Go Pro

Paychex (PAYX) Stock Forecast & Price Target

Paychex logo
$121.71 0.00 (0.00%)
As of 09/4/2026 04:00 PM Eastern

Paychex - Analysts' Recommendations and Stock Price Forecast (2026)

Consensus Rating

Sell
4
Hold
10
Buy
3

Based on 17 Wall Street analysts who have issued ratings for Paychex in the last 12 months, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold." Out of the 17 analysts, 4 have given a sell rating, 10 have given a hold rating, 2 have given a buy rating, and 1 has given a strong buy rating for PAYX.

Consensus Price Target

$111.00
-8.80% Downside
According to the 17 analysts' twelve-month price targets for Paychex, the average price target is $111.00. The highest price target for PAYX is $150.00, while the lowest price target for PAYX is $52.00. The average price target represents a forecasted downside of -8.80% from the current price of $121.71.
MarketBeat calculates consensus analyst ratings for stocks using the most recent rating from each Wall Street analyst that has rated a stock within the last twelve months. Each analyst's rating is normalized to a standardized rating score of 1 (sell), 2 (hold), 3 (buy) or 4 (strong buy). Analyst consensus ratings scores are calculated using the mean average of the number of normalized sell, hold, buy and strong buy ratings from Wall Street analysts. Each stock's consensus analyst rating is derived from its calculated consensus ratings score (0 to .5 = Strong Sell, .5 to 1 = Sell, 1 to 1.5 = Reduce, 1.5 to 2.5 = Hold, 2.5 to 3.0 = Moderate Buy, 3.0 to 3.5 = Buy, >3.5 = Strong Buy). MarketBeat's consensus price targets are a mean average of the most recent available price targets set by each analyst that has set a price target for the stock in the last twelve months. MarketBeat's consensus ratings and consensus price targets may differ from those calculated by other firms due to differences in methodology and available data.
Get the Latest News and Ratings for PAYX and Related Stocks

Enter your email address to receive the latest news and analysts' ratings for Paychex and its competitors.

Sign Up
SMS is currently available in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. By entering your phone number and clicking the sign-up button, you agree to receive periodic text messages from MarketBeat at the phone number you submitted, including texts that may be sent using an automatic telephone dialing system. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency will vary. Messages will consist of stock alerts, news stories, and partner advertisements/offers. Consent is not a condition of the purchase of any goods or services. Text HELP for help/customer support. Unsubscribe at any time by replying "STOP" to any text message that you receive from MarketBeat or by visiting our mailing preferences page. Read our full terms of service and privacy policy.

PAYX Analyst Ratings Over Time

TypeCurrent Forecast
9/7/25 to 9/7/26
1 Month Ago
8/8/25 to 8/8/26
3 Months Ago
6/9/25 to 6/9/26
1 Year Ago
9/7/24 to 9/7/25
Strong Buy
1 Strong Buy rating(s)
1 Strong Buy rating(s)
1 Strong Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
Buy
2 Buy rating(s)
2 Buy rating(s)
1 Buy rating(s)
0 Buy rating(s)
Hold
10 Hold rating(s)
10 Hold rating(s)
12 Hold rating(s)
10 Hold rating(s)
Sell
4 Sell rating(s)
4 Sell rating(s)
4 Sell rating(s)
1 Sell rating(s)
Consensus Price Target$111.00$108.20$106.63$149.70
Forecasted Upside-8.80% Downside-9.86% Downside6.33% Upside10.53% Upside
Consensus RatingHoldHoldReduceReduce

PAYX Analyst Recommendations By Month

The chart below shows how a company's ratings by analysts have changed over time. Each bar represents the previous year of ratings for that month. Within each bar, the sell ratings are shown in red, the hold ratings are shown in yellow, the buy ratings are shown in green, and the strong buy ratings are shown in dark green.
Skip Chart & View Analyst Rating History

PAYX Price Targets by Month

The chart below shows how a company's share price and consensus price target have changed over time. The dark blue line represents the company's actual price. The lighter blue line represents the stock's consensus price target. The even lighter blue range in the background of the two lines represents the low price target and the high price target for each stock.
Skip Chart and View Analyst Price Target HistorySkip Chart & View Price History Table

Paychex Stock vs. The Competition

TypePaychexIndustrials CompaniesBroader Market
Consensus Rating Score
2.00
2.30
2.53
Consensus RatingHoldHoldModerate Buy
Predicted Upside-8.80% Downside93.83% Upside14.03% Upside
News Sentiment Rating
Positive News

See Recent PAYX News
Positive News
Positive News
DateBrokerageAnalystActionRatingPrice TargetReport Date
Upside/Downside
Details
9/4/2026
Stephens logo
Stephens
2 of 5 stars
 Initiated CoverageEqual Weight$132.00+5.53%
8/12/2026
Samad Samana
1 of 5 stars
Boost TargetHold$105.00 ➝ $120.00-0.31%
7/30/2026
Citigroup Inc. logo
Citigroup
4 of 5 stars
Bryan Keane
Not Rated
Boost TargetBuy$140.00 ➝ $150.00+22.82%
7/22/2026Boost TargetNeutral$105.00 ➝ $115.00+2.72%
7/20/2026 UpgradeHold (C-)Hold (C)
7/20/2026 Reiterated RatingUnderweight$107.00-5.09%
6/30/2026Boost TargetEqual Weight$107.00 ➝ $109.00+9.21%
6/25/2026Boost TargetUnderweight$100.00 ➝ $105.00+9.03%
6/17/2026Boost TargetHold$105.00 ➝ $110.00+9.69%
6/8/2026Boost TargetHold$94.00 ➝ $98.00-1.73%
5/28/2026Reiterated RatingSector Perform
3/27/2026 UpgradeStrong-Buy
3/26/2026Boost TargetOutperform$52.00-42.79%
3/26/2026Lower TargetUnderweight$116.00 ➝ $95.00-0.09%
3/26/2026Lower TargetNeutral$148.00 ➝ $125.00+33.89%
3/19/2026Initiated CoverageNeutral
12/10/2025 Lower TargetUnderperform$130.00 ➝ $115.00+2.00%
6/24/2025Set TargetEqual Weight$155.00+2.91%
3/27/2025UpgradeHold

Analyst ratings data on MarketBeat is provided by Benzinga and other data providers. This page was last refreshed on Monday at 09:00 PM ET.


Should I Buy Paychex Stock? PAYX Pros and Cons Explained

These pros and cons were generated based on recent news and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest and most accurate insights. They were last updated on Monday, September 7, 2026. Please send any questions or comments about these Paychex pros and cons to contact@marketbeat.com.

Paychex
Bull Case

green Wall Street bull icon

Here are some ways that investors could benefit from investing in Paychex, Inc.:

  • Paychex, Inc. recently reported strong financial performance for the quarter ended June 24, 2026, with revenue of $1.61 billion, which exceeded the consensus estimate of $1.60 billion and represented a 12.5% year-over-year increase. This growth in revenue, combined with earnings per share of $1.32 that beat the consensus estimate of $1.31, demonstrates the company's ability to drive top-line growth and maintain profitability, which is a key driver for long-term shareholder value.
  • The company offers a compelling dividend yield of 3.91%, with a recent quarterly dividend payment of $1.19 per share. For income-focused investors, this yield provides a steady stream of cash flow that is significantly higher than the average for many large-cap technology and services firms, making Paychex, Inc. an attractive option for those seeking both capital appreciation and regular income.
  • Paychex, Inc. has a relatively low beta of 0.82, indicating that its stock price tends to be less volatile than the overall market. This lower systematic risk can be beneficial for investors looking to stabilize their portfolios during periods of market turbulence, as the company's defensive business model in payroll and human resources services often remains resilient even in economic downturns.
  • Institutional investor confidence is growing, as evidenced by recent filings where major firms like Hsbc Holdings PLC increased their stake by 12.6% in the second quarter, and HORAN Wealth LLC acquired a new position worth approximately $4.75 million. This accumulation of shares by large institutional investors often signals strong fundamental conviction in the company's future prospects and can provide support for the stock price.
  • Paychex, Inc. is currently trading at $121.71, which is below its 52-week high of $138.19 but significantly above its 52-week low of $85.45. This positioning suggests that the stock has recovered from recent lows and may offer a favorable entry point for investors who believe the company's strong earnings momentum and dividend profile will continue to drive value, especially given the consensus "Hold" rating which implies stability rather than immediate downside risk.

Paychex
Bear Case

red Wall Street bear icon

Investors should be bearish about investing in Paychex, Inc. for these reasons:

  • The consensus rating from sell-side analysts is "Hold" with an average price target of $111.00, which is below the current stock price of $121.71. This suggests that many analysts believe the stock is fairly valued or potentially overvalued relative to their models, indicating limited upside potential in the near term compared to other investment opportunities.
  • Insider selling activity has been notable recently, with CFO Robert Schrader selling 2,600 shares in July 2026 and Director Joseph Tucci selling 3,907 shares in June 2026. While insider sales can occur for various personal financial reasons, a pattern of selling by key executives and directors can sometimes be interpreted as a lack of confidence in the stock's short-term performance or a desire to diversify personal holdings.
  • Paychex, Inc. has a high dividend payout ratio of 97.34%, meaning the company is distributing nearly all of its earnings to shareholders. While this supports the high yield, it leaves the company with limited retained earnings for reinvestment in growth initiatives, research and development, or debt reduction, which could constrain future organic growth potential compared to peers with lower payout ratios.
  • Short interest in Paychex, Inc. has been relatively high, with approximately 19.24 million shares shorted as of the most recent record date. A high short interest can indicate that a significant portion of the market is betting against the stock, which can lead to increased volatility and potential downward pressure on the price if the short sellers are correct in their bearish outlook.
  • The company's debt-to-equity ratio is 1.22, which is relatively high for a services company. This level of leverage increases financial risk, as higher debt levels can lead to increased interest expenses and reduced financial flexibility, particularly if interest rates rise or if the company faces unexpected operational challenges that impact cash flow.

PAYX Forecast - Frequently Asked Questions

According to the research reports of 17 Wall Street equities research analysts, the average twelve-month stock price forecast for Paychex is $111.00, with a high forecast of $150.00 and a low forecast of $52.00.

17 Wall Street analysts have issued "buy," "hold," and "sell" ratings for Paychex in the last twelve months. There are currently 4 sell ratings, 10 hold ratings, 2 buy ratings and 1 strong buy rating for the stock. The consensus among Wall Street analysts is that investors should "hold" PAYX shares. A hold rating indicates that analysts believe investors should maintain any existing positions they have in PAYX, but not buy additional shares or sell existing shares.

According to analysts, Paychex's stock has a predicted downside of -8.80% based on their 12-month stock forecasts.

Over the previous 90 days, Paychex's stock had 2 upgrades by analysts.

Paychex has been rated by research analysts at Cantor Fitzgerald, Citigroup, Jefferies Financial Group, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Morgan Stanley, Stephens, Stifel Nicolaus, UBS Group, and Weiss Ratings in the past 90 days.

Analysts like Paychex less than other "industrials" companies. The consensus rating score for Paychex is 2.00 while the average consensus rating score for "industrials" companies is 2.30. Learn more on how PAYX compares to other companies.


MarketBeat monitors more than a dozen sources for Paychex analyst ratings, with the most recent rating issued on 9/4/2026.
From Our Partners