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Paylocity (PCTY)
NASDAQ:PCTY
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Paylocity
(NASDAQ:PCTY)
Rating:71Outperform
Price Target:
$206.00
▲(10.71%Upside)
Positive Factors
Financial Performance
Paylocity reported strong results and raised full year guidance, indicating a strong performance despite a challenging macroeconomic environment.
Product Innovation
Paylocity launched new products, including features like rewards and recognition, employee voice, and advanced scheduling and learning tools.
Strategic Expansion
The integration of finance and spend management provider Airbase is complete, offering Paylocity new growth opportunities by targeting the CFO office.
Negative Factors
Growth Projections
Given the current macro uncertainty, lackluster growth from April-quarter seat-based models, more challenging FY26 comps post a year of strong execution and Paylocity's propensity to conservatively set forward guidance in order to leave room for upside at the beginning of the FY, we are lowering our FY26 estimates.
Macroeconomic Challenges
There is a risk of seat contraction and lengthening sales cycles due to the challenging macroeconomic environment, which poses near-term risks.
Paylocity (PCTY) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)
Market Cap
$10.33B
Dividend YieldN/A
Average Volume (3M)428.73K
Price to Earnings (P/E)46.4
Beta (1Y)0.85
Revenue Growth14.63%
EPS Growth17.15%
CountryUS
Employees6,400
SectorTechnology
Sector Strength84
IndustrySoftware - Application
Share Statistics
EPS (TTM)2.43
Shares Outstanding55,230,110
10 Day Avg. Volume524,456
30 Day Avg. Volume428,728
Financial Highlights & Ratios
PEG Ratio1.37
Price to Book (P/B)12.20
Price to Sales (P/S)0.00
P/FCF Ratio47.63
Enterprise Value/Market Cap0.97
Enterprise Value/Revenue1.70
Enterprise Value/Gross Profit9.44
Enterprise Value/Ebitda7.29
Forecast
1Y Price Target
$227.86Price Target Upside22.45% Upside
Rating ConsensusStrong Buy
Number of Analyst Covering17
Paylocity Business Overview & Revenue Model
Company DescriptionPaylocity Holding Corporation provides cloud-based human capital management and payroll software solutions for workforce in the United States. The company offers Payroll and Tax Services solution to simplifies payroll, automates processes, and manages compliance requirements within one system; and expense management, on demand payment, and garnishment solutions. It also provides human capital management and employee self-service solutions, document library, compliance dashboard, and HR edge; time and attendance solution; schedule tracking services; and time collection devices, including kiosks, time clocks, and mobile and web applications. In addition, the company offers talent management solutions comprising recruiting and onboarding, as well as learning, performance, and compensation management; employee benefits management and third-party administrative solutions; employee experiences solutions, including community, premium video, survey, and peer recognition; and insights and recommendations solutions, such as modern workforce index, data insights, and reporting. Further, it provides implementation and training, client, and tax and regulatory services. The company serves for-profit and non-profit organizations across industries, including business services, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, restaurants, retail, technology, and others. It sells its products through sales representatives. The company was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois.
How the Company Makes MoneyPaylocity generates revenue primarily through the sale of its cloud-based software solutions on a subscription basis. Clients pay recurring fees for access to its HCM platform, which includes modules for payroll processing, talent management, and other HR functionalities. Additionally, Paylocity earns revenue from professional services associated with the implementation and integration of its solutions. The company benefits from long-term client relationships and a high customer retention rate, contributing to predictable recurring revenue. Strategic partnerships with other technology providers and continuous investment in product innovation further enhance its revenue streams by expanding its market reach and improving service offerings.
Paylocity Earnings Call Summary
Earnings Call Date:May 01, 2025
(Q3-2025)
| % Change Since: -4.16%|
Next Earnings Date:Jul 31, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call highlights strong financial performance, increased profitability, and successful product integration and innovation. However, there are concerns about macroeconomic uncertainty affecting client decision-making and potential future sales. Overall, the positives significantly outweigh the concerns.Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Revenue Growth
Recurring and other revenue grew 15% year-over-year to $421.1 million, exceeding the high end of guidance by $6.1 million. Total revenue increased by 13% compared to Q3 of the previous fiscal year.
Increased Profitability and Guidance
Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter was $197.1 million, or 43.4% of revenue, significantly exceeding guidance. The fiscal year 2025 revenue guidance was increased by $19.5 million at the midpoint.
Product and Innovation Recognition
Paylocity was named to TrustRadius' list of best loved software for 2025 and an overall leader in 10 HCM product categories in G2's Spring 2025 Grid Reports. Airbase by Paylocity was named a Visionary in the 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Accounts Payable Applications.
Sales and Operational Execution
Solid sales and operational execution during the busiest time of the year helped drive strong recurring revenue growth and increased revenue and profitability guidance for fiscal 2025.
Strong Channel Performance
Channel referrals, primarily from benefit brokers and financial advisers, represented more than 25% of new business for the third quarter.
Integration of Airbase
The Airbase team is now fully integrated within Paylocity, with progress made towards integrating platforms from both a product and go-to-market perspective.
Negative Updates
Macroeconomic Uncertainty
Some clients are showing cautious behavior due to macroeconomic uncertainty, which has caused some delays in decision-making processes.
Potential Impact on Future Sales
While current performance remains strong, there are early indications of potential softening in the market that could affect future sales momentum.
Company Guidance
During Paylocity's third-quarter fiscal 2025 earnings call, management provided guidance indicating strong financial performance. The company reported recurring and other revenue growth of 15% year-over-year, totaling $421.1 million, which exceeded the high end of their guidance by $6.1 million. Total revenue increased by 13% over the same period last year. The company's adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $197.1 million, representing 43.4% of the revenue, and significantly exceeded the guidance. Paylocity raised its full-year fiscal 2025 guidance, with recurring and other revenue expected to be in the range of $1.460 billion to $1.465 billion, reflecting approximately 14% growth over the previous fiscal year. Total revenue is anticipated to be between $1.580 billion and $1.585 billion, an increase of approximately 13%. Additionally, the company highlighted strong sales execution and channel performance, particularly from broker referrals, which accounted for more than 25% of new business during the quarter.Paylocity Financial Statement Overview
Summary
Paylocity shows strong financial health with significant revenue and profit growth, efficient cost management, and solid cash flow generation. The stable balance sheet with prudent leverage supports continued growth and profitability.Income Statement
Paylocity demonstrates robust revenue growth, increasing from $561.3M in 2020 to TTM of $1.55B, reflecting strong market demand and operational efficiency. The gross profit margin remains high at approximately 68.7% (TTM), indicating effective cost management. Net profit margin improved to 14.6% (TTM), showcasing enhanced profitability. EBIT and EBITDA margins are solid at 19.5% and 19.4% respectively, underscoring strong operational performance. Overall, the income statement reflects a healthy growth trajectory and profitability.89
Very Positive
Balance Sheet
The balance sheet of Paylocity is stable with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24 in TTM, indicating conservative leverage usage. The equity ratio stands at 23.4%, supporting financial stability. Return on equity is impressive at 18.8% (TTM), highlighting efficient use of equity to generate profits. Strong cash reserves of $477.8M enhance financial flexibility. However, the equity ratio could be improved to increase resilience against liabilities.80
Positive
Cash Flow
Cash flow generation is strong with a free cash flow of $381.3M in TTM, reflecting a growth rate of 24.7% from the previous annual period. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is robust at 1.81, indicating excellent cash conversion efficiency. The free cash flow to net income ratio of 1.68 further underscores the company's ability to generate cash relative to earnings. Consistent free cash flow growth supports strategic investments and shareholder returns.85
Very Positive
| Breakdown | |||||
| TTM | Jun 2024 | Jun 2023 | Jun 2022 | Jun 2021 | Jun 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income Statement | Total Revenue | ||||
| 1.55B | 1.40B | 1.17B | 852.65M | 635.63M | 561.33M | Gross Profit |
| 1.07B | 960.79M | 807.56M | 565.65M | 416.33M | 379.32M | EBIT |
| 302.12M | 260.09M | 155.03M | 84.59M | 58.04M | 66.17M | EBITDA |
| 348.62M | 336.52M | 215.89M | 134.81M | 101.02M | 104.08M | Net Income Common Stockholders |
| 227.34M | 206.77M | 140.82M | 90.78M | 70.82M | 64.45M |
| Balance Sheet | Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments | ||||
| 477.79M | 401.81M | 288.77M | 139.76M | 206.74M | 285.41M | Total Assets |
| 5.17B | 4.25B | 3.70B | 4.81B | 2.41B | 1.99B | Total Debt |
| 292.78M | 54.45M | 62.47M | 77.52M | 67.20M | 173.30M | Net Debt |
| -185.00M | -347.36M | -226.30M | -62.24M | -135.09M | -77.55M | Total Liabilities |
| 3.96B | 3.21B | 2.85B | 4.20B | 1.94B | 1.59B | Stockholders Equity |
| 1.21B | 1.03B | 842.86M | 613.46M | 476.93M | 392.91M |
| Cash Flow | Free Cash Flow | ||||
| 381.34M | 305.92M | 215.81M | 102.47M | 86.80M | 70.36M | Operating Cash Flow |
| 411.52M | 384.67M | 282.72M | 155.05M | 124.85M | 112.66M | Investing Cash Flow |
| -354.02M | -101.89M | -220.16M | -479.77M | 48.42M | -48.76M | Financing Cash Flow |
| -242.31M | 141.58M | -1.43B | 2.17B | 280.48M | 2.09M |
Paylocity Technical Analysis
Negative
186.08
Price Trends
189.92
Negative
195.26
Negative
189.50
Negative
Market Momentum
-1.12
Positive
40.09
Neutral
12.83
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For PCTY, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 186.08 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 194.17, below the 50-day MA of 189.92, and below the 200-day MA of 189.50, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -1.12 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 40.09 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 12.83 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for PCTY.
Paylocity Risk Analysis
Paylocity disclosed 30 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Paylocity reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks
Paylocity Peers Comparison
Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (62)
Financial Indicators
Name | Overall Rating | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | ROE | Dividend Yield | Revenue Growth | EPS Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
81 Outperform | $14.55B | 60.97 | 25.20% | 0.58% | 10.71% | -27.64% | |
80 Outperform | $11.73B | 53.97 | 89.60% | ― | 9.18% | 14.35% | |
80 Outperform | $14.69B | 36.28 | 24.99% | 0.59% | 9.86% | -14.34% | |
75 Outperform | $9.58B | 379.30 | 1.03% | ― | 14.97% | -51.02% | |
74 Outperform | $4.09B | ― | -1.66% | ― | 15.72% | 74.59% | |
71 Outperform | $10.33B | 46.40 | 19.70% | ― | 14.63% | 17.15% | |
62 Neutral | $11.93B | 10.60 | -7.51% | 3.00% | 7.40% | -8.09% |
* Technology Sector Average
Performance Comparison
PCTY
Paylocity
186.08
47.54
34.31%
MANH
Manhattan Associates
189.33
-39.81
-17.37%
PAYC
Paycom
251.80
111.81
79.87%
DAY
Dayforce Inc
60.65
9.63
18.87%
BSY
Bentley Systems
48.27
-1.89
-3.77%
PYCR
Paycor HCM, Inc.
22.49
10.67
90.27%
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Disclaimer
This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.