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PaychexPAYXPAST TOP PICKNov 14, 2016Stock 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.
(A Top Pick Aug 25/16. Down 6.51%.) This should work perfectly with a Trump government. They do all of the payroll processing, HR, 401K plans. They are really sticking with small businesses of 15 employees or less. Infrastructure and growth in the US is really going to start with the small businesses. This is really a cash cow.