AAPL vs PAYX Stock Comparison
PAYX currently leads AAPL in this stock comparison, with AIQ scores of 64 vs 63. The clearest difference is value, while AAPL has the stronger risk resilience profile.
What is the main difference between AAPL and PAYX?
PAYX leads the current stock comparison as Paychex, Inc., with the clearest separation coming from value and the broader AIQ evidence mix.
AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison
Apple Inc. vs Paychex, Inc.
PAYX leads
PAYX leads by 1 AIQ points, primarily on Value, having only recently taken the lead back from AAPL.
Fragile: 1 of 6 evidence groups support PAYX, the lead recently changed hands, and its current signal state is conflicted.
Apple Inc.
Paychex, Inc.
The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors PAYX over AAPL, 64 versus 63 as of Oct 21, 2026. PAYX's advantage is driven primarily by stronger value, while AAPL holds the stronger risk resilience profile. PAYX also shows the weaker technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average. 1 of 6 covered evidence groups favor PAYX today, and the comparison is rated Fragile on stability: the AIQ gap is narrow at 1 points. PAYX lead: Reversed — AAPL led by 13 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; PAYX now leads by 1.
Compare Apple Inc. and Paychex, Inc. across the Algovestiq AIQ Score, valuation, quality, momentum, risk, technicals and analyst expectations.
Performance over time
Total return with distributions reinvested, from daily closes.
Total return comparison
Growth of $10,000, distributions reinvested
Split-adjusted closes; each distribution is reinvested at the close on its ex-dividend date. Taxes and trading costs are not modeled.
Compare AAPL and PAYX against another ticker
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AIQ Factor Divergence
Where the two separate, on the four dimensions behind the AIQ Score. Bars read outward from a shared zero: further from the centre is a wider gap.
- Risk Resilience68 vs 55AAPL +13
- Value38 vs 45PAYX +7
- Quality80 vs 81Even
- Momentum70 vs 71Even
1 of 6 evidence groups favor PAYX. PAYX’s edge is concentrated in value; AAPL keeps a meaningful risk resilience edge.
What changed since the last close
Latest scored session 2026-10-20, compared against the prior scored session 2026-10-19.
Largest factor move: Momentum -9
New signals
- MACD Bearish Crossover — bearish, momentum, short horizon
No factor moved materially.
No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 4 active signals are unchanged.
The lead changed hands: PAYX moved ahead of AAPL in the latest session.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — AAPL and PAYX both carry a full feed there.
The central trade-off
PAYX (Paychex, Inc.): the stronger current systematic profile, led by value.
AAPL (Apple Inc.): the counter-case, on risk resilience, technicals.
Which one fits your objective
The same two names rank differently depending on what you are optimizing for. All six reads are shown at once — none of them is hidden behind a toggle.
Balanced
PAYXPAYX on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value most heavily.
Growth
AAPLAAPL on combined revenue and EPS growth.
Value
PAYXPAYX on the peer-relative Value factor, by 7 points.
Momentum
EvenThe two are level on Momentum.
Lower downside
AAPLAAPL on Risk Resilience, by 13 points.
Analyst upside
EvenAnalyst targets are level or not covered for both names.
AIQ vs Wall Street
Where the systematic read and the analyst consensus line up — and where they do not.
| Measure | AAPL | PAYX | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implied upside to target | -3.3% | -2.7% | Level |
| Target dispersion | +46.6% | +15.5% | Lower is tighter analyst agreement |
| Consensus | Buy | Hold | Context, not a primary driver |
| Analysts covering | 19 | 7 | Higher coverage generally improves confidence |
Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Dividend growth
| Dividend metric | AAPL | PAYX |
|---|---|---|
| 5Y dividend CAGR | 4.99% | 11.22% |
| 2020 regular DPS | $0.808 | $2.480 |
| 2025 regular DPS | $1.030 | $4.220 |
| Years increased | 5 | 5 |
| No cut in window | Yes | Yes |
| Cohort rank | #254 | #73 |
PAYX grew its split-adjusted regular dividend faster over 2020–2025 — 11.22% a year against AAPL's 4.99%. Neither company reduced its regular dividend in any year of the window.
Yield and payout ratio shown elsewhere on this page are current values, not part of the study window.
Split-adjusted regular dividends per share, 2020–2025, excluding special dividends. Research as of Sep 19, 2026.
AIQ Agreement Matrix
1 of 6 covered evidence groups favor PAYX. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.
| Evidence group | Favors | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ Score | Even | 63 vs 64 |
| Fundamentals | Even | revenue growth -1.6% vs -11.2%; TTM ROE 137.2% vs 45.1%; gross margin 48.7% vs 74.3%; operating margin 33.2% vs 38.6% |
| Valuation | PAYX | Value 38 vs 45 |
| Technicals | AAPL | Price vs 50-day 5.2% vs -1.5%; vs 200-day 15.8% vs 9% |
| Risk Resilience | AAPL | Risk Resilience 68 vs 55 |
| Analyst expectations | Even | Target upside -3.3% vs -2.7% |
✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of AAPL and PAYX and are excluded from the count.
AIQ Decision Stability
The conclusion is sensitive to small changes. Treat the lead as provisional and watch the flip conditions below.
- The AIQ gap is narrow at 1 points. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- Only 1 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The lead has already changed hands inside the comparison window. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The leader is throwing conflicting signals. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
Stability combines the score gap, how broadly the evidence agrees, how steady the lead has been across daily snapshots, the current signal state on both names, and analyst dispersion on PAYX.
How the comparison changed
120 daily snapshots · Jun 21 – Oct 20PAYX lead: Reversed — AAPL led by 13 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; PAYX now leads by 1.
- Today
- PAYX +1
- 63 vs 64
- 7 sessions ago
- PAYX +3
- 61 vs 64
- 30 sessions ago
- AAPL +13
- 63 vs 50
- 90 sessions ago
- PAYX +11
- 51 vs 62
The lead changed hands 4 times in this window, most recently on Oct 20 when PAYX moved ahead of AAPL.
AIQ Signal Divergence
Only the signals that bear on the head-to-head. A conflicted name is carrying bullish and bearish rules at the same time — the technical evidence is not pointing one way.
4 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted
Only AAPL
- EMA Ribbon Expansion Bullish — bullish, trend, medium horizon
- 52-Week High Proximity — bullish, risk, long horizon (1.5%)
- Uptrend Structure Active — bullish, trend, long horizon
- MACD Bearish Crossover — bearish, momentum, short horizon
3 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted
Only PAYX
- Keltner Channel Breakout — bullish, volatility, short horizon
- RSI Overbought — bearish, momentum, short horizon
- MACD Bullish Crossover — bullish, momentum, short horizon
Both carry 1 more signal that do not separate them: Golden Cross Active.
PAYX leads the comparison while carrying a conflicted signal state, which is one reason the stability rating is not higher.
Price vs model alignment
Whether the latest session's price move confirms what the model did over the same session, or contradicts it.
Price is up while the AIQ Score moved down 2 points over the same session — price and model disagree (price +1.32%, AIQ -2 points).
Neither the price nor the AIQ Score moved enough in the latest session to confirm or contradict the other (price -0.11%, AIQ 0 points).
What would flip this result
A state, not a forecast. These are the specific, observable changes that would reverse the verdict — not a price prediction.
- 1AAPL closes the Value gap — currently 7 points behind, the largest single contributor to PAYX's edge.
- 2AAPL generates a confirmed bullish trend signal it does not currently carry, such as MACD Bullish Crossover.
- 3PAYX's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 3 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once.
- 4A regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
The full evidence
Every number behind the verdict. The leader is called above each group so you are not left to solve it from the table.
Fundamentals
Split| Metric | AAPL | PAYX |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -1.6% | -11.2% |
| EPS growth (YoY) | 1% | -24.4% |
| Gross margin | 48.7% | 74.3% |
| Operating margin | 33.2% | 38.6% |
| Return on equity (TTM) | 137.2% | 45.1% |
| Debt to equity | 0.78 | 1.24 |
Performance
AAPL leads 5 of 6 windows| Metric | AAPL | PAYX |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week (5 sessions) | -0.5% | 6% |
| 1 month (20 sessions) | -0.1% | -1.7% |
| 3 months (63 sessions) | 4.2% | 1.7% |
| 6 months (126 sessions) | 27.6% | 20.2% |
| Year to date | 24.9% | 0.4% |
| 1 year (252 sessions) | 37.2% | -11% |
Technicals
AAPL has the stronger structure| Metric | AAPL | PAYX |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 60.5 | 79.1 |
| ADX (14) | 17.9 | 26.4 |
| Price vs 50-day | 5.2% | -1.5% |
| Price vs 200-day | 15.8% | 9% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 16.4% | 40.2% |
Risk
AAPL is the more resilient| Metric | AAPL | PAYX |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | 0.62 | 0.02 |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.18 | -0.37 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.6 | -0.52 |
| Max drawdown | -13.8% | -32.9% |
| Current drawdown | -1.1% | -11.7% |
| Annualized volatility | 24.4% | 30.1% |
| Value at risk (95%) | -2% | -3% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better, AAPL or PAYX?
On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, PAYX is the stronger of the two as of Oct 21, 2026, scoring 64 against AAPL's 63. The edge comes from value. AAPL is not without a case — it holds the better risk resilience profile, which matters more if that is the objective you are optimizing for. This is a systematic score, not a recommendation: it ranks the two on the same evidence, it does not know your holding period or tax position.
Is AAPL or PAYX the better buy right now?
PAYX carries the stronger systematic profile as of Oct 21, 2026, and the comparison is rated Fragile — 1 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. A Fragile rating means the conclusion is sensitive: the AIQ gap is narrow at 1 points. Treat the lead as provisional.
Why does the AIQ Score favor PAYX over AAPL?
The composite weights Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience. AAPL leads Risk Resilience by 13 points; PAYX leads Value by 7 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.
Which has more analyst upside, AAPL or PAYX?
Analyst price targets imply -3.3% upside for AAPL and -2.7% for PAYX. The model and the Street agree here, which is a broader base of evidence than either alone. Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions, and dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Which is better value, AAPL or PAYX?
PAYX is the better-valued of the two on the peer-relative Value factor. PAYX on the peer-relative Value factor, by 7 points. The Value factor reads valuation relative to sector peers and to the company's own fundamental quality, so it is not the same as simply having the lower multiple.
Which has stronger growth, AAPL or PAYX?
AAPL on combined revenue and EPS growth. Growth here is measured on reported revenue and earnings, not on forward estimates — it describes what the businesses have delivered, not what the Street expects next.
Which has stronger momentum, AAPL or PAYX?
The two are level on Momentum. Momentum is one of the four weighted factors in the AIQ composite. It has documented persistence over three- to twelve-month horizons, which makes it a timing input rather than a reason to hold something indefinitely.
Which is riskier, AAPL or PAYX?
AAPL is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. AAPL on Risk Resilience, by 13 points. Risk Resilience is a weighted factor in the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.
Is AAPL more profitable than PAYX?
The profitability evidence is mixed: gross margin 48.7% vs 74.3%; operating margin 33.2% vs 38.6%; ttm roe 137.2% vs 45.1%. AAPL leads on one measure and PAYX on two measures, and there is no single profitability composite that resolves the split — which of the two reads as "more profitable" depends on whether you weight pricing power or operating leverage.
Is PAYX's lead over AAPL getting stronger or weaker?
PAYX lead: Reversed — AAPL led by 13 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; PAYX now leads by 1. This is measured from 120 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-06-21 and 2026-10-20. The lead has changed hands 4 times in that window, most recently on 2026-10-20, when PAYX moved ahead of AAPL.
What would change the AAPL vs PAYX verdict?
The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: AAPL closes the Value gap — currently 7 points behind, the largest single contributor to PAYX's edge; AAPL generates a confirmed bullish trend signal it does not currently carry, such as MACD Bullish Crossover; PAYX's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 3 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once; a regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
What do the current signals say about AAPL and PAYX?
AAPL: 4 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted. PAYX: 3 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted. A conflicted state means bullish and bearish rules are active on the same name at once — the technical evidence is not pointing one way, and a decision taken on it carries more timing risk. The most decision-relevant rule on AAPL is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon). On PAYX it is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon).
Compare AAPL and PAYX with others
Continue your research
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How this comparison is scored
The Algovestiq AIQ Score composites four factors — Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk, each carrying a fixed weight. Sentiment is reported separately as SentimentPulse and is not folded into the composite. Scores refresh every trading day, and this page regenerates from the latest snapshot rather than being written once.
The verdict names a leader, states how broadly six independent evidence groups agree, and rates how durable that conclusion is given the score gap, its recent trajectory and the current signal state on both names.
How to use side-by-side comparison →This comparison is informational and educational, not investment advice. AIQ scores update daily; re-check after earnings, guidance or macro data that materially changes either name’s factor profile.