Stock·NASDAQ·Technology
Paychex Inc. (PAYX)
- Market cap
- $41.19B
- P/E
- 22.96
- Dividend yield
- 4.02%
- Street target
- $111.50median of 19 analysts
- 52-week range
- $85.45 $127.98
PAYX stock forecast today
Where PAYX stands today, and what CleaRank Financial AI makes of it.
PAYX at a glance
Paychex Inc. (PAYX): Buy, 71/100 on CleaRank's AI score.
- Trend Up: the price is above both its 50- and 200-day moving averages ($113.70 and $103.46).
- Earnings PAYX beat estimates in 7 of its last 8 quarters, yet fell the next day after 2 of those beats.
- Insiders Insiders sold $20.4M and bought $197K over the last 18 months.
- Valuation P/E of 23.0 against 35.1 for the Technology sector: a discount to peers (-35%).
Figures as of October 26, 2026.
CleaRank Financial AI
Paychex Inc. (PAYX) carries a CleaRank rating of Buy and a model score of 71/100.
Trend is the factor that lifts the score most. The price is 11.83% above its 200-day average and 1.76% above its 50-day average, and the 50-day average is 9.90% above the 200-day. The 50-day average is $113.70 and the 200-day is $103.46. Across the past year, the price declined 7.14%.
Only on CleaRank
Figures we compute ourselves from PAYX's own price, earnings and insider-filing history. Tap one to see it in context.
PAYX stock price and trading
The chart, today's range and how far the price has moved over each period.
Trend checks
4/4Price above its 50-day average ›
The price of $115.70 is 1.8% above the 50-day simple moving average of $113.70.Price above its 200-day average ›
The price is 11.8% above the 200-day simple moving average of $103.46.50-day average above the 200-day ›
The 50-day average ($113.70) is 9.9% above the 200-day average ($103.46), the arrangement of a rising longer-term trend.In the upper half of its 52-week range ›
The price sits at 71% of its 52-week range, between $85.45 and $127.98.
PAYX share price
Pick a period: each tab shows how far PAYX has moved over it, to the last close.
Today's trading
Where PAYX sits inside today's range and its 52-week range.
PAYX fundamentals and valuation
Valuation against the sector, and the revenue and earnings behind it.
Valuation and quality checks
5/5P/E below the sector median ›
The trailing P/E of 22.96 is 34.6% below the Technology median of 35.1.P/S below the sector median ›
The price-to-sales ratio of 6.24 is 17.9% below the sector median of 7.6.Profitable over the last 12 months ›
Net income over the last 12 months was $1.8B on revenue of $6.6B, a net margin of 27.4%.Beat estimates in most recent reports ›
PAYX beat the EPS estimate in 7 of its last 8 reports.Pays a dividend ›
The trailing dividend yield is 4.02%, or $4.65 a share a year.
Key statistics
The headline figures for PAYX.
As of October 26, 2026, PAYX trades at $115.70, with a market value of $41.19B, a P/E ratio of 22.96 and a dividend yield of 4.02%.
What the numbers say
CleaRank Financial AI's reading of PAYX's valuation, growth and risks.
Paychex Inc. (PAYX) looks inexpensive against its sector on earnings. Its P/E of 22.96 compares with a Technology median of 35.1, which makes it a discount to peers, with the P/E 34.6% below that median. On sales, the stock trades at 6.36 times, 16.3% below the sector median of 7.6. For scale, the market capitalisation is $41.2B and trailing earnings are $5.04 a share.
Profitability is strong, though. Its net margin is 27.35%, its operating margin is 38.50%, and its return on equity of 47.06% is above the sector median of 13.4%. On the balance sheet, debt-to-equity stands at 1.25, and the trailing dividend yield of 4.02% works out to $4.65 a share each year.
Paychex Inc. (PAYX) beat the earnings estimate in its September 23, 2026 report: EPS of $1.34 topped the $1.32 forecast by 1.52%. Still, the share price slipped 2.78% in the first session after the release.
PAYX has beaten the EPS estimate in 7 of its last 8 reports, yet a beat has not always lifted the shares: the stock fell the session after 2 of those beats. Analysts forecast EPS of $5.96 for this fiscal year, an increase of 8.2%, and $6.39 for the year after, an increase of 7.2%.
PAYX carries a beta of 0.85 against the S&P 500, and the 30-day standard deviation of its daily returns is 2.38%.
PAYX against the Technology sector
How PAYX compares with the median Technology stock CleaRank tracks.
Price to earnings vs sector: PAYX trades at a notable discount to sector peers (-35%), which may indicate undervaluation or specific company headwinds.
Return vs XLK: Since May 14, 2025, PAYX has lost 23.9% against a gain of 59.2% for XLK.
Performance against XLK
PAYX and the Technology sector fund over the same days.
Revenue and earnings
How much PAYX sells, and how much of it becomes profit.
The quarterly bars end with Q2 '26 (the quarter to May 31, 2026); PAYX reported again on September 23, 2026, and that quarter is not in our statement data yet. The 12-month figures come from the statistics feed and may include it.
Revenue growth: Revenue grew 16.9% in FY2026 to $6.5B, from $5.6B a year earlier.
Profit margin: The net margin was 27.0% in FY2026, down from 29.7% the year before.
Profitable: PAYX earned $1.8B in FY2026.
Earnings reality check
Did PAYX beat what analysts expected, and how did the stock react?
Earnings record: PAYX beat the analyst estimate in 7 of the last 8 quarters.
Market reaction: The stock fell in the first session after 2 of those 7 beats, so a beat has not been enough on its own.
| Report | Estimate | Actual | Surprise | First session | 5 sessions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 23, 2026after close | $1.32 | $1.34 | +1.52% | -2.78% | -5.73% |
| Jun 24, 2026after close | $1.31 | $1.32 | +0.76% | +0.44% | +6.66% |
| Mar 25, 2026after close | $1.67 | $1.71 | +2.40% | +0.25% | -2.62% |
| Dec 19, 2025after close | $1.23 | $1.26 | +2.44% | +2.32% | +1.53% |
| Sep 30, 2025after close | $1.20 | $1.22 | +1.67% | -2.17% | +0.21% |
| Jun 25, 2025after close | $1.20 | $1.19 | -0.83% | +2.23% | +5.81% |
| Mar 26, 2025after close | $1.48 | $1.49 | +0.68% | +1.09% | +3.16% |
| Dec 19, 2024after close | $1.12 | $1.14 | +1.79% | +1.26% | +2.51% |
As of October 26, 2026, PAYX has beaten the analyst EPS estimate in 7 of its last 8 reported quarters and fell in the first trading session after 2 of those beats; its latest report, on September 23, 2026, came in 1.52% above the estimate and the stock moved -2.78% in the first session.
The first session is the first full trading day on the news: the report day itself for a report before the open, the next day for one after the close. Surprise is actual EPS against the consensus estimate.
PAYX AI analysis and technical indicators
CleaRank's score and reasoning, the indicators behind it, and what the price moves with.
Momentum checks
3/3RSI not overbought or oversold ›
The 14-day RSI is 61.1, showing bullish momentum without being overbought.RSI above 50 ›
An RSI of 61.1 is above the 50 midpoint, so buyers have had the upper hand over the last 14 days.MACD line above zero ›
The MACD line is positive, so the 12-day average is above the 26-day average.
CleaRank Financial AI analysis of PAYX
The score, the reasoning behind it, and what could move the price next.
Paychex Inc. (PAYX) is in an uptrend: both moving averages sit below the price. At $115.70, the stock is 1.76% above its 50-day average of $113.70 and 11.83% above its 200-day average of $103.46. It also trades near the top of its 52-week range, 9.60% below the high of $127.98 and 35.40% above the low of $85.45.
Recent gains sit on top of a weaker longer record. Over the past month the price climbed 14.14%, and over the past three months it added 0.19%, yet across the past year it dropped 7.14%. Momentum looks constructive: the 14-day RSI of 61.1 sits in the bullish zone without reaching overbought territory, and the MACD line is positive.
Earnings beat, but the stock fell ›
The September 23, 2026 report beat the EPS estimate by 1.52%, and the share price fell 2.78% in the first session after it.
Source: Earnings report, September 23, 2026Rating reaffirmed ›
Baird kept its Neutral rating on September 28, 2026.
Source: Analyst action, Baird, September 28, 2026
- The two levels closest to the price are the 52-week high at $127.98 above it and the 50-day SMA at $113.70 below it.
- The 14-day RSI is 61.1, which is in the bullish zone, and the MACD line is positive. Readings above 70 or below 30 point to stretched momentum.
- Paychex Inc. (PAYX) fell 2.78% in the first session after its September 23, 2026 report, even though it beat estimates in 7 of the last 8 reports.
PAYX's uptrend depends on the price holding above its 50-day average of $113.70 and its 200-day average of $103.46. A close below the 50-day would be the first sign of weakness. If the price pulls back, the 50-day SMA at $113.70 is the first level it would reach.
Paychex Inc. (PAYX) has the 52-week high at $127.98 as the next level overhead. The RSI sits in the bullish zone, which suggests momentum is still supporting the move.
Technical indicators
Momentum and trend for PAYX, from its daily closes.
As of October 26, 2026, with PAYX at $115.70, its 14-day RSI is 61.1 (showing bullish momentum without being overbought), its 50-day simple moving average is $113.70 and its 200-day is $103.46.
Calculated by CleaRank on daily closes as of October 26, 2026: Wilder's 14-day RSI, 50- and 200-day simple moving averages, MACD line (12, 26). How we calculate these
What PAYX moves with
Correlation of daily returns over one year: +1 moves in step, 0 has no link, -1 moves the opposite way.
As of October 26, 2026, PAYX's 1-year correlation of daily returns is +0.25 with S&P 500 (SPY), +0.10 with Nasdaq 100 (QQQ), +0.08 with Bitcoin (BTC) and -0.11 with gold (XAU).
PAYX price target and analyst forecast
The analysts' target range and how their ratings split.
Analysts checks
0/3Most analysts rate it a buy ›
2 of 19 analysts rate it a buy or strong buy, 15 a hold and 2 a sell.Median target above the price ›
The median 12-month target of $111.50 is 3.6% below the price.More buy ratings than three months ago ›
2 of 19 rate it a buy now, against 2 of 18 three months ago.
PAYX Wall Street View
12-month price targets
Ratings
Recent rating actions
| Date | Firm | Action | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 28, 2026 | Baird | Maintains | Neutral |
| Sep 28, 2026 | Cantor Fitzgerald | Maintains | Underweight |
| Sep 24, 2026 | UBS | Maintains | Neutral |
| Sep 24, 2026 | BMO Capital | Maintains | Market Perform |
| Sep 24, 2026 | Stifel | Maintains | Hold |
| Sep 24, 2026 | RBC Capital | Reiterates | Sector Perform |
As of October 26, 2026, 19 Wall Street analysts cover PAYX: 2 rate it a buy or strong buy, 15 a hold and 2 a sell or strong sell. Their 12-month price targets range from $96.00 to $150.00. The median PAYX price target is $111.50, 3.6% below the price of $115.70.
Source: TwelveData analyst consensus. Targets and ratings belong to the analysts, not to CleaRank.
PAYX trade plan: entry, stop loss and targets
Entry, stop and target levels from the moving averages and recent volatility. Educational, not advice.
PAYX trade plan
Entry, stop and target levels, sized to your account. Change the bias or the risk and every level updates.
Long entry pick an entry style
Risk management
Profit targets (Based on Conservative Entry)
These levels come from PAYX's moving averages and recent volatility, not from a forecast. Educational levels, not financial advice; the full disclaimer is at the foot of the page.
Risk profile
How much PAYX tends to move, against the market and on its own.
PAYX price history and drawdowns
PAYX's worst falls and recoveries, what $10,000 became, and which months have been kind to it.
Track record checks
1/4Average daily move under 2% ›
The price has moved 2.38% on an average day (30-day standard deviation of daily returns).Recovered from its worst fall ›
The worst fall was 42.3%, from May 2025 to April 2026; the price is still 22.7% below that peak.Most 1-year holds ended higher ›
71% of 1-year holding periods in the last 10 years ended with a gain.Beat the S&P 500 since the chart begins ›
$10,000 invested in October 2016 is now worth $28,783, against $42,015 in the S&P 500 (SPY).
PAYX Drawdowns & Recovery
As of October 26, 2026, PAYX's worst peak-to-trough fall over the last 10 years with dividends reinvested was -42.3% (May 2025 to April 2026); it is still 22.7% below that peak, and 71% of 1-year holding periods ended with a gain.
From weekly closing values with dividends reinvested. A drawdown is the fall from the highest value reached so far to a later low.
Growth of $10,000
What $10,000 put into PAYX in October 2016 is worth now, against the same amount in the S&P 500.
Against the market: PAYX trailed the S&P 500 over this period: $28,783 against $42,015.
A $10,000 investment in PAYX in October 2016 would be worth about $28,783 today with dividends reinvested, compared with about $42,015 for the same investment in the S&P 500 benchmark (also with dividends reinvested).
Seasonal patterns
Which calendar months have been kind to PAYX, and which have not.
Strongest month, July: an average of +5.76%, up in 8 of 10 years.
Weakest month, September: an average of -2.80%, up in 5 of 10 years.
This month, October: has averaged +0.81%, up in 6 of 9 years. Past seasonality does not repeat on schedule.
Over the last 10 years, PAYX's strongest calendar month has been July (average +5.76%, up in 8 of 10 years) and its weakest September (average -2.80%, up in 5 of 10 years).
Average return for each calendar month over the last 10 years, from weekly closing prices with dividends included.
PAYX stock price prediction 2030
Thousands of simulated paths from the price history. A range of outcomes, not a forecast.
Monte Carlo projection
Thousands of simulated paths for $10,000 in PAYX, from its own past volatility. The shaded area holds 80% of them.
CleaRank's 4-year Monte Carlo simulation, based on 10 years of price history, projects that a $10,000 investment in PAYX today could grow to about $13,045 by 2030 in the base case, with a 90th-percentile outcome near $25,419 and a 10th-percentile outcome around $6,695. The simulation models price only; at today's 4.02% yield, dividends would add to these figures. Projections are statistical simulations, not guarantees.
PAYX Stock Price Prediction 2030: Simulated Scenarios
The same simulation in share prices, year by year.
CleaRank's simulation projects a price near $151 for PAYX by 2030 in the base case, from $116 today (1.3x over 4 years). The 10th-percentile path ends near $77.46. These are outcomes of a Monte Carlo simulation run on PAYX's historical return distribution, not price targets, and they assume no dividends are reinvested.
| Year | 10th percentile | Base case | 90th percentile | range base today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | $88.58 | $124 | $173 | |
| 2028 | $82.45 | $132 | $212 | |
| 2029 | $79.26 | $141 | $252 | |
| 2030 | $77.46 | $151 | $294 |
Method: a lognormal simulation of PAYX's own volatility and capped historical trend, re-run daily; base case is the median path, the outer columns the 10th and 90th percentiles. How the simulation works
PAYX insider trading
What the people running the company have bought and sold.
PAYX insider trading
Shares the company's directors and officers bought and sold, from their own filings.
Month by month
Open-market purchases above the line, sales below.
Net insider selling: Insiders bought $197K on the open market and sold $20.4M.
As of October 26, 2026, PAYX insiders reported 9 open-market sales worth $20.4M and 2 open-market purchases worth $197K over the last 18 months; grants and option exercises are not counted.
| Date | Insider | Type | Shares | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 28, 2026 | B Thomas Golisano
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
|
Grant | 562.6K | $56.2M |
| Sep 1, 2026 | B Thomas Golisano
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
|
Grant | 334 | $42.4K |
| Jul 20, 2026 | Robert L. Schrader
Chief Financial Officer
|
Sell | 2.6K | $299.2K |
| Jul 17, 2026 | Christopher C Simmons
Officer and Treasurer
|
Sell | 2.6K | $303.1K |
| Jul 17, 2026 | Martin Mucci
Chairman of the Board
|
Grant | 9.3K | $1.1M |
| Jul 15, 2026 | Adam Brooks Ante
Officer
|
Grant | 3.4K | - |
| Jul 15, 2026 | Mason Argiropoulos
Officer
|
Grant | 2.2K | - |
| Jul 15, 2026 | Ryan Norman Bergstrom
Officer
|
Grant | 3.4K | - |
| Jul 15, 2026 | John B Gibson Jr
Chief Executive Officer
|
Grant | 14.3K | - |
| Jul 15, 2026 | Chad C Parodi
Officer
|
Grant | 2.7K | - |
| Jul 15, 2026 | Robert L. Schrader
Chief Financial Officer
|
Grant | 4.4K | - |
| Jul 15, 2026 | Christopher C Simmons
Officer and Treasurer
|
Grant | 1.8K | - |
| Jul 14, 2026 | Martin Mucci
Chairman of the Board
|
Sell | 25.0K | $2.7M |
| Jul 14, 2026 | Martin Mucci
Chairman of the Board
|
Option | 214.5K | $12.3M |
| Jun 26, 2026 | Joseph M Tucci
Director
|
Sell | 3.9K | $383.9K |
| Jun 26, 2026 | Joseph M Tucci
Director
|
Option | 10.2K | $619.2K |
| Jun 1, 2026 | B Thomas Golisano
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
|
Grant | 1.0K | $100.1K |
| May 13, 2026 | Elizabeth Roaldsen
Officer
|
Sell | 459 | $41.3K |
| May 8, 2026 | Joseph M Velli
Director
|
Option | 10.2K | $619.2K |
| May 6, 2026 | B Thomas Golisano
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
|
Grant | 109.3K | $10.0M |
| May 4, 2026 | B Thomas Golisano
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
|
Grant | 163.9K | $15.3M |
| Mar 3, 2026 | B Thomas Golisano
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
|
Grant | 1.1K | $103.4K |
| Feb 4, 2026 | Thomas F Bonadio
Director
|
Buy | 1.0K | $98.5K |
| Feb 4, 2026 | Joseph G Doody
Director
|
Buy | 1.0K | $98.8K |
| Jan 30, 2026 | B Thomas Golisano
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
|
Grant | 26.1K | $2.7M |
| Jan 23, 2026 | B Thomas Golisano
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
|
Grant | 9.4K | $1.0M |
| Jan 21, 2026 | B Thomas Golisano
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
|
Grant | 239.8K | $25.8M |
| Dec 23, 2025 | Martin Mucci
Chairman of the Board
|
Grant | 8.3K | $946.6K |
| Dec 1, 2025 | B Thomas Golisano
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
|
Grant | 923 | $102.8K |
| Nov 12, 2025 | B Thomas Golisano
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
|
Grant | 447.3K | $49.8M |
| Oct 28, 2025 | B Thomas Golisano
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
|
Grant | 200 | $24.8K |
| Oct 22, 2025 | B Thomas Golisano
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
|
Grant | 302.1K | $38.5M |
| Oct 15, 2025 | Thomas F Bonadio
Director
|
Grant | 725 | - |
| Oct 15, 2025 | Joseph G Doody
Director
|
Grant | 725 | - |
| Oct 15, 2025 | Pamela A. Joseph
Director
|
Grant | 725 | - |
| Oct 15, 2025 | Martin Mucci
Chairman of the Board
|
Grant | 855 | - |
| Oct 15, 2025 | Theresa M. Payton
Director
|
Grant | 725 | - |
| Oct 15, 2025 | Kevin A Price
Director
|
Grant | 725 | - |
| Oct 15, 2025 | Joseph M Tucci
Director
|
Grant | 725 | - |
| Oct 15, 2025 | Joseph M Velli
Director
|
Grant | 725 | - |
| Oct 15, 2025 | Kara Wilson
Director
|
Grant | 725 | - |
| Sep 2, 2025 | B Thomas Golisano
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
|
Grant | 736 | $102.6K |
| Jul 16, 2025 | John B Gibson Jr
Chief Executive Officer
|
Sell | 12.4K | $1.8M |
| Jul 16, 2025 | Robert L. Schrader
Chief Financial Officer
|
Sell | 3.2K | $444.4K |
| Jul 16, 2025 | Christopher C Simmons
Officer and Treasurer
|
Sell | 1.8K | $259.8K |
| Jul 15, 2025 | Adam Brooks Ante
Officer
|
Grant | 2.1K | - |
| Jul 15, 2025 | Mason Argiropoulos
Officer
|
Grant | 1.6K | - |
| Jul 15, 2025 | Ryan Norman Bergstrom
Officer
|
Grant | 2.1K | - |
| Jul 15, 2025 | Prabha Bhandari
Officer
|
Grant | 1.1K | - |
| Jul 15, 2025 | Thomas F Bonadio
Director
|
Grant | 164 | - |
| Jul 15, 2025 | Joseph G Doody
Director
|
Grant | 164 | - |
| Jul 15, 2025 | John B Gibson Jr
Chief Executive Officer
|
Grant | 30.2K | - |
| Jul 15, 2025 | Pamela A. Joseph
Director
|
Grant | 164 | - |
| Jul 15, 2025 | Martin Mucci
Chairman of the Board
|
Grant | 194 | - |
| Jul 15, 2025 | Theresa M. Payton
Director
|
Grant | 164 | - |
| Jul 15, 2025 | Kevin A Price
Director
|
Grant | 164 | - |
| Jul 15, 2025 | Elizabeth Roaldsen
Officer
|
Grant | 6.5K | - |
| Jul 15, 2025 | Jason Richard Rose
Officer
|
Grant | 1.4K | - |
| Jul 15, 2025 | Robert L. Schrader
Chief Financial Officer
|
Grant | 7.1K | - |
| Jul 15, 2025 | Christopher C Simmons
Officer and Treasurer
|
Grant | 3.4K | - |
| Jul 15, 2025 | Joseph M Tucci
Director
|
Grant | 164 | - |
| Jul 15, 2025 | Beaumont Vance
Officer
|
Grant | 1.7K | - |
| Jul 15, 2025 | Joseph M Velli
Director
|
Grant | 164 | - |
| Jul 15, 2025 | Kara Wilson
Director
|
Grant | 164 | - |
| Jul 14, 2025 | Martin Mucci
Chairman of the Board
|
Grant | 21.6K | $3.1M |
| Jul 10, 2025 | Martin Mucci
Chairman of the Board
|
Sell | 97.5K | $14.2M |
| Jul 10, 2025 | Martin Mucci
Chairman of the Board
|
Option | 435.2K | $26.5M |
| May 30, 2025 | B Thomas Golisano
Director and Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
|
Grant | 509 | $80.1K |
Source: TwelveData, from SEC Form 4 filings
PAYX stock forecast: questions people ask
Answered from the figures on this page, as of October 26, 2026.