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Paylocity Holding Corp.: Q4 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 9 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fiscal 2026 net income and EPS rose: GAAP net income for fiscal 2026 was $269.7 million, up from $227.1 million. Diluted EPS was $4.92, up from $4.02, an increase of 22.4%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA excluding interest up 16.4%: Fiscal 2026 Adjusted EBITDA excluding interest income on funds held for clients was $534.9 million, or 32.4% of recurring and other revenue, compared with 31.2% in fiscal 2025. Source
  • Ignite AI launched for HR, Finance, IT: Ignite AI is built into core workflows so clients can finish tasks faster and surface insights sooner. It is designed for HR, Finance and IT teams at companies of all sizes. Source
  • Client base up roughly 7%: Management attributed growth to higher average revenue per client and a client base about 7% larger. Source
  • Free cash flow margin 24.2%: Free cash flow was $427.8 million, or 24.2% of total revenue, compared with $342.8 million, or 21.5%, in fiscal 2025. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 buybacks of $398.1 million: The company repurchased 2.8 million shares for $398.1 million in fiscal 2026. Since May 2024 it has repurchased 4.6 million shares for $697.8 million. Source
  • Guidance issued for first quarter and fiscal 2027: Guidance was issued as of August 4, 2026, covering revenue and Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter and the full fiscal 2027 year. Source

“Fiscal 26 was a strong year as our differentiated position in the market was reflected in solid sales and operational execution, helping to drive 12.2% recurring and other revenue growth and 11.0% total revenue growth.”

Toby Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Recurring and other revenue Sourcefirst quarter of fiscal 2027$414.0 million to $419.0 millionNew
Total revenue Sourcefirst quarter of fiscal 2027$439.5 million to $444.5 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) Sourcefirst quarter of fiscal 2027$152.0 million to $156.0 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA excluding interest income on funds held for clients (non-GAAP) Sourcefirst quarter of fiscal 2027$126.5 million to $130.5 millionNew
Recurring and other revenue Sourcefiscal 2027$1.777 billion to $1.792 billionNew
Total revenue Sourcefiscal 2027$1.880 billion to $1.895 billionNew
Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) Sourcefiscal 2027$690.0 million to $700.0 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA excluding interest income on funds held for clients (non-GAAP) Sourcefiscal 2027$587.0 million to $597.0 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA margin from change in deferred contract cost amortization Sourcefiscal 2027approximately 120 - 140 basis points increaseNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Company issued first-quarter and full fiscal 2027 guidance, the first guidance for fiscal 2027 in these documents. Source
  • New: Deferred contract costs will be amortized over 8 years instead of 7, starting in fiscal 2027. Source
  • New: Ignite AI launched, designed to accelerate productivity for HR, Finance and IT teams. Source
  • New: Paylocity Retirement announced, aimed at reducing manual work and easing employee access to retirement savings. Source
  • New: Elevate Solutions launched, pairing the platform with dedicated payroll and HR teams that work with clients. Source

Fiscal 2026 and fourth-quarter results

  • Total revenue grew 11.0%: Total revenue for fiscal 2026 was $1.771 billion, up 11.0% from fiscal 2025. Source
  • Fourth-quarter revenue against May range: Fourth-quarter total revenue was $444.7 million, up 11.0%. Recurring and other revenue was $415.6 million, compared with the $402.2 million to $407.2 million range given on May 7, 2026. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 net income and EPS rose: GAAP net income for fiscal 2026 was $269.7 million, up from $227.1 million. Diluted EPS was $4.92, up from $4.02, an increase of 22.4%. Source
  • Fourth-quarter net income and EPS: GAAP net income for the fourth quarter was $60.3 million, or $1.12 per share, compared with $48.6 million, or $0.86 per share, a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 37.0%: Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2026 was $654.9 million, up 12.3%, and 37.0% of total revenue compared with 36.5% in fiscal 2025. Source

Revenue mix and interest income

  • Adjusted EBITDA excluding interest up 16.4%: Fiscal 2026 Adjusted EBITDA excluding interest income on funds held for clients was $534.9 million, or 32.4% of recurring and other revenue, compared with 31.2% in fiscal 2025. Source
  • Fourth-quarter excluding-interest EBITDA rose: Fourth-quarter Adjusted EBITDA excluding interest income on funds held for clients was $116.4 million, compared with $99.9 million a year earlier. Source
  • Interest income removed from measure: The excluding-interest measure starts from Adjusted EBITDA and removes interest income on funds held for clients. Source

“Our durable growth was driven by the continued expansion of average revenue per client and a roughly 7% increase in our client base”

Toby Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer

Costs and operating margins

  • Fiscal 2026 operating income rose: GAAP operating income was $386.0 million, compared with $304.0 million in fiscal 2025. Non-GAAP operating income was $557.3 million, compared with $484.4 million. Source
  • Fourth-quarter operating income rose: Fourth-quarter GAAP operating income was $84.4 million, compared with $66.2 million. Non-GAAP operating income was $120.2 million, compared with $105.6 million. Adjusted EBITDA was $145.5 million, compared with $130.7 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP R&D rose with capitalized software: Non-GAAP total research and development was $256.1 million, compared with $227.5 million. The measure adds back capitalized internal-use software costs, which were $69.3 million, up from $62.4 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP sales, marketing and G&A increased: Non-GAAP sales and marketing was $360.3 million, compared with $335.8 million. Non-GAAP general and administrative was $157.3 million, compared with $148.6 million. Source

Products and client demand

  • Ignite AI launched for HR, Finance, IT: Ignite AI is built into core workflows so clients can finish tasks faster and surface insights sooner. It is designed for HR, Finance and IT teams at companies of all sizes. Source
  • Grayscale expanded AI recruiting: The Grayscale Labs acquisition was completed in April 2026 and adds AI-powered recruiting automation. Source
  • Paylocity Retirement announced: Paylocity Retirement was announced to reduce manual work for employers and give employees easier access to their retirement savings. Source
  • Elevate Solutions launched: Elevate Solutions pairs the platform with dedicated payroll and HR teams that take on clients' administrative work. Source
  • Client base up roughly 7%: Management attributed growth to higher average revenue per client and a client base about 7% larger. Source

“Ignite AI is woven directly into core workflows to help clients complete tasks faster and surface insights more quickly.”

Toby Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Operating cash flow margin 30.1%: Net cash from operating activities was $533.3 million, or 30.1% of total revenue, compared with $418.2 million, or 26.2%, in fiscal 2025. Source
  • Free cash flow margin 24.2%: Free cash flow was $427.8 million, or 24.2% of total revenue, compared with $342.8 million, or 21.5%, in fiscal 2025. Source
  • Free cash flow excluding interest 18.6%: Free cash flow excluding interest income on funds held for clients was $307.8 million, or 18.6% of recurring and other revenue, compared with 14.9% in fiscal 2025. Source
  • Year-end cash and long-term debt: Cash and cash equivalents were $271.9 million at year-end. Long-term debt was $81.3 million after about $81.3 million was repaid during fiscal 2026. Source

Capital returns to shareholders

  • Fiscal 2026 buybacks of $398.1 million: The company repurchased 2.8 million shares for $398.1 million in fiscal 2026. Since May 2024 it has repurchased 4.6 million shares for $697.8 million. Source
  • Shares outstanding declined: Shares issued and outstanding were 53.3 million at June 30, 2026, down from 55.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Repurchases and employee stock purchases: Repurchases of common shares were $398.1 million in fiscal 2026, compared with $149.6 million in fiscal 2025. Employee stock purchase plan proceeds were $18.2 million. Source

Fiscal 2027 guidance

  • Guidance issued for first quarter and fiscal 2027: Guidance was issued as of August 4, 2026, covering revenue and Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter and the full fiscal 2027 year. Source
  • Non-GAAP guidance not reconciled: The company said it cannot reconcile its forward-looking non-GAAP guidance to the directly comparable GAAP measures without unreasonable effort. Source
  • Margin effect depends on sales timing: The expected fiscal 2027 margin effect of the contract cost change depends on business performance and on the timing and volume of sales and client implementations. It is included in the guidance. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 August 2026

  • Deferred contract cost period lengthens: Beginning in fiscal 2027, deferred contract costs will be amortized over 8 years rather than 7. Source
  • First-quarter fiscal 2027 ranges given: The next reported quarter is the first quarter of fiscal 2027, for which recurring and other revenue and Adjusted EBITDA ranges were given. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Cloud or subscription revenue SourceRecurring and other revenue of $1.651 billion, up 12.2%
Customer counts Sourceclient base up roughly 7%

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.