VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Stock Comparison

Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. vs Paychex, Inc.

Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.

Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.

JKHY · Nasdaq

Market cap (USD)$13.2B
Gross margin (TTM)43.5%
Operating margin (TTM)24.9%
Net margin (TTM)19.9%
SectorTechnology
IndustryInformation Technology Services
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-25
Moat score
59/ 100

Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.

Full stock profile

Dive deeper into Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View JKHY analysis

Paychex, Inc.

PAYX · NASDAQ Global Select Market

Market cap (USD)$39.4B
Gross margin (TTM)73.4%
Operating margin (TTM)37.1%
Net margin (TTM)26.5%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryStaffing & Employment Services
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-04
Moat score
66/ 100

Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.

Full stock profile

Dive deeper into Paychex, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View PAYX analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Paychex, Inc. leads (66 / 100 vs 59 / 100 for Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. has 3 segments (36.8% in Payments); Paychex, Inc. has 3 segments (73% in Management Solutions).
  • Primary market structure: Competitive vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. has 7 moat types across 3 domains; Paychex, Inc. has 7 across 4.

Primary market context

Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.

Payments

Market

Payment processing and transaction services for financial institutions (card, ACH, bill pay, faster payments, settlement support)

Geography

United States

Customer

Banks, credit unions, and their accountholders; businesses via FI clients

Role

Processor and settlement/risk services provider

Revenue share

36.8%

Paychex, Inc.

Management Solutions

Market

Payroll processing and integrated HCM solutions for SMB and mid-market employers

Geography

United States (primarily)

Customer

Employers (SMB and mid-market)

Role

HCM SaaS + outsourced payroll/HR service provider

Revenue share

73%

Side-by-side metrics

Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.
Paychex, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
JKHY - Nasdaq
PAYX - NASDAQ Global Select Market
Market cap (USD)
$13.2B
$39.4B
Gross margin (TTM)
43.5%
73.4%
Operating margin (TTM)
24.9%
37.1%
Net margin (TTM)
19.9%
26.5%
Sector
Technology
Industrials
Industry
Information Technology Services
Staffing & Employment Services
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Payments
Management Solutions
Market structure
Competitive
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
59 / 100
66 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Legal, Supply
Demand, Supply, Legal, Financial
Last update
2025-12-25
2026-01-04

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Switching Costs GeneralSuite BundlingCompliance AdvantageData Workflow Lockin

Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. strengths

Long Term ContractsScale Economies Unit CostBrand Trust

Paychex, Inc. strengths

Service Field NetworkUnderwriting Risk PoolingFloat Prepayment

Segment mix

Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Core

Oligopoly

31.1%

Payments

Competitive

36.8%

Complementary

Competitive

28.4%

Paychex, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Management Solutions

Oligopoly

73%

PEO and Insurance Solutions

Competitive

24.1%

Client funds float (interest on funds held for clients)

Oligopoly

2.9%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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Curation & Accuracy

This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).

Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.