Paycom Software Inc vs Upwork Inc — how do they compare? Paycom Software Inc trades at $139 (market cap $6.72B), while Upwork Inc trades at $8.96 (market cap $1.14B). The key difference: Paycom Software Inc is far larger — about 5.9× Upwork Inc's market cap, and Paycom Software Inc pays a 1.04% dividend while Upwork Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| PAYC | UPWK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $6.72B | $1.14B |
Sector | Technology | Industrials |
52-Week High | $238.80 | $22.11 |
52-Week Low | $113.59 | $7.84 |
Enterprise Value | $7.33B | $934.87M |
Dividend Yield | 1.04% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Paycom Software (PAYC) trades at $144.22, down 2.51% today, with a bullish technical signal and strong fundamentals including 22.44% net margin and 37.15% ROE. Recent earnings beat expectations in Q1 2026, and the company launched a new Asset Management tool. Cash flow from operations grew to $679M in 2025, though net cash flow declined from 2024's peak.
Outlook remains positive with analyst consensus near current price ($144.60 target) and 47% buy ratings. Risks include high P/B of 8.6 and reliance on HR software demand. The stock offers value with a reasonable P/E of 17.33 but faces execution risks in maintaining growth against competition.
UPWK trades at $9.19, up 1.43% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages. The company reported $788M revenue in 2025 with strong profitability margins (net income margin 13.81%) and attractive valuation ratios (P/E 11.52, P/S 1.64). Recent news highlights AI integration initiatives and Q2 2026 earnings anticipation, though legal investigations pose sentiment headwinds.
The outlook is cautiously optimistic with a $10.67 analyst price target suggesting 16% upside. Key opportunities include sustained revenue growth and AI-powered marketplace expansion, while risks involve earnings misses, legal overhangs, and competitive pressures in the gig economy space.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →Upwork Inc is a United States-based company that operates an online marketplace that enables businesses to find and work with highly-skilled independent professionals. The develops platform for hiring and freelancing purposes. Its products offering include Upwork Basic, Upwork Plus, Upwork Business, Upwork Enterprise, and Upwork Payroll. The business generates revenue from Talent and Clients across the USA, India, the Philippines and the rest of the world. Substantial income is derived from providing services to Clients.
Read more on UPWK →