Compare Southwest Airlines Co (LUV) vs Paychex, Inc. (PAYX) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Southwest Airlines Co vs Paychex, Inc. — how do they compare? Southwest Airlines Co trades at $40.89 (market cap $20.23B), while Paychex, Inc. trades at $104.29 (market cap $37.19B). The key difference: Paychex, Inc. is the larger of the two by market cap, and Paychex, Inc. pays the higher dividend (4.56%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Southwest Airlines Co for 65 Days and Paychex, Inc. for 56 Days on average.
| LUV | PAYX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $20.23B | $37.19B |
Volume | 14,560,422 | 3,344,316 |
Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $54.80 | $128.59 |
52-Week Low | $29.67 | $85.57 |
Typical Hold Time | 65 Days | 56 Days |
Enterprise Value | $23.33B | $40.87B |
Dividend Yield | 1.74% | 4.56% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Southwest Airlines (LUV) trades at $41.72, down 1.72% today, with mixed technical signals showing bearish moving averages but neutral oscillators. The company demonstrates improving fundamentals with Q2 2026 EPS beating expectations at $0.94 versus $0.51 expected, while revenue growth continues from $28.06B in 2025 to projected $30.1B in 2026. Recent corporate developments include upcoming Q3 2026 earnings release on October 21 and successful commercial transformation initiatives driving revenue growth.
LUV presents a compelling value opportunity with attractive valuation metrics (P/S 0.72, EV/EBITDA 8.4) and analyst consensus target of $49.61 offering 19% upside. However, investors face risks from volatile fuel costs, competitive pressures in the airline industry, and inconsistent earnings performance as seen in the Q1 2026 miss. The stock's transformation into a merchandised airline with new revenue streams provides growth catalysts but requires monitoring of execution risks.
Paychex (PAYX) trades at $101.55, up 0.52% on the day, with a bearish technical signal despite recent earnings beats. The stock shows strong profitability with a 27.35% net income margin and a 47.06% ROE, but valuation metrics like a P/E of 20.15 and P/S of 5.52 suggest a premium. Recent news highlights concerns over dividend sustainability and a 14% stock decline, even as the company reported double-digit earnings growth driven by PEO and insurance segments.
The outlook is mixed: solid fundamentals and a consensus price target of $111.00 imply upside, but bearish technicals and investor skepticism about growth levers like AI pose risks. Key opportunities include consistent dividend payments and market leadership, while risks involve labor market sensitivity and high debt levels following a significant increase in total liabilities.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
About Southwest Airlines Co
Southwest Airlines is the largest domestic carrier in the United States, as measured by the number of originating passengers boarded. Southwest operates over 700 aircraft in an all-Boeing 737 fleet. Despite expanding into longer routes and business travel, the airline still specializes in short-haul leisure flights, using a point-to-point network. Southwest operates a low-cost carrier business model.
Read more on LUV →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 →
