Paychex, Inc. vs J M Smucker Co — how do they compare? Paychex, Inc. trades at $111.32 (market cap $39.82B), while J M Smucker Co trades at $118.24 (market cap $12.37B). The key difference: Paychex, Inc. is far larger — about 3.2× J M Smucker Co's market cap, and Paychex, Inc. pays the higher dividend (4.25%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| PAYX | SJM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $39.82B | $12.37B |
Sector | Industrials | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $147.99 | $117.05 |
52-Week Low | $85.57 | $89.53 |
Enterprise Value | $43.31B | $19.40B |
Dividend Yield | 4.25% | 3.87% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Paychex (PAYX) trades at $111.96, down 2.12% on the day, with technical indicators showing a bullish trend despite overbought RSI readings. The company maintains strong profitability with 27.03% net margins and has beaten earnings estimates for three consecutive quarters. Recent dividend declarations of $1.19 per share and positive small business job growth data support the investment case.
The outlook remains positive with steady revenue growth and AI expansion driving future earnings. Key risks include macroeconomic headwinds affecting small business hiring and elevated valuation multiples. Analyst consensus is mixed with a $110 price target slightly below current levels, suggesting cautious optimism amid strong fundamentals.
SJM trades at $115.75, up 3.34% today, showing strong momentum near resistance levels. The company maintains positive cash flow despite recent net losses, with operating cash flow of $1.21 billion in 2025. Recent dividend increases and analyst consensus support a bullish outlook, though profitability metrics remain challenged with negative ROE and net margins. Technical indicators show bullish momentum with the stock trading above key moving averages.
The investment case balances strong cash generation and dividend growth against profitability challenges. Analyst consensus targets $125.50 with 52% buy ratings, suggesting 8.4% upside potential. Key risks include persistent negative margins, high debt levels at 43.7% debt-to-asset ratio, and competitive pressures in the consumer staples sector. The company's Uncrustables division remains a key growth driver with nearly $1 billion in annual sales.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →J.M. Smucker is a packaged food company that primarily operates in the U.S. retail channel (87% of fiscal 2022 revenue), but also in U.S. food-service (7%), and international (6%). Its largest segment is pet food and treats (36% of 2022 revenue), with popular brands such as Milk-Bone, Meow Mix, 9Lives, Kibbles 'n Bits, Nature's Recipe, and Rachael Ray Nutrish. Its second-largest category is coffee (35% across channels) with the number-two brand Folgers and number-six Dunkin'. Other large categories are peanut butter (10%), with number-one Jif, fruit spreads (5%) with number-one Smucker's, and frozen hand-held foods (6%) with number-one Uncrustables.
Read more on SJM →