Tearsheet

Paycom Software (PAYC)


Market Price (12/4/2025): $165.32 | Market Cap: $9.3 Bil
Sector: Industrials | Industry: Human Resource & Employment Services

Paycom Software (PAYC)


Market Price (12/4/2025): $165.32
Market Cap: $9.3 Bil
Sector: Industrials
Industry: Human Resource & Employment Services

Investment Highlights Why It Matters Which of these 2 stories sounds closer for this stock?

1. Generates cash flow

The stock generated 4% or more of the share price (called cash flow yield), and shows moderate 10-15% or more growth.

2. Riding a trend

Think Tesla during the pandemic of 2020 when EVs were riding a cultural high, or Nvidia in the current AI boom, or even Figma. These companies don’t have enough yield, or, enough growth, or both - however - they are riding a trend. They have momentum. These can be more volatile - they don’t have the floor of strong cash flow


0 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Cloud Computing, and Automation & Robotics. Themes include Software as a Service (SaaS), and Process / Warehouse Automation.
 
0 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Cloud Computing, and Automation & Robotics. Themes include Software as a Service (SaaS), and Process / Warehouse Automation.

Valuation, Metrics & Events

PAYC Stock


Why The Stock Moved


Qualitative Assessment

AI Generated Analysis | Feedback

Here are key points highlighting reasons for a significant movement in Paycom Software (PAYC) stock:

1. Weaker-than-expected third-quarter sales and lowered guidance. Paycom reported third-quarter 2023 revenue of $406 million, which missed analyst consensus estimates of $411.2 million. The company also provided a lackluster outlook for the fourth quarter and full-year 2024 revenue.

2. Impact of the Beti automated payroll system on revenue. The success and increased adoption of Paycom's Beti automated payroll system led to the elimination of certain billable items, which consequently cannibalized a portion of their recurring revenue and contributed to a decelerating growth outlook.

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Stock Movement Drivers

Return vs. Risk


Price Returns Compared

 202020212022202320242025Total [1]
Returns
PAYC Return71%-8%-25%-33%-0%-20%-38%
Peers Return30%36%-20%12%15%-16%53%
S&P 500 Return16%27%-19%24%23%16%112%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
PAYC Win Rate75%50%50%42%42%50% 
Peers Win Rate67%63%40%52%65%38% 
S&P 500 Win Rate58%75%42%67%75%70% 

Max Drawdowns [4]
PAYC Max Drawdown-38%-32%-37%-51%-32%-22% 
Peers Max Drawdown-36%-13%-31%-11%-11%-22% 
S&P 500 Max Drawdown-31%-1%-25%-1%-2%-15% 


[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: ACN, ADP, PAYX, CTSH, PCTY. See PAYC Returns vs. Peers.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2025 data is for the year up to 12/3/2025 (YTD)

How Low Can It Go

Unique KeyEventPAYCS&P 500
2022 Inflation Shock2022 Inflation Shock  
2022 Inflation Shock% Loss% Loss-72.8%-25.4%
2022 Inflation Shock% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven267.1%34.1%
2022 Inflation ShockTime to BreakevenTime to BreakevenNot Fully Recovered days464 days
2020 Covid Pandemic2020 Covid Pandemic  
2020 Covid Pandemic% Loss% Loss-51.1%-33.9%
2020 Covid Pandemic% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven104.7%51.3%
2020 Covid PandemicTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven185 days148 days
2018 Correction2018 Correction  
2018 Correction% Loss% Loss-31.7%-19.8%
2018 Correction% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven46.4%24.7%
2018 CorrectionTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven44 days120 days

Compare to ACN, ADP, PAYX, CTSH, PCTY


In The Past

Paycom Software's stock fell -72.8% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 11/2/2021. A -72.8% loss requires a 267.1% gain to breakeven.

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About Paycom Software (PAYC)

Latest Trefis Analyses

Trade Ideas

Select past ideas related to PAYC. For more, see Trefis Trade Ideas.

Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
CNM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025CNMCore & MainDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
7.3%7.3%-1.6%
VRRM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025VRRMVerra MobilityDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
2.3%2.3%-1.2%
LII_11212025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy11212025LIILennox InternationalDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
4.8%4.8%0.0%
ADP_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025ADPAutomatic Data ProcessingMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
1.6%1.6%-1.2%
CW_11212025_Quality_Momentum_RoomToRun_10%11212025CWCurtiss-WrightQualityQ | Momentum | UpsideQuality Stocks with Momentum and Upside
Buying quality stocks with strong momentum but still having room to run
2.2%2.2%0.0%
PAYC_11072025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy11072025PAYCPaycom SoftwareDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
0.1%0.1%-1.6%
PAYC_9302024_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy09302024PAYCPaycom SoftwareDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
31.6%25.8%-4.0%
Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
CNM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025CNMCore & MainDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
7.3%7.3%-1.6%
VRRM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025VRRMVerra MobilityDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
2.3%2.3%-1.2%
LII_11212025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy11212025LIILennox InternationalDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
4.8%4.8%0.0%
ADP_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025ADPAutomatic Data ProcessingMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
1.6%1.6%-1.2%
CW_11212025_Quality_Momentum_RoomToRun_10%11212025CWCurtiss-WrightQualityQ | Momentum | UpsideQuality Stocks with Momentum and Upside
Buying quality stocks with strong momentum but still having room to run
2.2%2.2%0.0%
PAYC_11072025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy11072025PAYCPaycom SoftwareDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
0.1%0.1%-1.6%
PAYC_9302024_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy09302024PAYCPaycom SoftwareDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
31.6%25.8%-4.0%

Recent Active Movers

Recent Active Movers

More From Trefis

Peer Comparisons for Paycom Software

Peers to compare with:

Financials

PAYCACNADPPAYXCTSHPCTYMedian
NamePaycom S.AccentureAutomati.Paychex Cognizan.Paylocity 
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Growth & Margins

PAYCACNADPPAYXCTSHPCTYMedian
NamePaycom S.AccentureAutomati.Paychex Cognizan.Paylocity 
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Valuation

PAYCACNADPPAYXCTSHPCTYMedian
NamePaycom S.AccentureAutomati.Paychex Cognizan.Paylocity 
Mkt Cap-------
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Returns

PAYCACNADPPAYXCTSHPCTYMedian
NamePaycom S.AccentureAutomati.Paychex Cognizan.Paylocity 
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Financials

Segment Financials

Revenue by Segment

$ Mil20242023202220212020
Cloud-based HCM solution delivered as Software-as-a-Service1,6941,375  738
Implementation and other  1916 
Recurring  1,037826 
Total1,6941,3751,056841738


Price Behavior

Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date11142025
Short Interest: Shares Quantity2,336,892
Short Interest: % Change Since 10312025-17.2%
Average Daily Volume1,056,048
Days-to-Cover Short Interest2.21
Basic Shares Quantity56,100,000
Short % of Basic Shares4.2%

SEC Filings

Expand for More

Report DateFiling DateFiling
93020251106202510-Q 9/30/2025
6302025807202510-Q 6/30/2025
3312025508202510-Q 3/31/2025
12312024220202510-K 12/31/2024
93020241031202410-Q 9/30/2024
6302024801202410-Q 6/30/2024
3312024502202410-Q 3/31/2024
12312023215202410-K 12/31/2023
93020231102202310-Q 9/30/2023
6302023803202310-Q 6/30/2023
3312023504202310-Q 3/31/2023
12312022216202310-K 12/31/2022
93020221103202210-Q 9/30/2022
6302022804202210-Q 6/30/2022
3312022505202210-Q 3/31/2022
12312021217202210-K 12/31/2021