Paychex, Inc. vs Union Pacific Corporation — how do they compare? Paychex, Inc. trades at $104.11 (market cap $37.19B), while Union Pacific Corporation trades at $278.62 (market cap $165.27B). The key difference: Union Pacific Corporation is far larger — about 4.4× Paychex, Inc.'s market cap, and Paychex, Inc. pays the higher dividend (4.56%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Paychex, Inc. for 56 Days and Union Pacific Corporation for 105 Days on average.
| PAYX | UNP | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $37.19B | $165.27B |
Volume | 3,344,316 | 1,474,117 |
Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $128.59 | $310.62 |
52-Week Low | $85.57 | $216.37 |
Typical Hold Time | 56 Days | 105 Days |
Enterprise Value | $40.87B | $194.33B |
Dividend Yield | 4.56% | 2.04% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Paychex (PAYX) trades at $104.62, up 3.02% today, with a mixed technical outlook showing bullish overall signals but bearish moving averages. The company reported strong earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q2 2026 EPS of $1.34 beating the $1.32 estimate, and maintains robust profitability with a 27.35% net income margin. Recent news highlights a 14% stock decline despite earnings strength, raising questions about dividend sustainability amid investor focus on cash flow.
The outlook is cautiously optimistic, with a consensus price target of $111 suggesting modest upside. Key opportunities include steady revenue growth and high margins, but risks involve labor market sensitivity and elevated valuation multiples. The stock's recent volatility reflects divergent analyst views, with 67.74% holding a neutral rating.
Union Pacific (UNP) trades at $277.51, up 1.03% with a bullish technical signal and strong fundamental performance. The stock shows robust profitability with 28.85% net margins and 39.7% ROE, supported by consecutive earnings beats in Q1 and Q2 2026. Recent developments include the deployment of battery-electric locomotives and progress on the Norfolk Southern combination, while analyst consensus remains strongly positive with a $332.10 price target.
UNP presents a compelling investment case with strong operational execution and pricing power, though merger uncertainty and fuel cost pressures pose near-term risks. The stock's current valuation at 22.53 P/E offers reasonable upside to analyst targets, supported by consistent dividend payments and infrastructure advantages in the irreplaceable freight rail network.
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 →Omaha, Nebraska-based Union Pacific is the largest public railroad in North America. Operating on more than 30,000 miles of track in the western two thirds of the U.S., UP generated roughly $22 billion of revenue in 2021 by hauling coal, industrial products, intermodal containers, agriculture goods, chemicals, and automotive goods. UP owns about one fourth of Mexican railroad Ferromex and derives about 10% of its revenue hauling freight to and from Mexico.
Read more on UNP →