Korn Ferry vs Paylocity
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KIRA’s take AI analyst
I put Korn Ferry and Paylocity side by side, using each one’s latest annual report. Here is what stands out:
- Korn Ferry is the larger business, with $2.9B of revenue in fiscal 2026 against $1.8B for Paylocity, about 1.7 times as much.
- Paylocity grew revenue faster (11.0%, against 6.4%).
- Paylocity kept more of each dollar of sales as operating profit (21.8% operating margin, against 12.8%).
- Paylocity turned more of its sales into free cash flow (28.1% FCF margin, against 11.0%).
- Paylocity earned a higher return on the capital invested in it (26.5%, against 21.9%).
Who comes out ahead
Of the 10 measures where higher (or lower) is clearly better, how many each company leads.
Korn Ferry
KFY
1/10
Net debt / EBITDA
Paylocity
PCTY
8/10
Revenue growth5-year growthOperating marginNet marginFCF marginReturn on capitalReturn on equityShare count change
Side by side
Best in the row
| Latest fiscal year | KFY FY26 | PCTY FY26 |
|---|---|---|
| Size | ||
| Market cap | $4.0B | $9.7B |
| Revenue | $2.9B | $1.8B |
| Free cash flow | $324M | $497M |
| Net income | $277M | $270M |
| Growth | ||
| Revenue growth | 6.4% | 11.0% |
| 5-year growth | 10.1% | 22.8% |
| Share count change | −0.5% | −3.2% |
| Profitability | ||
| Gross margin | — | 69.2% |
| Operating margin | 12.8% | 21.8% |
| Net margin | 9.4% | 15.2% |
| FCF margin | 11.0% | 28.1% |
| Return on capital | 21.9% | 26.5% |
| Return on equity | 14.5% | 22.0% |
| Balance sheet | ||
| Net debt | −$731M | −$191M |
| Net debt / EBITDA | −1.5x | −0.4x |
| Dividends and buybacks | $220M | $398M |
| Valuation & quality | ||
| P/E | 14.8x | — |
| Piotroski F-score | 8 | 8 |
Ten years
Revenue
Operating margin
Free cash flow
Return on capital
Each company's latest fiscal year; fiscal years end in different months. The best value in each row is highlighted where higher (or lower) is clearly better. Not investment advice.