NASDAQ$PAYX

Paychex Inc · Q3 2020 earnings

Q3 2020 earnings · · Investor relations

Briefing

Paychex reported solid growth across its major business lines, benefiting from investments in product offerings and technology enhancements, and achieving record-level retention rates.

Paychex, Inc. announced a 7% increase in total revenue, reaching $1.1 billion for the third quarter ended February 29, 2020. Net income and diluted earnings per share each increased by 9% to $354.5 million and $0.98, respectively. The company experienced solid growth across its major business lines, driven by investments in product offerings and technology.

  • Total revenue increased 7% to $1.1 billion.
  • Operating income increased 10% to $470.1 million.
  • Net income increased 9% to $354.5 million.
  • Diluted earnings per share increased 9% to $0.98 per share.

Headline financials

Total Revenue

$1.14B

Previous: $1.07B+6.8%
EPS (adj)

$0.97

Previous: $0.89+9.0%
Operating Margin

41.1%

Previous: 40.1%+2.5%
Capital Expenditures

-$91.9M

Previous: -$88M-4.4%
Free Cash Flow

$263M

Previous: $237M+11.0%
Net Income

$355M

Previous: $325M+9.2%
Operating Income

$470M

Previous: $429M+9.5%
Gross Profit

$802M

Previous: $745M+7.7%
Cash & Equivalents

$780M

Previous: $696M+12.0%
Total Assets

$9.47B

Previous: $10.4B-8.6%
Stock-Based Comp

$12.7M

Previous: $10.8M+17.6%

Revenue & EPS history

Paychex · Revenue · Quarterly

$1.14B

Q3 2020+6.8%vs Q3 2019
Beat estimate in 14 of 16 quarters(88%)
ActualEstimate

Revenue by segment

Paychex · $1.14B total across 3 segments · Q3 2020

  • Management Solutions
    $850M+6.0%
  • PEO and Insurance Solutions
    $272M+10.5%
  • Interest on Client Funds
    $21.2M-7.8%

Forward guidance

Paychex anticipates total revenue to grow in the range of 8% to 9%. Management Solutions revenue is anticipated to grow approximately 4% and PEO and Insurance Solutions revenue is anticipated to grow approximately 24%.

Tailwinds

  • Management Solutions revenue is anticipated to grow approximately 4%.
  • PEO and Insurance Solutions revenue is anticipated to grow approximately 24%.
  • Interest on funds held for clients is anticipated to decline in the range of 2% to 3%.
  • Total revenue is anticipated to grow in the range of 8% to 9%.
  • The effective income tax rate for fiscal 2020 is expected to be in the range of 23.5% to 24.0%.

Headwinds

  • Our outlook for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2020 incorporates known and some estimated impacts related to the COVID-19 virus, including the most recent reductions in the Federal Funds rate.
  • The impact from the rapidly changing market and economic conditions due to COVID-19 is uncertain and could impact our results of operations and financial condition in the future.
  • That impact could alter our guidance
  • Operating margin is anticipated to be approximately 36%.
  • Other expense, net is anticipated to be in the range of $22 million to $24 million.

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 Q3 2020

Historical avgQ3 2020

-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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