Paychex Inc. ($PAYX) Stock Forecast: Down 1.5% Today

What is Paychex Inc.?

Paychex Inc. (PAYX) offers payroll, human resource, and benefits outsourcing services for small to medium-sized businesses, with the stock showing bearish movement today.

Why is Paychex Inc. going down?

PAYX stock is down 1.5% on Feb 4, 2026 15:52

• Paychex stock hit a 52-week low at $96.5, indicating a significant decline over the past year that may have influenced the bearish movement.
• Despite the stock being undervalued and oversold as per analysis, the ongoing legal dispute with New York regarding tax regulations could have introduced uncertainty, impacting the stock negatively.
• The share price gap down to $99.38 on Feb 3, coupled with analysts' average target price of $121.47, suggesting a potential upside, indicates a potential short-term correction.
• Stable small business employment trends reported by Paychex may not have countered the prevailing market sentiment, contributing to the bearish movement in the stock.

PAYX Price Chart

PAYX Technical Analysis

PAYX News

Paychex stock hits 52-week low at 96.5 USD

Paychex Inc. stock has dropped to a 52-week low of $96.5, marking a 35.61% decline over the past year, though it maintains a 4.45% dividend yield and has consistently paid dividends for 39 years. Despite this downturn, InvestingPro analysis suggests the stock is undervalued and oversold, with the company demonstrating strong gross profit margins. Recent corporate actions include surpassing Q2 fiscal 2026 earnings expectations, expanding credit facilities, announcing a new share repurchase program, and declaring a cash dividend.

https://www.investing.com/news/company-news/paychex-stock-hits-52week-low-at-965-usd-93CH-4485192

Paychex’s Bid to Nix Tax Rules Was Properly Tossed, NY Argues

New York argues that Paychex Inc.'s lawsuit challenging state income tax apportionment regulations was properly dismissed because the company failed to exhaust its administrative remedies. Paychex launched the first legal challenge to the state's 2023 regulations, which were finalized after nearly a decade, but did so before the New York Department of Taxation and Finance issued an assessment against it. The state contends that Paychex should have waited for an assessment before filing its lawsuit.

https://news.bloombergtax.com/payroll/paychexs-bid-to-nix-tax-rules-was-properly-tossed-ny-argues

Paychex’s Bid to Nix Tax Rules Was Properly Tossed, NY Argues

New York state argued that Paychex Inc.'s lawsuit challenging state income tax apportionment regulations was properly dismissed because the company failed to exhaust its administrative remedies. Paychex's challenge was the first against the state's 2023 regulations, finalized nearly a decade after corporate tax reform was passed in 2014, and was filed before the state tax department had issued an assessment against the company.

https://news.bloombergtax.com/daily-tax-report-state/paychexs-bid-to-nix-tax-rules-was-properly-tossed-ny-argues

Paychex Inc (PAYX) Shares Gap Down to $99.38 on Feb 3

Shares of Paychex Inc (PAYX) gapped down to $99.38 on Feb 3, marking a 3.02% decrease from its previous close. This put the stock 38.37% below its 52-week high, although still slightly above its 52-week low. Analysts have an average target price of $121.47 for PAYX, implying a 22.22% upside, and the stock currently holds a "Hold" recommendation from brokerage firms.

https://www.gurufocus.com/news/8578135/paychex-inc-payx-shares-gap-down-to-9938-on-feb-3

U.S. Small Business Employment Trends Hold Steady to Start 2026

The Paychex Small Business Employment Watch for January 2026 indicates that job and wage growth trends among U.S. small businesses remained consistent. The Small Business Jobs Index increased slightly, and hourly earnings growth has been stable since July 2025. Paychex CEO John Gibson noted that the economy is expanding at a solid pace without significant wage inflation, though businesses continue to face challenges with labor supply and rising healthcare costs.

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260203337079/en/U.S.-Small-Business-Employment-Trends-Hold-Steady-to-Start-2026

Trending Today

Silver ($XAG) Commodity Forecast: Up 5.8% Today

Bitcoin ($BTC) Crypto Forecast: Down 5.1% Today

XRP ($XRP) Crypto Forecast: Down 5.3% Today

Beyond Meat Inc. ($BYND) Stock Forecast: Down 5.2% Today

Digital Turbine, Inc. ($APPS) Stock Forecast: Down 5.4% Today

Cencora Inc. ($COR) Stock Forecast: Down 9.2% Today

Chubb Limited ($CB) Stock Forecast: Up 5.1% Today

Aurora Cannabis Inc. ($ACB) Stock Forecast: Down 7.4% Today

Martin Marietta Materials Inc. ($MLM) Stock Forecast: Up 2.0% Today

Amcor plc ($AMCR) Stock Forecast: Up 7.8% Today

Paychex Inc. Price History

19.11.2025 - PAYX Stock was down 5.4%

• Despite strong financial performance and surpassing revenue estimates, Paychex (PAYX) faced a bearish market movement.
• The market reaction could be linked to the high customer acquisition cost payback period of 78.7 months, potentially influenced by competitive pressures in the industry, raising concerns about future profitability.
• Expectations for even stronger performance or growth metrics from investors might have contributed to profit-taking and a bearish sentiment post-earnings report.
• Broader market conditions or sector-specific trends may have also played a role in driving the bearish movement in Paychex's stock price, overshadowing the positive earnings results.

25.05.2025 - PAYX Stock was down 6.2%

• The bearish movement in PAYX stock today could be attributed to investors' cautious sentiment ahead of the company's upcoming earnings report.
• Analysts' revised forecasts and expectations for Paychex's Q4 earnings may have created uncertainty among investors, leading to a sell-off in the stock.
• The lack of confidence in Paychex's potential to beat earnings expectations, as indicated by the mixed projections from Wall Street analysts, might have contributed to the downward pressure on the stock.
• Investors may be reacting to concerns about Paychex's revenue and earnings growth rates, despite the company's positive performance in terms of segment gains and margin strength.

25.05.2025 - PAYX Stock was down 7.2%

• Paychex stock saw a significant decline as its Q4 revenue of $1.43B fell short of expectations, leading to a 9% drop in shares.
• Increased expenses related to the Paycor deal caused a margin squeeze, overshadowing the company's positive EPS and revenue forecast for FY26.
• Analysts had adjusted their predictions before the earnings call, anticipating quarterly earnings of $1.19 per share on revenue of $1.42 billion, potentially impacting market sentiment negatively.
• Despite expectations of a 9.3% y/y increase in revenue and a 6.3% growth in earnings in Q4, the margin pressure and revenue miss likely drove the bearish movement in Paychex stock on that day.

04.01.2026 - PAYX Stock was down 1.5%

• Paychex stock hit a 52-week low at $96.5, indicating a significant decline over the past year that may have influenced the bearish movement.
• Despite the stock being undervalued and oversold as per analysis, the ongoing legal dispute with New York regarding tax regulations could have introduced uncertainty, impacting the stock negatively.
• The share price gap down to $99.38 on Feb 3, coupled with analysts' average target price of $121.47, suggesting a potential upside, indicates a potential short-term correction.
• Stable small business employment trends reported by Paychex may not have countered the prevailing market sentiment, contributing to the bearish movement in the stock.

03.01.2026 - PAYX Stock was down 5.1%

• The bearish movement in Paychex Inc. ($PAYX) stock today could be attributed to:
• Concerns in the market about the impact of AI on payroll processors.
• Despite strong Q3 earnings and positive financial performance, the stock saw a dip possibly due to lowered price targets and ratings by analysts.
• Institutional investors adjusting their positions in Paychex, with Federated Hermes Inc. significantly increasing its holdings while Mawer Investment Management Ltd. trimmed its stake, indicating mixed sentiments in the market.
• The broader job market slowdown and challenges faced by businesses with labor supply and healthcare costs might have also contributed to the bearish movement.

26.02.2025 - PAYX Stock was up 5.1%

• Paychex (PAYX) experienced a strong bullish movement today following the release of its Q3 earnings report.
• The company surpassed earnings and revenue estimates, with significant growth in its Management Solutions, PEO, and Insurance Solutions segments.
• The positive earnings report and better-than-expected performance contributed to the stock's sharp rise during the trading session.
• The impending completion of the Paycor acquisition and strong margins further fueled investor optimism in Paychex's future prospects, leading to the bullish market movement.

03.01.2026 - PAYX Stock was down 4.3%

• Today's downward movement in Paychex's stock may be linked to several factors:
• Despite robust quarterly earnings and overall strong financial performance, the stock market's reaction could be influenced by news of ADP surpassing projections yet facing a stock decline, hinting at broader sector challenges.
• The uptick in holdings by Federated Hermes Inc. may have sparked investor concerns regarding the company's future growth prospects, prompting divestment by Mawer Investment Management Ltd.
• Analysts expressing differing opinions on Paychex's valuation and growth possibilities might have contributed to uncertainties surrounding the stock, prompting some investors to reassess their positions and influencing the bearish trend.

26.02.2025 - PAYX Stock was up 5.9%

• Paychex (PAYX) experienced a strong bullish movement today following the release of its third-quarter financial results.
• Analysts had high expectations for the company's earnings, with a forecasted increase from $1.38 per share in the year-ago period to $1.48 per share.
• Anticipation of growth in Management Solutions, PEO, and insurance solutions contributed to the positive market sentiment surrounding Paychex.
• The bullish movement can be attributed to the company potentially exceeding Wall Street's projections for key metrics, signaling a robust performance in the third quarter of fiscal 2025.

18.11.2025 - PAYX Stock was down 2.6%

• Despite expectations of robust revenue and earnings growth in the upcoming earnings report, Paychex (PAYX) experienced a bearish movement today.
• The bearish trend could be attributed to the decrease in institutional ownership and the significant reduction in stake by Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc., indicating a lack of confidence from major investors.
• Additionally, the forecasted decrease in non-GAAP EPS by 4.73% might have contributed to the negative market sentiment, overshadowing the anticipated revenue growth.
• Investors may be cautious due to the uncertainty surrounding the earnings beat prediction, as indicated by the current Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank, leading to a sell-off of Paychex shares in today's trading session.

01.07.2025 - PAYX Stock was down 5.1%

• The bearish movement in PAYX today could be attributed to profit-taking by investors after a recent strong uptrend.
• The upcoming earnings report may have created uncertainty among investors, leading to a sell-off in the stock.
• Investors might be reevaluating their positions in PAYX amidst concerns about the company's future growth prospects.
• It's essential to monitor how PAYX performs in the coming days to determine if this bearish trend is a temporary correction or a more prolonged downturn.

04.03.2025 - PAYX Stock was down 5.4%

• Despite the positive aspects of PAYX's business model and services, the stock experienced a bearish movement recently.
• The resurgence in market volatility may have led investors to shift their focus away from relatively stable sectors like human capital management.
• While PAYX's top line growth and strategic acquisitions are promising, broader market sentiment and external factors like tariffs could be influencing the stock's performance negatively.
• Investors may be reevaluating their portfolios and seeking opportunities in other sectors amidst the current market conditions, impacting PAYX's stock price.

30.08.2025 - PAYX Stock was down 6.0%

• Paychex reported Q1 earnings slightly below analyst expectations, leading to a sell-off in the stock.
• Despite a 16.6% year-over-year revenue increase fueled by strong segmental growth, investors may have been disappointed with other key metrics.
• Wall Street's projections for Paychex's key metrics may have fallen short, causing a negative sentiment among investors.
• The lack of the "right combination of two key ingredients" for a likely earnings beat may have contributed to the bearish movement in Paychex stock.