vs

Side-by-side financial comparison of Paycom (PAYC) and ZIFF DAVIS, INC. (ZD). Click either name above to swap in a different company.

Paycom is the larger business by last-quarter revenue ($544.3M vs $406.7M, roughly 1.3× ZIFF DAVIS, INC.). Paycom runs the higher net margin — 20.9% vs 0.1%, a 20.8% gap on every dollar of revenue. On growth, Paycom posted the faster year-over-year revenue change (10.2% vs -1.5%). ZIFF DAVIS, INC. produced more free cash flow last quarter ($157.8M vs $122.6M). Over the past eight quarters, ZIFF DAVIS, INC.'s revenue compounded faster (13.7% CAGR vs 4.3%).

Paycom Software, Inc., known simply as Paycom, is an online payroll and human resource software provider based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma with offices throughout the United States. It is attributed with being one of the first fully online payroll providers. Founded in 1998, it reported annual revenue of $2.052 billion for 2025, up from $1.883 billion for 2024.

Ziff Davis, Inc. is an American digital media and Internet company. Founded in 1927 by William Bernard Ziff Sr. and Bernard George Davis, the company primarily owns technology- and health-oriented media websites, online shopping-related services, Internet connectivity services, gaming and entertainment brands, and cybersecurity and martech tools. Previously, the company was predominantly a publisher of hobbyist magazines.

PAYC vs ZD — Head-to-Head

Bigger by revenue
PAYC
PAYC
1.3× larger
PAYC
$544.3M
$406.7M
ZD
Growing faster (revenue YoY)
PAYC
PAYC
+11.7% gap
PAYC
10.2%
-1.5%
ZD
Higher net margin
PAYC
PAYC
20.8% more per $
PAYC
20.9%
0.1%
ZD
More free cash flow
ZD
ZD
$35.2M more FCF
ZD
$157.8M
$122.6M
PAYC
Faster 2-yr revenue CAGR
ZD
ZD
Annualised
ZD
13.7%
4.3%
PAYC

Income Statement — Q4 FY2025 vs Q4 FY2025

Metric
PAYC
PAYC
ZD
ZD
Revenue
$544.3M
$406.7M
Net Profit
$113.8M
$370.0K
Gross Margin
83.9%
85.9%
Operating Margin
28.9%
21.2%
Net Margin
20.9%
0.1%
Revenue YoY
10.2%
-1.5%
Net Profit YoY
0.2%
-99.4%
EPS (diluted)
$2.06
$0.06

Green = leading value per metric. Periods may differ when fiscal calendars don't align.

8-Quarter Revenue & Profit Trend

Side-by-side quarterly history. Quarters aligned by calendar period so offset fiscal years line up.

Revenue
PAYC
PAYC
ZD
ZD
Q4 25
$544.3M
$406.7M
Q3 25
$493.3M
$363.7M
Q2 25
$483.6M
$352.2M
Q1 25
$530.5M
$328.6M
Q4 24
$493.9M
$412.8M
Q3 24
$451.9M
$353.6M
Q2 24
$437.5M
$320.8M
Q1 24
$499.9M
$314.5M
Net Profit
PAYC
PAYC
ZD
ZD
Q4 25
$113.8M
$370.0K
Q3 25
$110.7M
$-3.6M
Q2 25
$89.5M
$26.3M
Q1 25
$139.4M
$24.2M
Q4 24
$113.6M
$64.1M
Q3 24
$73.3M
$-48.6M
Q2 24
$68.0M
$36.9M
Q1 24
$247.2M
$10.6M
Gross Margin
PAYC
PAYC
ZD
ZD
Q4 25
83.9%
85.9%
Q3 25
82.7%
85.4%
Q2 25
81.9%
86.1%
Q1 25
84.1%
85.6%
Q4 24
83.1%
87.1%
Q3 24
80.5%
85.5%
Q2 24
80.8%
84.4%
Q1 24
84.3%
85.4%
Operating Margin
PAYC
PAYC
ZD
ZD
Q4 25
28.9%
21.2%
Q3 25
22.8%
7.8%
Q2 25
23.2%
9.5%
Q1 25
34.9%
10.7%
Q4 24
30.1%
19.0%
Q3 24
23.2%
-8.3%
Q2 24
21.7%
8.9%
Q1 24
57.2%
11.4%
Net Margin
PAYC
PAYC
ZD
ZD
Q4 25
20.9%
0.1%
Q3 25
22.4%
-1.0%
Q2 25
18.5%
7.5%
Q1 25
26.3%
7.4%
Q4 24
23.0%
15.5%
Q3 24
16.2%
-13.7%
Q2 24
15.5%
11.5%
Q1 24
49.4%
3.4%
EPS (diluted)
PAYC
PAYC
ZD
ZD
Q4 25
$2.06
$0.06
Q3 25
$1.96
$-0.09
Q2 25
$1.58
$0.62
Q1 25
$2.48
$0.56
Q4 24
$2.04
$1.53
Q3 24
$1.31
$-1.11
Q2 24
$1.20
$0.77
Q1 24
$4.37
$0.23

Balance Sheet & Financial Strength

Snapshot of each company's liquidity, leverage and book value from the latest quarter.

Metric
PAYC
PAYC
ZD
ZD
Cash + ST InvestmentsLiquidity on hand
$370.0M
$607.0M
Total DebtLower is stronger
$866.5M
Stockholders' EquityBook value
$1.7B
$1.8B
Total Assets
$7.6B
$3.7B
Debt / EquityLower = less leverage
0.49×

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Cash + ST Investments
PAYC
PAYC
ZD
ZD
Q4 25
$370.0M
$607.0M
Q3 25
$375.0M
$503.4M
Q2 25
$532.2M
$457.3M
Q1 25
$520.8M
$431.0M
Q4 24
$402.0M
$505.9M
Q3 24
$325.8M
$386.1M
Q2 24
$346.5M
$687.2M
Q1 24
$371.3M
$751.2M
Total Debt
PAYC
PAYC
ZD
ZD
Q4 25
$866.5M
Q3 25
Q2 25
Q1 25
Q4 24
$864.3M
Q3 24
Q2 24
Q1 24
Stockholders' Equity
PAYC
PAYC
ZD
ZD
Q4 25
$1.7B
$1.8B
Q3 25
$1.7B
$1.8B
Q2 25
$1.8B
$1.8B
Q1 25
$1.7B
$1.8B
Q4 24
$1.6B
$1.8B
Q3 24
$1.5B
$1.8B
Q2 24
$1.4B
$1.9B
Q1 24
$1.4B
$1.9B
Total Assets
PAYC
PAYC
ZD
ZD
Q4 25
$7.6B
$3.7B
Q3 25
$4.2B
$3.5B
Q2 25
$4.0B
$3.5B
Q1 25
$4.6B
$3.5B
Q4 24
$5.9B
$3.7B
Q3 24
$3.5B
$3.4B
Q2 24
$4.3B
$3.7B
Q1 24
$4.7B
$3.7B
Debt / Equity
PAYC
PAYC
ZD
ZD
Q4 25
0.49×
Q3 25
Q2 25
Q1 25
Q4 24
0.48×
Q3 24
Q2 24
Q1 24

Cash Flow & Capital Efficiency

How much cash each business actually produces after reinvestment. Cash flow is harder to manipulate than net income.

Metric
PAYC
PAYC
ZD
ZD
Operating Cash FlowLast quarter
$196.1M
$191.1M
Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex
$122.6M
$157.8M
FCF MarginFCF / Revenue
22.5%
38.8%
Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue
13.5%
8.2%
Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit
1.72×
516.44×
TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters
$408.0M
$287.9M

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Operating Cash Flow
PAYC
PAYC
ZD
ZD
Q4 25
$196.1M
$191.1M
Q3 25
$177.8M
$138.3M
Q2 25
$122.5M
$57.1M
Q1 25
$182.5M
$20.6M
Q4 24
$160.4M
$158.2M
Q3 24
$92.8M
$106.0M
Q2 24
$132.1M
$50.6M
Q1 24
$148.6M
$75.6M
Free Cash Flow
PAYC
PAYC
ZD
ZD
Q4 25
$122.6M
$157.8M
Q3 25
$79.8M
$108.2M
Q2 25
$60.8M
$26.9M
Q1 25
$144.8M
$-5.0M
Q4 24
$109.0M
$131.1M
Q3 24
$44.6M
$80.1M
Q2 24
$86.5M
$25.1M
Q1 24
$100.9M
$47.4M
FCF Margin
PAYC
PAYC
ZD
ZD
Q4 25
22.5%
38.8%
Q3 25
16.2%
29.7%
Q2 25
12.6%
7.6%
Q1 25
27.3%
-1.5%
Q4 24
22.1%
31.8%
Q3 24
9.9%
22.7%
Q2 24
19.8%
7.8%
Q1 24
20.2%
15.1%
Capex Intensity
PAYC
PAYC
ZD
ZD
Q4 25
13.5%
8.2%
Q3 25
19.9%
8.3%
Q2 25
12.8%
8.6%
Q1 25
7.1%
7.8%
Q4 24
10.4%
6.6%
Q3 24
10.7%
7.3%
Q2 24
10.4%
8.0%
Q1 24
9.5%
8.9%
Cash Conversion
PAYC
PAYC
ZD
ZD
Q4 25
1.72×
516.44×
Q3 25
1.61×
Q2 25
1.37×
2.17×
Q1 25
1.31×
0.85×
Q4 24
1.41×
2.47×
Q3 24
1.27×
Q2 24
1.94×
1.37×
Q1 24
0.60×
7.11×

Financial Flow Comparison

Revenue → gross profit → operating profit → net profit for each company.

Revenue Breakdown by Segment

PAYC
PAYC

Recurring$510.3M94%
Interest On Funds Held For Clients$27.2M5%
Implementation And Other$6.8M1%

ZD
ZD

Health And Wellness$114.8M28%
Technology And Shopping$108.9M27%
Cybersecurity And Martech Segment$70.9M17%
Connectivity$60.3M15%
Gaming And Entertainment$51.7M13%
Subscription And Licensing$2.9M1%

Related Comparisons