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Paycom Software, Inc.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue grew 9% year over year: Total revenues were $493.3 million, up from $451.9 million, a 9.1% increase. Nine-month revenue was $1,507.4 million against $1,389.3 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 39.4%: Adjusted EBITDA was $194.3 million, up from $171.3 million, a 39.4% margin against 37.9%. Second-quarter margin was 41.0%; nine-month margin was 42.8%. Source
  • GAAP diluted EPS rose to $1.96: GAAP net income was $110.7 million, or $1.96 per diluted share, against $73.3 million, or $1.31. The figure includes a tax-adjusted gain on the naming rights agreement. Source
  • Nine-month free cash flow was $285.4M: Free cash flow for nine months was $285.4 million, or 18.9% of revenues, against $232.0 million and 16.7%. Capital expenditures were $197.4 million. Source
  • Quarterly buybacks reached $223.4 million: Paycom repurchased 1,023,790 shares for $223.4 million in the quarter and paid $21.1 million in cash dividends. Second-quarter repurchases were $32.6 million for 127,717 shares. Source
  • Full-year revenue range held: Full-year 2025 revenue guidance stayed at $2.045 billion to $2.055 billion, about 9% growth at the midpoint, the same as in the second-quarter release. Source
  • Full-year EBITDA range held: Adjusted EBITDA guidance stayed at $872 million to $882 million, with a margin of about 43% at the midpoint, unchanged from August. Source

“Our award-winning products Beti, GONE and IWant continue to be differentiators in the market, expanding our sales pipeline.”

Paycom founder, CEO and chairman, Chad Richison

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total revenue SourceFiscal year 2025 (year ending December 31, 2025)$2.045 billion to $2.055 billion; growth of approximately 9% at the midpointKept
Recurring and other revenue growth SourceFiscal year 2025approximately 10% year over yearKept
Interest on funds held for clients SourceFiscal year 2025approximately $113 millionKept
Adjusted EBITDA and margin SourceFiscal year 2025$872 million to $882 million; margin of approximately 43% at the midpointKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Full-year 2025 guidance in this release matches the ranges given in the second-quarter release.
  • New: The company recorded a gain tied to modification of its naming rights agreement, $26.3 million after tax, in the quarter. Source

Revenue and recurring growth

  • Revenue grew 9% year over year: Total revenues were $493.3 million, up from $451.9 million, a 9.1% increase. Nine-month revenue was $1,507.4 million against $1,389.3 million. Source
  • Recurring revenue grew 10.6%: Recurring and other revenues were $466.5 million, up 10.6%, and made up 94.6% of total revenues. Second-quarter recurring and other revenues were $455.1 million. Source
  • Interest on client funds declined: Interest on funds held for clients was $26.8 million, down from $30.1 million. Nine-month interest was $85.8 million against $95.9 million. Source

Margins and cost ratios

  • Adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 39.4%: Adjusted EBITDA was $194.3 million, up from $171.3 million, a 39.4% margin against 37.9%. Second-quarter margin was 41.0%; nine-month margin was 42.8%. Source
  • Gross margin rose to 82.7%: Gross margin was 82.7% against 80.5% a year earlier. Adjusted gross margin was 83.4% against 81.3%. Source
  • Sales and marketing ratio rose: Sales and marketing expense was $125.7 million, or 25.5% of revenues, against 23.1%. Adjusted sales and marketing expense was 24.1% of revenues against 22.4%. Source
  • Research and development ratio rose: Total research and development costs, including capitalized amounts, were $117.6 million, or 23.8% of revenues, against 21.3%. Capitalized costs were $43.5 million. Source

“We remain focused on full-solution automation and command-driven navigation, which are delivering tremendous ROI for our clients”

Paycom founder, CEO and chairman, Chad Richison

Net income and per-share results

  • GAAP diluted EPS rose to $1.96: GAAP net income was $110.7 million, or $1.96 per diluted share, against $73.3 million, or $1.31. The figure includes a tax-adjusted gain on the naming rights agreement. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS rose to $1.94: Non-GAAP net income was $109.6 million, or $1.94 per diluted share, against $93.4 million, or $1.67. Nine-month non-GAAP diluted EPS was $6.81 against $5.89. Source
  • Nine-month GAAP EPS fell: Nine-month net income was $339.6 million against $388.4 million, and nine-month diluted EPS was $6.02 against $6.89. Source

Cash flow and client funds

  • Nine-month free cash flow was $285.4M: Free cash flow for nine months was $285.4 million, or 18.9% of revenues, against $232.0 million and 16.7%. Capital expenditures were $197.4 million. Source
  • Client funds balances declined: The net change in the client funds obligation was negative $1,845.8 million for nine months. Funds held for clients were $1,819.9 million, down from $3,665.5 million at year-end. Source
  • Cash balance was $375.0 million: Cash and cash equivalents were $375.0 million at September 30, 2025, against $402.0 million at December 31, 2024. Source

Capital returns to shareholders

  • Quarterly buybacks reached $223.4 million: Paycom repurchased 1,023,790 shares for $223.4 million in the quarter and paid $21.1 million in cash dividends. Second-quarter repurchases were $32.6 million for 127,717 shares. Source
  • Nine-month buybacks and withholding taxes: Nine-month repurchases of common stock were $218.9 million in the cash flow statement, and withholding taxes on net share settlements were $42.4 million. Source
  • Shares outstanding declined: Shares outstanding were 55.3 million at September 30, 2025, against 55.9 million at December 31, 2024. Source

Full-year 2025 guidance

  • Full-year revenue range held: Full-year 2025 revenue guidance stayed at $2.045 billion to $2.055 billion, about 9% growth at the midpoint, the same as in the second-quarter release. Source
  • Full-year EBITDA range held: Adjusted EBITDA guidance stayed at $872 million to $882 million, with a margin of about 43% at the midpoint, unchanged from August. Source
  • Recurring growth and interest held: Recurring and other revenue growth guidance of about 10% and interest on funds held for clients of about $113 million were both kept. Source
  • Forward EBITDA not reconciled to net income: The release does not reconcile forward adjusted EBITDA ranges to net income, citing uncertainty in depreciation, interest, taxes and stock-based compensation. Source

Products and company description

  • IWant described as AI engine: The company describes IWant as an industry-first AI engine that gives instant access to employee data without navigating the software. Source
  • Full-solution automation in single database: The company says its technology uses AI and full-solution automation to streamline processes in a single database from hire to retire. Source
  • Recognized for 25 years: The company states it has been recognized for over 25 years and serves businesses of all sizes in the U.S. and internationally. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2025

  • Guidance covers rest of 2025: The guidance covers the year ending December 31, 2025, so the period still ahead after this report is the fourth quarter. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Recurring and other revenues Source$466.5 million in the quarter, up 10.6%; $1,421.6 million for nine months, against $1,293.4 million

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.