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Paylocity Holding Corp.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 raised, 4 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Recurring revenue rose 11.3%: Recurring and other revenue was $387.0M, against $347.7M a year earlier, with the company citing the selling season as part of the quarter. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose to $142.7M: Adjusted EBITDA was $142.7M, against $126.2M. Excluding interest income on funds held for clients, it was $113.6M, against $96.9M a year earlier. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS rose to $1.85: Non-GAAP net income per share was $1.85, against $1.52 a year earlier. Six-month non-GAAP net income per share was $3.59, against $3.18. Source
  • Trailing free cash flow reached $396.9M: Trailing twelve-month free cash flow was $396.9M, or 23.6% of total revenue, against $315.1M or 21.0% a year earlier. Source
  • Second-quarter buybacks of $100M: The company repurchased $100 million, or 690,000 shares, in the second quarter. Since May 2024, repurchases total $600 million, or 3.7 million shares. Source
  • Full-year total revenue range raised: Full-year total revenue is now expected at $1.732B to $1.742B, about 9% growth, against $1.715B to $1.730B previously. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EBITDA range raised: Full-year adjusted EBITDA is expected at $622.5M to $630.5M, against $615.0M to $625.0M previously. Excluding client-fund interest, $510.5M to $518.5M. Source
  • Continued internal AI and automation spend: Management said it continues investing in AI and broader automation internally, aiming at greater efficiency and productivity across the business. Source

“The momentum seen in Q1 continued into the second quarter”

Toby Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer of Paylocity

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Recurring and other revenue SourceThird quarter fiscal 2026$457.5 million to $462.5 million (approximately 9%-10% growth)New
Total revenue SourceThird quarter fiscal 2026$487.0 million to $492.0 million (approximately 7%-8% growth)New
Adjusted EBITDA SourceThird quarter fiscal 2026$200.0 million to $204.0 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA excluding interest income on funds held for clients SourceThird quarter fiscal 2026$170.5 million to $174.5 millionNew
Recurring and other revenue SourceFiscal year 2026$1.620 billion to $1.630 billion (approximately 10%-11% growth)Raised from $1.605 billion to $1.620 billion
Total revenue SourceFiscal year 2026$1.732 billion to $1.742 billion (approximately 9% growth)Raised from $1.715 billion to $1.730 billion
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFiscal year 2026$622.5 million to $630.5 millionRaised from $615.0 million to $625.0 million
Adjusted EBITDA excluding interest income on funds held for clients SourceFiscal year 2026$510.5 million to $518.5 millionRaised from $505.0 million to $515.0 million

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Third-quarter 2026 guidance given; the prior release gave guidance for the second quarter and full year only. Source
  • Guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 recurring and other revenue range raised from $1.605 billion-$1.620 billion to $1.620 billion-$1.630 billion. Source
  • Guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 total revenue range raised from $1.715 billion-$1.730 billion to $1.732 billion-$1.742 billion. Source
  • Guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 adjusted EBITDA range raised from $615.0 million-$625.0 million to $622.5 million-$630.5 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 adjusted EBITDA excluding client-fund interest range raised from $505.0 million-$515.0 million to $510.5 million-$518.5 million. Source
  • New: Benefits Guided Setup added as a platform capability for open enrollment season. Source

Results and revenue growth

  • Recurring revenue rose 11.3%: Recurring and other revenue was $387.0M, against $347.7M a year earlier, with the company citing the selling season as part of the quarter. Source
  • Total revenue reached $416.1M: Total revenue was $416.1M, up 10.4% from $377.0M. Interest income on funds held for clients was $29.2M, against $29.3M a year earlier. Source
  • GAAP net income and EPS rose: GAAP net income was $50.2M, or $0.92 per diluted share on 54.8M shares, against $37.5M or $0.66 on 56.7M shares a year earlier. Source

Profitability and cost lines

  • Adjusted EBITDA rose to $142.7M: Adjusted EBITDA was $142.7M, against $126.2M. Excluding interest income on funds held for clients, it was $113.6M, against $96.9M a year earlier. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS rose to $1.85: Non-GAAP net income per share was $1.85, against $1.52 a year earlier. Six-month non-GAAP net income per share was $3.59, against $3.18. Source
  • Adjusted gross profit rose: Adjusted gross profit was $309.5M, against $278.2M a year earlier. GAAP cost of revenues was $134.0M, against $124.5M. Source
  • Non-GAAP sales and marketing rose: Non-GAAP sales and marketing was $87.8M, against $82.0M a year earlier. Non-GAAP research and development was $63.3M, against $57.8M. Source

“as highlighted last quarter, we continue to invest in AI and broader automation efforts internally to drive greater efficiency and productivity across our business”

Toby Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer of Paylocity

Cash flow and free cash flow

  • Trailing free cash flow reached $396.9M: Trailing twelve-month free cash flow was $396.9M, or 23.6% of total revenue, against $315.1M or 21.0% a year earlier. Source
  • Six-month operating cash flow rose: Net cash from operating activities was $203.5M for the first six months, against $145.7M. Trailing operating cash flow was $476.0M, or 28.3% of total revenue. Source
  • Free cash flow excluding client-fund interest: Free cash flow excluding interest income on funds held for clients was $106.4M for six months and $274.1M trailing, against $51.6M and $189.0M. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Second-quarter buybacks of $100M: The company repurchased $100 million, or 690,000 shares, in the second quarter. Since May 2024, repurchases total $600 million, or 3.7 million shares. Source
  • Fewer shares outstanding: Shares outstanding were 53.9M at December 31, 2025, against 55.4M at June 30, 2025. Diluted weighted shares were 54.8M, against 56.7M a year earlier. Source
  • Credit facility balance repaid: Long-term debt was $81.3M at December 31, 2025, against $162.5M at June 30, 2025, after repayments in the first six months of the fiscal year. Source
  • Cash balance fell to $162.5M: Cash and cash equivalents were $162.5M at December 31, 2025, against $398.1M at June 30, 2025. Funds held for clients were $5.51B, against $2.70B. Source

Fiscal 2026 and third-quarter guidance

  • Third-quarter recurring revenue guided: Third-quarter recurring and other revenue is expected at $457.5M to $462.5M, about 9%-10% growth. Total revenue is expected at $487.0M to $492.0M, about 7%-8% growth. Source
  • Full-year total revenue range raised: Full-year total revenue is now expected at $1.732B to $1.742B, about 9% growth, against $1.715B to $1.730B previously. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EBITDA range raised: Full-year adjusted EBITDA is expected at $622.5M to $630.5M, against $615.0M to $625.0M previously. Excluding client-fund interest, $510.5M to $518.5M. Source

Products, strategy and client support

  • Benefits Guided Setup added: A new platform capability, Benefits Guided Setup, was added to support clients and broker partners through open enrollment season. Source
  • Continued internal AI and automation spend: Management said it continues investing in AI and broader automation internally, aiming at greater efficiency and productivity across the business. Source
  • Busy-season client support thanked: Management thanked Paylocity teams for supporting clients through the busiest time of year. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 February 2026

  • Third-quarter and full-year guidance given: Management issued guidance for the third quarter and full fiscal year 2026 as set out in the release. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Cloud or subscription revenue SourceRecurring and other revenue $387.0M, up 11.3%

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management referred to last quarter's highlight of AI and automation investment and said it continues. 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.