CBZ vs CASS vs INTU vs ADP vs PAYC

For growth investors, CBIZ, Inc.

(CBZ) is the stronger pick with 52. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -13. 1% for Cass Information Systems, Inc. (CASS). Paycom Software, Inc. (PAYC) offers the better valuation at 17. 1x trailing P/E (13. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate CBIZ, Inc. (CBZ) a "Buy" — based on 2 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Paycom Software, Inc.

(PAYC) is the cheapest at 17. 1x versus Intuit Inc. at 29. 8x. On forward P/E, CBIZ, Inc. is actually cheaper at 8. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Paycom Software, Inc. wins at 0. 49x versus Cass Information Systems, Inc. 's 1. 85x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Automatic Data Processing, Inc.

(ADP) delivered a total return of +23. 3%, compared to -56. 3% for Paycom Software, Inc. (PAYC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: INTU returned +326. 4% versus CASS's +57. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Automatic Data Processing, Inc.

(ADP) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 37β versus Cass Information Systems, Inc. 's 0. 74β — meaning CASS is approximately 98% more volatile than ADP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Cass Information Systems, Inc. (CASS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 146% for Automatic Data Processing, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), CBIZ, Inc.

(CBZ) is pulling ahead at 52. 1% versus -13. 1% for Cass Information Systems, Inc. (CASS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: CBIZ, Inc. grew EPS 134. 6% year-over-year, compared to -9. 4% for Paycom Software, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CBZ leads at 25. 0% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Paycom Software, Inc.

(PAYC) is the more profitable company, earning 22. 1% net margin versus 4. 2% for CBIZ, Inc. — meaning it keeps 22. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PAYC leads at 27. 6% versus 8. 5% for CBZ. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CASS leads at 100. 0%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Paycom Software, Inc. (PAYC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 49x versus Cass Information Systems, Inc. 's 1. 85x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, CBIZ, Inc. (CBZ) trades at 8. 0x forward P/E versus 19. 4x for Automatic Data Processing, Inc. — 11. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for INTU: 63. 9% to $666. 75.

In this comparison, ADP (2.

7% yield), CASS (2. 6% yield), PAYC (1. 1% yield), INTU (1. 0% yield) pay a dividend. CBZ does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Automatic Data Processing, Inc.

(ADP) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 37), 2. 7% yield, +192. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ADP: +192. 5%, CBZ: +210. 4%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (CBZ (Industrials) and CASS (Industrials) and INTU (Technology) and ADP (Industrials) and PAYC (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CBZ is a small-cap high-growth stock; CASS is a small-cap quality compounder stock; INTU is a mid-cap high-growth stock; ADP is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; PAYC is a small-cap deep-value stock. CASS, INTU, ADP, PAYC pay a dividend while CBZ does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.