Paychex, Inc. vs Yum! Brands, Inc. — how do they compare? Paychex, Inc. trades at $111.32 (market cap $39.82B), while Yum! Brands, Inc. trades at $147.57 (market cap $40.56B). The key difference: Paychex, Inc. and Yum! Brands, Inc. are close in size by market cap, and Paychex, Inc. pays the higher dividend (4.25%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| PAYX | YUM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $39.82B | $40.56B |
Sector | Industrials | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $147.99 | $168.16 |
52-Week Low | $85.57 | $138.21 |
Enterprise Value | $43.31B | $51.83B |
Dividend Yield | 4.25% | 2.04% |
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.
YUM trades at $147.10, down 0.55% amid a cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to Taco Bell lettuce. Technicals are bearish with key support at $145, while fundamentals show steady revenue growth to $8.21B in 2025 and a net margin of 20.48%. The company maintains strong cash flow from operations of $2.01B but carries high long-term debt of $11.25B.
Despite near-term headwinds from food safety concerns, YUM's diversified brand portfolio and consistent profitability support a positive long-term outlook. Analyst consensus price target of $177 suggests 20% upside, but investors should monitor outbreak resolution and Q2 2026 earnings due soon.
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 →Yum Brands is a U.S.-based restaurant operator featuring a portfolio of four brands: KFC (26,930 global units), Pizza Hut (18,380 units), Taco Bell (7,790 units), and The Habit Burger (310 units) at year-end 2021. With $58 billion in 2021 systemwide sales, the firm is the second-largest restaurant company in the world, behind McDonald's ($112.5 billion) but ahead of Restaurant Brands International ($36 billion) and Starbucks ($25 billion). Yum is 98% franchised, with the largest franchisee, Yum China, created via a 2016 spinoff transaction (after which Yum China agreed to pay 3% royalties to Yum Brands in perpetuity). Yum is the newest evolution of Tricon Brands, formerly a division of PepsiCo, and generates the bulk of its revenue from franchise royalties and marketing contributions.
Read more on YUM →