NSP vs PAYX vs ADP vs G vs PCTY

For growth investors, Paylocity Holding Corporation (PCTY) is the stronger pick with 13.

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 5% for Insperity, Inc. (NSP). Genpact Limited (G) offers the better valuation at 11. 0x trailing P/E (8. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Paylocity Holding Corporation (PCTY) a "Buy" — based on 41 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, Genpact Limited (G) is the cheapest at 11.

0x versus Paylocity Holding Corporation at 27. 1x. On forward P/E, Genpact Limited is actually cheaper at 8. 6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Paylocity Holding Corporation wins at 0. 50x versus Paychex, Inc. 's 2. 01x — 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 -48. 6% for Insperity, Inc. (NSP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PCTY returned +218. 2% versus G's +42. 5%. 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 Insperity, Inc. 's 1. 06β — meaning NSP is approximately 182% more volatile than ADP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Paylocity Holding Corporation (PCTY) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 18% versus 9% for Insperity, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Paylocity Holding Corporation (PCTY) is pulling ahead at 13.

7% versus 3. 5% for Insperity, Inc. (NSP). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Paylocity Holding Corporation grew EPS 10. 7% year-over-year, compared to -107. 5% for Insperity, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, PCTY leads at 23. 2% 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.

Paychex, Inc.

(PAYX) is the more profitable company, earning 29. 7% net margin versus -0. 1% for Insperity, Inc. — meaning it keeps 29. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PAYX leads at 39. 6% versus -0. 1% for NSP. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PAYX leads at 72. 4%, 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, Paylocity Holding Corporation (PCTY) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 50x versus Paychex, Inc. 's 2. 01x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Genpact Limited (G) trades at 8. 6x forward P/E versus 19. 4x for Automatic Data Processing, Inc. — 10. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PCTY: 54. 0% to $168. 08.

In this comparison, NSP (7.

2% yield), PAYX (4. 2% yield), ADP (2. 7% yield), G (1. 9% yield) pay a dividend. PCTY 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%, NSP: +59. 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 (NSP (Industrials) and PAYX (Industrials) and ADP (Industrials) and G (Technology) and PCTY (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: NSP is a small-cap income-oriented stock; PAYX is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; ADP is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; G is a small-cap deep-value stock; PCTY is a small-cap quality compounder stock. NSP, PAYX, ADP, G pay a dividend while PCTY 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.