Industrials stock comparison

CMI vs PAYX: how the two businesses compare

  • Bigger business: CMI, with $33.7B of yearly revenue, about 5.2× PAYX's $6.5B.
  • More cash from each sale: PAYX turns 39 cents of each sales dollar into operating cash flow, against 11 cents at CMI.

From each company's latest annual SEC filing. Fiscal years can end on different dates.

Cummins (CMI) is the larger business by reported revenue: $33.7B in its fiscal year ended Dec 2025, about 5.2× PAYX's $6.5B (fiscal year ended May 2026). The SEC classifies them differently (Engines & Turbines; Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management); what connects them is shared exposure to the Economic trends research theme, not a common industry.

Figures come from each company's own SEC filings. This page compares the businesses; it is not a price target or a verdict.

Sector
Industrials
SEC industry
Different
Separate classifications
Fiscal year ends
Different
CMI December 31 · PAYX May 31
Reviewed
Jul 17, 2026

CMI vs PAYX: quick comparison

Company factCMIPAYX
CompanyCummins Inc.Paychex, Inc.
ExchangeNYSENASDAQ
SEC industryEngines & TurbinesServices-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management
Fiscal year-endDecember 31May 31
Latest annual filing10-K · 2026-02-1010-K · 2026-07-17

CMI vs PAYX: audited financials

  • Scale: CMI's $33.7B of revenue is about 5.2× PAYX's $6.5B.
  • Cash conversion: operating cash flow equalled CMI 10.8% of revenue; PAYX 39.3% of revenue, or 1.45× net income. A ratio well above 1× usually reflects non-cash charges or working-capital release; well below 1× can reflect working-capital build or non-cash gains.
  • Periods: the fiscal years end about 5 months apart (2025-12-31 for CMI, 2026-05-31 for PAYX), so each figure reflects somewhat different demand and cost conditions.

CMI: FY ending 2025-12-31 · PAYX: FY ending 2026-05-31. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.

Where CMI and PAYX overlap, and where they don't

Overlap

  • Shared research theme: Economic trends.

Differences

  • Different SEC industries: CMI files as Engines & Turbines; PAYX as Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management.
  • Offset fiscal calendars: CMI's year ends December 31 and PAYX's May 31, about 5 months apart.
  • Only CMI maps to Tariffs & trade.
  • Scale: CMI reported about 5.2× the annual revenue of PAYX.

Overlap is drawn from SEC classifications and Yield Theory research themes. It is not evidence that the companies sell to the same customers or compete product for product.

Cummins Inc. (CMI)

Cummins makes diesel and alternative-fuel engines, power generation, and related components.

Paychex, Inc. (PAYX)

Paychex provides payroll, HR, and benefits-administration services to small and midsize businesses.

What moves each company

Company-specific drivers maintained by Yield Theory. Use them to decide which filing deserves deeper work; they are not predictions.

What moves CMI

We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for CMI. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2026-02-10.

What moves PAYX

We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for PAYX. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2026-07-17.

The investment question

You now know CMI reports about 5.2× PAYX's revenue. Those are the facts. The investment question is what each share price already assumes about their exposure to economic trends, and which evidence in the next filings would prove that assumption wrong.

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SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence

Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable. CMI's fiscal year ends December 31, while PAYX's ends May 31. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.

The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 11 matched transaction rows for CMI and 31 matched transaction rows for PAYX. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.

What this comparison cannot tell you

This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.

A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.

CMI vs PAYX FAQs

Are CMI and PAYX direct competitors?

Not necessarily. Cummins files as Engines & Turbines and Paychex as Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management. The pair is compared because both map to the Economic trends research theme, not because the filings show head-to-head competition.

Is CMI or PAYX the bigger company by revenue?

Cummins (CMI) is the larger business by reported revenue: $33.7B in its fiscal year ended Dec 2025, about 5.2× PAYX's $6.5B (fiscal year ended May 2026). The SEC classifies them differently (Engines & Turbines; Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management); what connects them is shared exposure to the Economic trends research theme, not a common industry. Each figure is the annual amount tagged in the company's own SEC XBRL filing; market value depends on live prices, which this page does not publish.

Which is better, CMI or PAYX?

There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.

Does this CMI vs PAYX comparison include live prices?

No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. The financial figures on this page are the audited annual numbers Cummins Inc. and Paychex, Inc. tagged in their SEC XBRL filings. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices and valuation multiples.

Where does the company information come from?

Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-10-03. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.

Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-10-03. Independent educational research; not investment advice.

Which business differences matter to the investment thesis?

CMI vs PAYX compares reported results. The reports below show how we connect operating evidence to an investment thesis, its assumptions, catalysts, and risks. $39/month or $249/year.

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