Paychex, Inc. vs J M Smucker Co — how do they compare? Paychex, Inc. trades at $114.78 (market cap $40.85B), while J M Smucker Co trades at $123.61 (market cap $13.17B). The key difference: Paychex, Inc. is far larger — about 3.1× J M Smucker Co's market cap, and Paychex, Inc. pays the higher dividend (4.15%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| PAYX | SJM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $40.85B | $13.17B |
Sector | Industrials | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $135.46 | $132.34 |
52-Week Low | $85.57 | $89.53 |
Enterprise Value | $44.33B | $20.03B |
Dividend Yield | 4.15% | 3.63% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Paychex (PAYX) trades at $116.93, down 3.93% in the last session. The stock shows strong profitability with a net income margin of 27.03% and ROE of 44.77%. Recent earnings have consistently beaten expectations, with Q1 2026 EPS of $1.32 surpassing the $1.31 estimate. Technical indicators are mixed, with a bearish moving average signal but RSI suggesting potential oversold conditions. The company continues to expand its AI-driven WISE platform, enhancing service efficiency for small businesses.
The outlook for PAYX is cautiously optimistic, supported by robust cash flow and strategic AI integration. However, risks include elevated valuation multiples and competitive pressures in the HR solutions space. Analyst consensus is a 'Hold' with a $120 price target, indicating limited near-term upside from current levels amid balanced growth and risk factors.
SJM trades at $124.66, down 1.13% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages but bearish oscillators. Recent quarterly earnings consistently beat expectations, with Q2 2026 EPS of $3.24 surpassing the $2.22 estimate. The company reported a net loss of $1.23 billion for 2025, though revenue grew to $8.73 billion. Analyst consensus is a Buy with a $144.78 price target, indicating potential upside. A dividend of $1.12 per share is scheduled for payment on September 1, 2026.
The outlook is cautiously optimistic, driven by strong earnings performance and raised guidance, but high valuation ratios and recent insider sales pose risks. Debt levels remain elevated with a debt-to-asset ratio of 43.71% in 2025. Investors should weigh robust operational cash flow against margin pressures and competitive challenges in the consumer staples sector.
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 →