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Paychex (PAYX) Reports Q1 Earnings: What Key Metrics Have to Say

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Paychex (PAYX - Free Report) reported $1.32 billion in revenue for the quarter ended August 2024, representing a year-over-year increase of 2.5%. EPS of $1.16 for the same period compares to $1.14 a year ago.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of +0.31% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.31 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $1.14, the EPS surprise was +1.75%.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.

Here is how Paychex performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

  • Average investment Balance - Funds held for clients: $4.29 billion versus the three-analyst average estimate of $4.21 billion.
  • Average interest rates earned (exclusive of net realized gains) - Funds held for clients: 3.5% versus the three-analyst average estimate of 3.3%.
  • Average investment Balance - Corporate cash equivalents and investments: $1.62 billion versus $1.75 billion estimated by two analysts on average.
  • Average interest rates earned (exclusive of net realized gains) - Corporate cash equivalents and investments: 4.9% compared to the 5.1% average estimate based on two analysts.
  • Revenue- Management Solutions: $961.70 million versus the six-analyst average estimate of $959.10 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +0.7%.
  • Revenue- Interest on funds held for clients: $37.50 million versus the six-analyst average estimate of $36.37 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +14.7%.
  • Revenue- Total service revenue: $1.28 billion compared to the $1.28 billion average estimate based on six analysts. The reported number represents a change of +2.2% year over year.
  • Revenue- PEO and Insurance Services: $319.30 million versus the six-analyst average estimate of $318.88 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +7.2%.
View all Key Company Metrics for Paychex here>>>

Shares of Paychex have returned +2.3% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.2% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), indicating that it could underperform the broader market in the near term.

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