Paychex, Inc. (NASDAQ: PAYX) is set to announce its second-quarter earnings for the fiscal year 2026 on December 19, 2025, prior to the market opening. Analysts anticipate the company will report earnings of $1.24 per share, alongside revenue projections of $1.5534 billion for the quarter.
The firm has provided guidance for the fiscal year, expecting earnings per share (EPS) to fall between $5.428 and $5.528. For those interested in the details of the upcoming announcement, Paychex will host a conference call at 9:30 AM ET on the same day.
In its previous earnings report, released on September 30, 2025, Paychex announced an EPS of $1.22, surpassing analysts’ expectations of $1.20 by $0.02. The company reported quarterly revenue of $1.54 billion, which aligned with analysts’ forecasts. Year-over-year, this figure represented a significant increase of 16.8% compared to the same quarter in the previous year, when the company posted an EPS of $1.16.
Stock Performance and Analyst Ratings
On Thursday, December 18, 2025, Paychex shares opened at $116.70. The stock has a fifty-day moving average of $116.57 and a 200-day moving average of $132.43. Over the past year, the stock has fluctuated, reaching a low of $108.00 and a high of $161.24. Currently, Paychex boasts a market capitalization of $42 billion with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 26.22.
Recent activity among institutional investors indicates a growing interest in Paychex. Approximately 83.47% of the company’s shares are currently held by institutional investors. Notable purchases during the third quarter included Wealth Watch Advisors, which acquired a position valued at $42,000, and Triumph Capital Management, which invested about $76,000.
Market analysts have expressed mixed sentiments regarding Paychex’s future performance. Wolfe Research recently lowered its target price on the stock from $130.00 to $115.00, assigning an “underperform” rating. Similarly, Argus reduced its target from $170.00 to $150.00. Other firms, including JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Stifel Nicolaus, have adjusted their price targets, further reflecting cautious optimism about the company’s trajectory.
Company Overview and Services
Paychex, Inc. provides integrated human capital management (HCM) solutions, catering primarily to small and medium-sized businesses in the United States, Europe, and India. The company offers a comprehensive suite of services, including payroll processing, tax administration, employee payment services, and regulatory compliance assistance.
As the market awaits the upcoming earnings report, investors and analysts alike will be keenly observing Paychex’s performance metrics and outlook, particularly against the backdrop of recent economic trends and the evolving business landscape.
