RBC maintains Paychex stock rating, $148 price target

Published 12/03/2025, 16:50
RBC maintains Paychex stock rating, $148 price target

On Wednesday, RBC Capital Markets reiterated their Sector Perform rating on Paychex (NASDAQ:PAYX) stock, with a steady price target of $148.00. According to InvestingPro data, seven analysts have recently revised their earnings estimates upward for the upcoming period, with price targets ranging from $120 to $155. In their analysis, RBC highlighted the expected discussion points in the upcoming earnings report, which includes Paychex’s preliminary financial guidance for fiscal year 2026 and the recent completion of the PYCR acquisition.

The firm anticipates an earnings report that aligns with previous expectations and a confirmation of the fiscal year 2025 guidance. With impressive gross profit margins of 71.8% and a strong return on equity of 46%, Paychex demonstrates solid operational efficiency. RBC is closely observing the potential effects of economic challenges on the creation of small businesses and job growth. They note that, similar to the previous quarter, Paychex is likely to report robust sales in its Professional Employer Organization (PEO) services and mid-market Human Capital Management (HCM), with revenue retention surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

The report also mentioned Paychex’s client retention rates, which are showing signs of improvement, and stable pricing strategies. Additionally, Paychex is experiencing moderate growth in insurance attachment and participation rates. However, these positive trends are somewhat tempered by the underperformance of the at-risk medical plan in Florida and a deceleration in the hiring process.

For the fiscal year 2026, RBC expects Paychex to set a preliminary revenue growth target of 6% and to achieve margin expansion. This forward-looking guidance is a key focus for investors as it indicates the company’s growth trajectory and profitability outlook.

Paychex, a leading provider of integrated human capital management solutions for payroll, benefits, human resources, and insurance services, has been navigating the changing economic landscape while continuing to expand its market presence through strategic acquisitions like PYCR. The company has maintained dividend payments for 38 consecutive years and currently offers a 2.7% dividend yield. For deeper insights into Paychex’s financial health and growth potential, including 15 additional ProTips and comprehensive valuation metrics, visit InvestingPro.

In other recent news, Paycor (NASDAQ:PYCR) HCM, Inc. reported second-quarter fiscal 2025 earnings that exceeded analyst expectations, with revenue increasing by 13% year-over-year. The company posted adjusted earnings per share of $0.14, surpassing the analyst estimate of $0.12. Revenue reached $180.4 million, beating the consensus estimate of $177.17 million. Recurring revenues, a key metric for the company, rose 14% to $167.4 million. Additionally, Paycor’s adjusted operating income increased by 36% to $31.8 million, representing 18% of total revenues. Paycor has announced a definitive agreement to be acquired by Paychex, Inc. in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $4.1 billion. The merger is expected to close in the first half of calendar 2025, pending regulatory approvals. Due to the pending acquisition, Paycor has suspended financial guidance for fiscal year 2025 and will not provide guidance for the upcoming third quarter.

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