Core Viewpoint - Paychex, Inc. is set to announce its fiscal first-quarter earnings for 2026, with analysts expecting a profit increase compared to the previous year [1][2]. Financial Performance - Analysts anticipate PAYX to report earnings per share (EPS) of $1.21, reflecting a 4.3% increase from $1.16 in the same quarter last year [2]. - For the full fiscal year, EPS is projected to be $5.45, which is a 9.4% increase from $4.98 in fiscal 2025, and is expected to rise to $5.85 in fiscal 2027, marking a 7.3% year-over-year growth [3]. Stock Performance - PAYX stock has underperformed the S&P 500 Index, which gained 15.4% over the past 52 weeks, with PAYX shares down 4.4% during the same period [4]. - The stock also lagged behind the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund, which saw a 24% increase [4]. Analyst Sentiment - The consensus opinion among analysts is cautious, with a "Hold" rating prevailing; 14 out of 16 analysts recommend a "Hold," while 2 suggest a "Strong Sell" [6]. - The average analyst price target for PAYX is $147.42, indicating a potential upside of 16.4% from current levels [6].

Rochester, New York-based Paychex, Inc. (PAYX) provides integrated human capital management solutions (HCM) for payroll, benefits, human resources (HR), and insurance services for small to medium-sized businesses. With a market cap of $48.7 billion, Paychex's operations span the United States, Europe, and internationally. Companies worth $10 billion or more are generally described as "large-cap stocks." Paychex fits this bill perfectly. Given the company’s extensive clientele, its valuation above this mar ...