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Paychex Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 19 December 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue up 18% on quarter: Total revenue rose 18% to $1,557.6 million in the quarter, compared with $1,316.9 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted operating income up 21%: Adjusted operating income excluded Paycor acquisition-related costs and rose 21% to $649.0 million. Reported operating income rose 6% to $571.9 million. Source
  • Management Solutions up 21%: Management Solutions revenue rose 21% to $1.2 billion. Paycor contributed approximately 17% to that growth. Source
  • AI solutions unveiled this quarter: Management cited agentic AI payroll automation and GenAI-powered advisory tools as automating routine tasks and providing actionable insights. Source
  • GAAP operating margin down, adjusted up: Operating margin was 36.7% against 40.9% a year earlier. Adjusted operating margin was 41.7% against 40.9%, excluding Paycor acquisition-related costs. Source
  • Total expenses up 27%: Total expenses rose 27% to $985.7 million, with compensation costs and intangible amortization from Paycor among the drivers. Source
  • Operating cash flow of $1.2 billion: Cash flow from operations was $1.2 billion for the six months, against $841.1 million a year earlier. Source

“Disciplined cost management and productivity improvements, driven in part by our expanding AI capabilities, are enabling us to operate more efficiently while delivering enhanced value to clients.”

John Gibson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted diluted EPS growth Sourcefiscal 202610% to 11%Raised from 9% to 11%

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Adjusted diluted EPS growth range for fiscal 2026 moved to 10% to 11% from 9% to 11%. Source
  • Guidance kept: Other fiscal 2026 guidance items were kept as previously provided. Source
  • New: Management unveiled intelligent AI solutions for workforce management in the quarter. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue up 18% on quarter: Total revenue rose 18% to $1,557.6 million in the quarter, compared with $1,316.9 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted operating income up 21%: Adjusted operating income excluded Paycor acquisition-related costs and rose 21% to $649.0 million. Reported operating income rose 6% to $571.9 million. Source
  • Diluted EPS down, adjusted EPS up: Diluted EPS fell 4% to $1.10. Adjusted diluted EPS rose 11% to $1.26, after excluding acquisition-related costs. Source
  • Six-month revenue and adjusted profit up: For the six months, revenue rose 18% to $3.1 billion and adjusted operating income rose 18% to $1.3 billion. Diluted EPS fell 7% to $2.16. Source

Segments and revenue lines

  • Management Solutions up 21%: Management Solutions revenue rose 21% to $1.2 billion. Paycor contributed approximately 17% to that growth. Source
  • PEO and Insurance up 6%: PEO and Insurance Solutions revenue rose 6% to $336.9 million, on more average PEO worksite employees and higher PEO insurance revenues. Source
  • Interest on client funds up 51%: Interest on funds held for clients rose 51% to $54.3 million, on higher average investment balances after Paycor and higher realized gains from portfolio repositioning. Source
  • Six-month segment revenue growth: For the six months, PEO and Insurance Solutions revenue rose 5% to $666.0 million. Total service revenue rose 17% to $3.0 billion. Source

“We are proud of the significant progress we've made on key strategic priorities, enabling us to deliver the most comprehensive suite of HCM solutions in the industry.”

John Gibson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Products, AI and customers

  • AI solutions unveiled this quarter: Management cited agentic AI payroll automation and GenAI-powered advisory tools as automating routine tasks and providing actionable insights. Source
  • AI tools for all business sizes: Management said it is using one of the industry's largest and richest datasets to make enterprise-grade AI available to businesses of all sizes. Source
  • Paycor upmarket clients lift revenue per client: Higher revenue per client came from Paycor's upmarket client base, price realization and product penetration, according to management. Source
  • Client growth from Paycor and worksite employees: Growth in clients served came mainly from the Paycor acquisition and client worksite employees for HR Solutions. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • GAAP operating margin down, adjusted up: Operating margin was 36.7% against 40.9% a year earlier. Adjusted operating margin was 41.7% against 40.9%, excluding Paycor acquisition-related costs. Source
  • Total expenses up 27%: Total expenses rose 27% to $985.7 million, with compensation costs and intangible amortization from Paycor among the drivers. Source
  • Paycor acquisition costs excluded from adjusted: Acquisition-related costs total $77.1 million in the reconciliation, including $60.0 million of intangible amortization. The text cites $77.0 million. Source
  • Tax rate flat year over year: Effective income tax rate was 24.0% in both the second quarter and the prior year period, both affected by discrete stock-compensation tax impacts. Source

“Innovation remains central to our strategy as we accelerate the deployment of AI-powered technologies to transform workforce management.”

John Gibson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Cash, capital and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow of $1.2 billion: Cash flow from operations was $1.2 billion for the six months, against $841.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Cash and borrowings position: Cash, restricted cash and total corporate investments were $1.6 billion. Short- and long-term borrowings, net of debt issuance costs, were $5.0 billion. Source
  • Dividends paid over six months: Cumulative dividends of $2.16 per share, totaling $777.0 million, were paid in the six months. Source
  • Share repurchases in six months: The company repurchased 2.1 million shares for $286.6 million in the six months, against $104.5 million a year earlier. Source

Paycor, guidance basis and investment

  • Guidance excludes acquisition costs: Fiscal 2026 guidance excludes acquisition-related costs, which totaled $161.9 million for the six months. Source
  • Paycor integration compensation costs: Integration compensation, including replacement awards, severance and retention bonuses, was $13.2 million for the quarter and $31.9 million for six months. Source
  • Technology and selling investment rose: Technology, selling and marketing investment rose on Paycor and on continued strategic initiatives, adding to total expenses. Source

Coming up, as management said on 19 December 2025

  • Form 10-Q filing expected: Management expects to file the second-quarter Form 10-Q within the next couple of business days. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Customers Sourceapproximately 800,000 customers in the U.S. and Europe

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management said changes in the macroeconomic environment could alter fiscal 2026 guidance. Source
  • Financial: Interest expense rose on incremental debt issued to finance the Paycor acquisition. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said other aspects of fiscal 2026 guidance remain as provided previously. No status was given. 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.