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 →