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Paycom Software, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 raised, 1 narrowed. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Total revenue grew 10.2%: Total revenues were $543.8 million, up from $493.3 million a year earlier. Recurring and other revenue rose 11.3% to $519.3 million and was 95.5% of the total. Source
  • GAAP net income rose to $133.2M: GAAP net income was $133.2 million, or $2.99 per diluted share, against $110.7 million, or $1.96, a year earlier. Net income was 24% of total revenues. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose to $268.1M: Adjusted EBITDA was $268.1 million, against $194.3 million a year earlier. The company reported it as 49% of total revenues in the quarter. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 49.3%: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 49.3% for the quarter, against 39.4% a year earlier. For the nine months it was 47.3%, against 42.8%. Source
  • Nine-month operating cash flow rose: Net cash provided by operating activities was $613.9 million for the nine months, against $482.8 million. Free cash flow was $536.5 million, a 32.6% margin, against $285.4 million. Source
  • Nine-month buybacks reached $1.39 billion: Repurchases of common stock were $1,390.9 million for the nine months, against $218.9 million a year earlier. Withholding taxes on net share settlements were $18.2 million. Source
  • R&D expense fell sharply: Research and development expense was $38.5 million, against $74.1 million. Total research and development costs were 10.3% of revenues, against 23.8%. Source

“Our strong third-quarter results reflect the tremendous ROI clients are realizing from the automated decisioning logic built into our platform”

Chad Richison, Paycom founder and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total revenue SourceYear ending December 31, 2026$2.213 billion to $2.218 billionRaised from $2.197 billion to $2.212 billion
Recurring and other revenue growth SourceYear ending December 31, 2026approximately 9%Narrowed, low end up from between 8% and 9%
Interest on funds held for clients SourceYear ending December 31, 2026approximately $107.0 millionRaised from approximately $105 million
Adjusted EBITDA SourceYear ending December 31, 2026$1.069 billion to $1.079 billionRaised from $1.007 billion to $1.022 billion
Adjusted EBITDA margin SourceYear ending December 31, 202648.5% at the midpointRaised from approximately 46% at the midpoint

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year total revenue range moved up from $2.197 billion to $2.212 billion to $2.213 billion to $2.218 billion. Source
  • Guidance raised: Adjusted EBITDA range and midpoint margin moved up from $1.007 billion to $1.022 billion, about 46%, to $1.069 billion to $1.079 billion, 48.5%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Expected interest on funds held for clients moved up from approximately $105 million to approximately $107.0 million. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Total revenue grew 10.2%: Total revenues were $543.8 million, up from $493.3 million a year earlier. Recurring and other revenue rose 11.3% to $519.3 million and was 95.5% of the total. Source
  • GAAP net income rose to $133.2M: GAAP net income was $133.2 million, or $2.99 per diluted share, against $110.7 million, or $1.96, a year earlier. Net income was 24% of total revenues. Source
  • Non-GAAP net income reached $150M: Non-GAAP net income was $150 million, or $3.37 per diluted share, against $1.94 per diluted share a year earlier. The measure adds back non-cash stock-based compensation. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose to $268.1M: Adjusted EBITDA was $268.1 million, against $194.3 million a year earlier. The company reported it as 49% of total revenues in the quarter. Source

Costs and operating expenses

  • Sales and marketing fell as a share: Sales and marketing expense was $108.0 million, or 19.9% of revenue, against $125.7 million, or 25.5%, a year earlier. Non-cash stock-based compensation within it was $4.3 million. Source
  • G&A expense rose year over year: General and administrative expense was $88.2 million, up from $71.9 million a year earlier. The release does not give a reason for the increase. Source
  • Cost-of-revenue D&A increased: Depreciation and amortization in cost of revenues was $24.6 million, up from $21.3 million. Total depreciation and amortization was $50.7 million, against $44.9 million. Source

“Our software and infrastructure allow us to develop, release, host, distribute, and service technology that delivers greater value to our clients and Paycom.”

Chad Richison, Paycom founder and CEO

Margins and profitability

  • Adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 49.3%: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 49.3% for the quarter, against 39.4% a year earlier. For the nine months it was 47.3%, against 42.8%. Source
  • Gross margin edged higher: Gross margin was 84.0%, against 82.7%. Adjusted gross margin, excluding non-cash stock-based compensation, was 84.4%, against 83.4%. Source
  • Other income fell from prior gain: Other income, net was $1.2 million, against $41.3 million a year earlier. The prior-year quarter included a $35.6 million gain on modification of the naming rights agreement. Source
  • Tax provision rose with pretax income: Provision for income taxes was $52.1 million, against $42.1 million, on income before income taxes of $185.3 million, against $152.8 million. Source

Cash flow and capital spending

  • Nine-month operating cash flow rose: Net cash provided by operating activities was $613.9 million for the nine months, against $482.8 million. Free cash flow was $536.5 million, a 32.6% margin, against $285.4 million. Source
  • Capital spending fell: Purchases of property and equipment were $77.4 million for the nine months, against $197.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Cash balance lower than June: Cash and cash equivalents were $193.9 million at September 30, against $198.0 million at June 30 and $370.0 million at December 31, 2025. Source

“This represents a powerful advantage across our large and expanding TAM.”

Chad Richison, Paycom founder and CEO

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Nine-month buybacks reached $1.39 billion: Repurchases of common stock were $1,390.9 million for the nine months, against $218.9 million a year earlier. Withholding taxes on net share settlements were $18.2 million. Source
  • Shares outstanding decreased: Shares outstanding were 44.3 million at September 30, 2026, against 54.8 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Dividends paid in the quarter: The company paid $16.7 million in cash dividends in the quarter. Dividends paid for the nine months were $52.2 million, against $64.1 million. Source
  • Long-term debt reduced to $750M: Long-term debt was $750.0 million at September 30, 2026, against $900.0 million at June 30, 2026. Source

Funds held and interest

  • Interest on client funds declined: Interest on funds held for clients was $24.5 million in the quarter, against $26.8 million. For the nine months it was $78.3 million, against $85.8 million. Source
  • Interest expense rose year over year: Interest expense was $11.7 million, against $1.1 million a year earlier. Nine-month proceeds from credit facility borrowings were $900.0 million. Source

Research and development spending

  • R&D expense fell sharply: Research and development expense was $38.5 million, against $74.1 million. Total research and development costs were 10.3% of revenues, against 23.8%. Source
  • Capitalized R&D costs fell: Capitalized research and development costs were $17.4 million in the quarter, against $43.5 million. For the nine months they were $58.4 million, against $114.2 million. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 November 2026

  • Full-year 2026 guidance: Management gave full-year 2026 expected financial guidance for the year ending December 31, 2026, set out in the guidance section. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Recurring and other revenue Source$519.3 million, up 11.3%; 95.5% of total revenues

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Management said forward reconciliations to net income are not available because of uncertainty in several items, including taxes, interest and capital expenditures. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said the full-year guidance is being raised again, following an earlier raise. Source

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.