Paychex Inc. (NASDAQ: PAYX) had a strong start to FY25 as the human capital management company reported impressive results for the first quarter, triggering a stock rally. In Q1, moderation in wage inflation and improving labor market conditions more than offset headwinds from expiration of the Employee Retention Tax Credit program and one less processing day.
The Rochester-based company’s stock made one of the biggest single-day gains in early trading on Tuesday. It has reached a new high, after steadily growing for about three months. With the stock price more than doubling in the past four years, the current valuation looks expensive from an investment perspective.
Revenue Growth
In the first three months of fiscal 2025, the payroll service provider’s revenues grew by 3% and reached $1.32 billion, slightly above analysts’ estimates. Revenue advanced across all three operating segments, led by the core Management Solutions division.
The positive top-line performance translated into an increase in adjusted net earnings to $1.16 per share in the August quarter from $1.14 per share in the same period of 2024. Net income, including special items, was $427.4 million or $1.18 per share, up from last year’s profit of $419.2 million or $1.16 per share. The company has a good track record of consistently delivering stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings, and the trend continued in Q1.
Liquidity
Healthy cash flows and a strong balance sheet, with no net debt, enable Paychex to execute its growth initiatives effectively. During the first quarter, the company returned $457 Million to stockholders through dividends and share repurchases. As part of its AI strategy, the company launched a new talent acquisition solution based on artificial intelligence and a comprehensive employee engagement solution with generative AI capabilities.
Commenting on the results, Paychex’s CEO John Gibson said, “Small and mid-sized businesses remain resilient as the U.S. labor market gradually returns to its pre-pandemic level and wage inflation continues to moderate. We continue to invest in our go-to-market capabilities and products to drive innovation to meet the realities of the post-pandemic marketplace. We are excited to announce the introduction of several new products: Paychex Flex Engage, Paychex Flex Perks, and Paychex Recruiting Copilot.”
Guidance
Anticipating the positive momentum seen in the early months to continue for the remainder of the year, the Paychex leadership predicts a 4-5.5% increase in full-year revenue. That reflects an estimated 3-4% increase in Management Solutions revenue. The company sees a 5-7% growth in adjusted earnings for fiscal 2025. The guidance is in line with its previous forecast. Other income is expected to be between $30 million and $35 million in FY25.
PAYX traded slightly above $140 on Tuesday afternoon, up 5% from the previous close. The stock has grown more than 18% in the past three months alone.