Danaher Corporation vs Paycom Software Inc — how do they compare? Danaher Corporation trades at $201.13 (market cap $140.88B), while Paycom Software Inc trades at $147.19 (market cap $6.70B). The key difference: Danaher Corporation is far larger — about 21× Paycom Software Inc's market cap, and Paycom Software Inc pays the higher dividend (1.04%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| DHR | PAYC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $140.88B | $6.70B |
Sector | Health | Technology |
52-Week High | $242.05 | $238.80 |
52-Week Low | $161.91 | $113.59 |
Enterprise Value | $153.66B | $7.31B |
Dividend Yield | 0.8% | 1.04% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Danaher (DHR) trades at $200.16, up 0.56% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and strong analyst support. The company reported Q1 2026 EPS of $2.06, beating estimates of $1.94, marking the third consecutive quarterly beat. Revenue for 2025 was $24.57 billion with a net income margin of 14.89%, though margins have compressed from prior years. Recent news includes the acquisition of Masimo and a $172.5 million legal settlement finalized in April 2026.
The outlook remains positive with a consensus price target of $211.33, implying ~5.6% upside, supported by 69% buy ratings. Key risks include margin pressure, integration challenges from acquisitions, and macroeconomic sensitivity. The stock offers a dividend yield from its $0.40 quarterly payout, with solid cash flow generation offsetting debt levels.
Paycom Software (PAYC) trades at $146.50, up 5.34% on the day, with strong technical momentum and bullish moving average signals. The company demonstrates robust fundamentals with 22.44% net income margin and 37.15% ROE, though Q2 2026 earnings are pending. Recent news highlights product innovation with the launch of Asset Management tool and board appointments, supporting growth prospects in the HCM software sector.
Outlook remains positive with analyst consensus price target of $151 suggesting modest upside, balanced by high valuation multiples and competitive pressures. Key risks include execution challenges in maintaining growth momentum and sensitivity to economic cycles affecting HR software demand.
Trailing returns across standard periods
In 1984, Danaher's founders transformed a real estate organization into an industrial-focused manufacturing company. Through a series of mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures, including the Fortive separation in 2016, Danaher now focuses primarily on manufacturing scientific instruments and consumables in three segments: life sciences, diagnostics, and environmental and applied solutions. In late 2019, Danaher separated from its dental business through an initial public offering process, and in early 2020, it acquired GE's Biopharma business, now called Cytiva, which added to its life sciences segment.
Read more on DHR →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 →