ADSK vs PAYX: Autodesk and Paychex compared
The short version
From the latest prices and each company's SEC filings. Who's ahead on each measure, not which to buy.
- Autodesk is the larger company, worth $50.9B, about 1.3 times Paychex.
- Autodesk grew revenue faster over the last year (+16.1% vs +5.9%).
- Paychex keeps more of each dollar of revenue as operating profit (40.5% vs 26.2%).
- On earnings, Paychex is the cheaper stock (24.1x vs 46.1x).
- Autodesk's price assumes faster free cash flow growth: about 6% a year, against 3% for Paychex (reverse DCF).
Side by side
The stronger figure is shaded where higher (or, for valuation multiples, lower) reads as better. How the implied growth works.
| Measure | ADSK | PAYX |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $50.9B | $39.0B |
| Share price | $235.35 | $103.98 |
| Revenue (last fiscal year) | $7.2B | $6.3B |
| Free cash flow (last fiscal year) | $2.4B | $2.3B |
| Revenue growth, last year | +16.1% | +5.9% |
| Revenue growth per year, last 5 fiscal years | +13.2% | +8.5% |
| Operating margin | 26.2% | 40.5% |
| Net margin | 21.1% | 28.3% |
| Return on equity | 48.5% | 48.7% |
| P/E (trailing) | 46.1x | 24.1x |
| Price / free cash flow | 21.1x | 22.2x |
| EV / EBITDA | 22.2x | 13.8x |
| FCF growth the price implies | 5.7% | 2.7% |
| Dividend yield | — | — |
| Debt / equity | 2.84x | 3.23x |
| Fundamental grade | B | C |
| Superinvestors holding it | 5 | 5 |
| Insider purchases, last 12 months | 8 | 10 |
Results from SEC filings
Revenue and free cash flow by fiscal year, from each company's 10-K filings.
Autodesk
| Year | Revenue | Free cash flow | Op. margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $4.4B | $1.5B | 14.1% |
| 2023 | $5.0B | $2.0B | 19.8% |
| 2024 | $5.5B | $1.3B | 20.5% |
| 2025 | $6.1B | $1.6B | 22.1% |
| 2026 | $7.2B | $2.4B | 21.9% |
Paychex
| Year | Revenue | Free cash flow | Op. margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $4.6B | $1.5B | 40.4% |
| 2023 | $4.9B | $1.6B | 41.4% |
| 2024 | $5.1B | $1.7B | 42.4% |
| 2025 | $5.4B | $1.7B | 40.8% |
| 2026 | $6.3B | $2.3B | 39.8% |
Where the revenue comes from
Autodesk · by products, 2026
Architecture Engineering , Construction And Operation$3.6B50%
AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT$1.8B25%
Manufacturing$1.4B19%
Media And Entertainment$332M5%
Other$125M2%
Paychex · by products, 2026
Management Solutions$4.9B77%
PEO and Insurance Solutions$1.4B23%
Compare them in fullFifteen years of statements, quarterly results, DCF and IRR models, and any number of peers side by side.
Open ADSK in InvestinglyQuestions
Which is bigger, Autodesk or Paychex?
Autodesk (ADSK), at $50.9B against $39.0B.
Is ADSK or PAYX cheaper?
By trailing P/E, Paychex (24.1x) is cheaper than Autodesk (46.1x). A lower multiple can also mean the market expects less growth.
Which grows faster, ADSK or PAYX?
Autodesk: revenue grew +16.1% over the last year, against +5.9%.
Prices and ratios as of the last daily update; statements from SEC filings. Information only, not investment advice.