NASDAQ$PAYX
Paychex Inc · Q4 2026 earnings
Q4 2026 earnings · · Before market open · Investor relations
Briefing
Paychex reported strong double-digit revenue and earnings growth for the fourth quarter and full fiscal year 2026.
Paychex delivered total revenue of $1.6 billion in Q4 2026, up 12% year-over-year, with operating income rising 40% to $604.7 million. Adjusted diluted EPS grew 11% to $1.32. The company completed the Paycor integration, launched its WISE AI platform, and returned $2.2 billion to shareholders for the full year.
- Q4 total revenue reached $1,605.5 million, a 12% increase driven by Management Solutions growth including Paycor contribution.
- Operating income rose 40% to $604.7 million while adjusted operating margin expanded to 42.1%.
- Diluted EPS increased 43% to $1.17 and adjusted diluted EPS rose 11% to $1.32 for the quarter.
- Full-year revenue grew 17% to $6.5 billion with $2.2 billion returned to shareholders via dividends and buybacks.
Headline financials
Revenue & EPS history
Paychex · Revenue · Quarterly
$1.61B
Revenue by segment
Paychex · $1.61B total across 3 segments · Q4 2026
- Management Solutions$1.18B—73.7%
- PEO and Insurance Solutions$370M—23.0%
- Interest on funds held for clients$52.2M—3.3%
Forward guidance
Fiscal 2027 outlook anticipates total revenue growth of 5% to 6%, adjusted operating margin of approximately 44%, and adjusted diluted EPS growth of 7% to 9%.
Tailwinds
- Management Solutions revenue growth expected at 5-6%
- PEO and Insurance Solutions revenue growth of 6-7%
- Adjusted operating margin expansion to ~44%
Historical earnings impact
How earnings announcements have historically affected this stock's price.
Avg. return before/after earnings
Based on 18 quarterly earnings reports
-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
| Quarter | Report date | Reaction (Day 0) | +5 days | +30 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q4 2026 | — | — | — | |
| 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 2010 | -1.8% | — | — | |
| Q4 2008 | -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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