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PaychexPAYXTOP PICKJan 30, 2014Stock price when the opinion was issued
As of Jun 18, 2026. Market Open.
Focus is on small and medium businesses, so investors are concerned about even small upticks in unemployment. Good, steady company. Attracts a premium valuation. Don't have to worry about AI so much right now; AI can assist (rather than replace) its work, and provide more data. The debate now is about whether the economy grows or shrinks.
Is a domestic US company, so it faces no tariff risk. Is Trump cuts taxes 15%, this adds 20% to growing earnings for PAYX. Margins have been growing, and they just bought a company that will accrete to earnings (they report tomorrow). Trades at a high 28x PE, but the dividend grows 10% annually. Has owned this 30 years.
Recent earnings were up 4%. Veritable cash cow because they bank all the payroll taxes (that customers submit to the IRS) at current interest rates. It's like free money on top of earnings. Revenue growth was double GDP. Entirely domestic, so protected from trade barriers.
Services small companies, so if the economy does well from tax cuts, this name should continue to grow. Long-term, compounding annual returns of 14-15% -- you double your money roughly every 4-5 years. A buy and hold, not a trade.
Benefits from unemployment decreases. Services the small/medium size markets from a payroll point of view. However, it also has a huge float because it manages payrolls. Any increase in interest rates will also carry this company higher. Has a history of increasing its dividend for 15 consecutive years. Maintained its dividend through the financial crisis and has recently started increasing it again. Pristine balance sheet and very, very little debt. Yield of 3.31%.