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Paychex Inc.: Q4 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 24 June 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 7 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter revenue grew 12%: Total revenue reached $1.6 billion in the quarter, up 12% from the prior-year period. Source
  • Fiscal-year revenue up 17%: Full-year total revenue rose 17% to $6.5 billion, operating income rose 14% to $2.5 billion, and adjusted operating income rose 19% to $2.8 billion. Source
  • Management Solutions up 14%: Management Solutions revenue rose 14% to $1.2 billion; Paycor contributed about 8 points of the growth. Source
  • Quarterly operating margin 37.7%: Operating margin was 37.7% for the quarter against 30.2% a year earlier; adjusted operating margin was 42.1% against 40.4%. Source
  • Operating cash flow $2.6 billion: Cash flow from operations for the year was $2.6 billion; cash, restricted cash and corporate investments totalled $1.2 billion at May 31, 2026. Source
  • Shareholder returns totaled $2.2 billion: Dividends of $4.43 per share totalled $1.6 billion, and 5.6 million shares were repurchased for $611.0 million during fiscal 2026. Source
  • WISE uses patent-pending technology: WISE draws insights from unstructured data using patent-pending technology, which the company says is meant to raise productivity and client outcomes. Source
  • Fiscal 2027 guidance issued: The company issued fiscal 2027 guidance reflecting current assumptions and market conditions, as set out in the guidance section. Source

“We finished fiscal 2026 with strong momentum, delivering double-digit revenue and earnings growth while accelerating organic revenue growth throughout the year,”

John Gibson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total revenue Sourcefiscal 20275% to 6%New
Management Solutions revenue Sourcefiscal 20275% to 6%New
PEO and Insurance Solutions revenue Sourcefiscal 20276% to 7%New
Interest on funds held for clients Sourcefiscal 2027$195 million to $205 millionNew
Adjusted operating margin Sourcefiscal 2027approximately 44%New
Effective income tax rate Sourcefiscal 2027approximately 24%New
Adjusted diluted earnings per share growth Sourcefiscal 20277% to 9%New

What changed from last quarter

  • New: The company launched WISE, an AI-powered intelligence engine, across its HCM platforms and internal operations. Source
  • Ended: Senior Notes, Series A matured in March 2026 and were repaid, lowering corporate investment balances. Source

Fourth quarter and full-year results

  • Fourth-quarter revenue grew 12%: Total revenue reached $1.6 billion in the quarter, up 12% from the prior-year period. Source
  • Fiscal-year revenue up 17%: Full-year total revenue rose 17% to $6.5 billion, operating income rose 14% to $2.5 billion, and adjusted operating income rose 19% to $2.8 billion. Source
  • Quarterly EPS up 43% on GAAP basis: Diluted EPS was $1.17, up 43%, and adjusted diluted EPS was $1.32, up 11%, for the quarter. Full-year diluted EPS rose 7% to $4.89. Source
  • Paycor now in full quarter: The quarter includes a full period of Paycor, acquired in April 2025, against a partial-quarter in the prior-year period. Source

Segments and revenue lines

  • Management Solutions up 14%: Management Solutions revenue rose 14% to $1.2 billion; Paycor contributed about 8 points of the growth. Source
  • PEO and Insurance revenue up 9%: PEO and Insurance Solutions revenue rose 9% to $369.7 million, mainly from more average PEO worksite employees and higher PEO insurance revenues. Source
  • Client-fund interest up 15%: Interest on funds held for clients rose 15% to $52.2 million on higher average investment balances from the Paycor acquisition. Source

“As businesses look for a trusted partner to help them manage increasing work and complexity, we believe Paychex is well positioned to deliver differentiated value through the combination of our AI-driven technology and deep advisory expertise.”

John Gibson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Products and client base

  • HR product penetration rose: Management Solutions growth came from higher product penetration and more client worksite employees in HR Solutions. Source
  • Upmarket base lifts revenue per client: Paycor's upmarket client base drove price realization and higher revenue per client within Management Solutions. Source
  • About 800,000 clients served: The company describes itself as serving approximately 800,000 clients and paying one in eleven U.S. private sector workers. Source

Costs and expenses

  • Total expenses flat in quarter: Total expenses were roughly unchanged year over year, with Paycor-driven compensation and amortization increases offset by lower acquisition costs. Source
  • Acquisition costs fell year over year: Acquisition-related compensation and other acquisition costs, mainly professional service fees, were lower than in the prior-year period. Source
  • Technology and marketing spend rose: Higher technology, selling and marketing investment tied to Paycor and the company's strategic priorities added to expenses. Source
  • Paycor amortization within acquisition costs: Paycor intangible amortization inside acquisition-related costs was $60.5 million for the quarter and $242.0 million for the year. Source

“Our durable business model and strong cash generation enabled us to return $2.2 billion to shareholders this fiscal year while continuing to invest in innovation and future growth.”

John Gibson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Margins and below-the-line items

  • Quarterly operating margin 37.7%: Operating margin was 37.7% for the quarter against 30.2% a year earlier; adjusted operating margin was 42.1% against 40.4%. Source
  • Full-year margins on both bases: Full-year operating margin was 38.6% against 39.6%, while adjusted operating margin was 43.2% against 42.5%. Source
  • Interest expense up on Paycor debt: Interest expense rose $1.0 million to $64.7 million, reflecting incremental debt issued in April 2025 to finance Paycor. Source
  • Other income fell on lower balances: Other income, net fell $7.7 million to $14.2 million, which the company attributes to lower average corporate investment balances. Source
  • Effective tax rate edged up: The effective income tax rate was 24.1% for the quarter against 23.7%; both periods included discrete tax impacts from stock-based compensation. Source

Cash, debt and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow $2.6 billion: Cash flow from operations for the year was $2.6 billion; cash, restricted cash and corporate investments totalled $1.2 billion at May 31, 2026. Source
  • Shareholder returns totaled $2.2 billion: Dividends of $4.43 per share totalled $1.6 billion, and 5.6 million shares were repurchased for $611.0 million during fiscal 2026. Source
  • Borrowings stood at $4.6 billion: Short- and long-term borrowings, net of debt issuance costs, were $4.6 billion at May 31, 2026. Source

Technology, integration and strategy

  • WISE uses patent-pending technology: WISE draws insights from unstructured data using patent-pending technology, which the company says is meant to raise productivity and client outcomes. Source
  • Paycor integration tied to upmarket push: Management cited execution on the Paycor integration as advancing its upmarket expansion, one of two named strategic priorities. Source
  • Adjusted measures exclude acquisition costs: Forward-looking adjusted operating margin and adjusted EPS exclude acquisition-related costs, consistent with how results are reported. Source

Fiscal 2027 guidance and filings

  • Fiscal 2027 guidance issued: The company issued fiscal 2027 guidance reflecting current assumptions and market conditions, as set out in the guidance section. Source
  • Full-year revenue growth shown: Full-year reporting covers the twelve months ended May 31, 2026, against the prior twelve-month period. Source

Coming up, as management said on 24 June 2026

  • Form 10-K filing expected: The company expects to file its Form 10-K before the end of July 2026 and make it available on its investor relations portal. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Clients served Sourceapproximately 800,000

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management said changes in the macroeconomic environment could alter its fiscal 2027 guidance. Source
  • Financial: The stock-based compensation tax shortfall or windfall is volatile and depends on employee option exercises and the stock price, which management does not control. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management described the quarter's results as reflecting execution against two strategic priorities. 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.