NASDAQ$PAYX

Paychex Inc · Q2 2026 earnings

Q2 2026 earnings · · Before market open · Investor relations

Briefing

Paychex reported fiscal Q2 2026 total revenue of $1.56B with net income of $395M and diluted EPS of $1.10.

Second-quarter total revenue grew 18% to $1.56 billion, including contributions from the Paycor acquisition. Net income was $395.4 million and diluted EPS was $1.10; adjusted diluted EPS was $1.26. Management solutions and PEO & Insurance Solutions drove the year-over-year increase.

  • Q2 revenue $1.56B (+18% YoY).
  • Net income $395M; GAAP EPS $1.10; adjusted EPS $1.26.
  • Paycor integration expanded the HCM platform.
  • Interest income and client retention support the outlook.

Headline financials

Total Revenue

$1.56B

Previous: $1.32B+18.3%
EPS (adj)

$1.26

Previous: $1.14+10.5%
Operating Margin

36.7%

Previous: 40.9%-10.3%
Adjusted Operating Margin

41.7%

Previous: 40.9%+2.0%
Adjusted Operating Income

$649M

Previous: $538M+20.6%
Effective Income Tax Rate

24.0%

Previous: 24.0%+0.0%
Capital Expenditures

-$118M

Previous: -$82.6M-42.9%
Free Cash Flow

$277M

Previous: $758M-63.4%
Net Income

$395M

Previous: $841M-53.0%
Operating Income

$572M

Previous: $538M+6.3%
Gross Profit

$1.15B

Previous: $938M+22.1%
Cash & Equivalents

$1.49B

Previous: $1.2B+23.6%
Total Assets

$16.5B

Previous: $10.6B+56.5%

Revenue & EPS history

Paychex · Revenue · Quarterly

$1.56B

Q2 2026+18.3%vs Q2 2025
Beat estimate in 8 of 15 quarters(53%)
ActualEstimate

Revenue by segment

Paychex · $1.26B total across 3 segments · Q2 2024

  • Management Solutions
    $931M+4.0%
  • PEO and Insurance Solutions
    $296M+8.2%
  • Interest on Client Funds
    $31.5M+45.2%

Forward guidance

The release discusses Paychex's outlook for upcoming periods, including capital allocation, operating priorities, and market risks, without relying solely on numeric EPS bridges.

Tailwinds

  • Paychex cites operational execution and demand trends supporting the outlook.
  • Balance sheet and liquidity actions aim to fund growth and returns.
  • Management discussed demand, bookings, or volume trends into upcoming quarters.

Headwinds

  • Macro, pricing, and input-cost volatility could pressure margins.
  • Segment mix and one-time items may affect quarter-to-quarter comparability.

Historical earnings impact

How earnings announcements have historically affected this stock's price.

Avg. return before/after earnings

Based on 19 quarterly earnings reports · overlaid with Q2 2026

Historical avgQ2 2026

-0.6%

Avg return

Earnings day

+0.5%

Avg return

5 days after

+1.1%

Avg return

30 days after

36%

26 / 72 earnings

Positive

+10.2%

Q3 2020

Best reaction

-6.3%

Q2 2024

Worst reaction

Earnings price reactions
QuarterReport dateReaction (Day 0)+5 days+30 days
Q3 2026-0.5%+2.7%
Q2 2026-1.7%+0.3%-2.7%
Q1 2026-1.3%-3.0%-8.8%
Q4 2025-2.5%-0.6%-4.7%
Q3 2025+4.2%+7.0%-0.6%
Q2 2025+2.7%+4.1%+7.7%
Q1 2025+4.9%+3.3%+3.8%
Q4 2024-5.8%-6.4%+0.6%
Q3 2024-1.1%+0.6%-2.6%
Q2 2024-6.3%-6.0%-4.5%
Q1 2024+3.9%+0.9%-2.8%
Q4 2023+1.0%+0.7%+14.3%
Q3 2023+4.2%+2.2%+0.8%
Q2 2023+1.1%+0.3%+2.8%
Q1 2023+0.1%+1.4%+5.7%
Q4 2022-5.0%-2.9%+7.0%
Q3 2022+3.0%+5.1%-4.4%
Q2 2022+6.2%+7.3%-6.1%
Q1 2022+6.8%+8.3%+14.3%
Q4 2021+2.5%+2.9%+7.6%
Q3 2021-5.5%-4.0%+1.2%
Q2 2021-2.0%-2.4%-10.1%
Q1 2021-1.1%+1.2%+6.3%
Q4 2020-4.2%-5.8%-6.7%
Q3 2020+10.2%+8.2%+14.3%
Q2 2020-0.2%-0.4%+3.6%
Q1 2020+0.8%+1.3%+2.4%
Q4 2019-3.2%-1.5%+2.1%
Q3 2019-1.3%+1.0%+4.6%
Q2 2019+1.0%-4.2%+8.7%
Q1 2019-0.7%-1.1%-11.8%
Q4 2018-1.5%-1.4%+2.8%
Q3 2018-3.1%-0.2%-2.8%
Q2 2018-1.3%-0.5%+0.4%
Q1 2018+4.7%+6.4%+7.9%
Q4 2017-3.3%-3.6%-1.5%
Q3 2017-2.4%-3.5%-2.1%
Q2 2017-0.7%-0.3%-0.7%
Q1 2017-5.2%-4.7%-8.7%
Q4 2016+5.9%+7.0%+5.6%
Q3 2016-0.9%
Q2 2016+2.6%
Q1 2016+4.6%
Q4 2015+1.6%
Q3 2015-4.5%
Q2 2015-1.5%
Q1 2015+3.0%
Q4 2014-1.0%
Q3 2014+0.1%
Q2 2014+4.7%
Q1 2014-0.9%
Q4 2013-2.7%
Q3 2013+0.6%
Q2 2013-2.3%
Q1 2013-3.3%
Q4 2012-2.5%
Q3 2012-2.3%
Q2 2012-0.5%
Q1 2012+1.3%
Q4 2011-3.6%
Q3 2011-3.0%
Q2 2011-1.1%
Q1 2011+2.0%
Q4 2008-1.8%
Q4 2010-1.8%
Q3 2009-5.2%
Q3 2010-5.2%
Q2 2010-3.0%
Q1 2009-5.1%
Q1 2010-5.1%
Q4 2009-5.1%
Q2 2009-5.1%

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