Paychex (PAYX) stock: analyst price target and their real reliability
Live quote · data updated Aug 28, 2026
Paychex · Industrials · ref. ETF XLI · 50 calls · price $126.48
What the company does: Paychex, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides human capital management solutions (HCM) for human resources, payroll processing, employee benefits, and insurance services for small to medium-sized businesses in the United States, Europe, Canada, India, and Israel.
📈 Paychex (PAYX) stock price
$126.48-8.8% over range
Aug 28, 25low $85.57 · high $139.46Aug 27, 26
📏 Click 2 points (left → right) to measure the change · click again to clear.
SellBuy
Hold
8% recommend buying · 12 analysts
📊 JPI status : Paychex has never appeared in a JPI ranking (Fair or Risk +) — our methods haven't picked it to date. See the selected stocks →
⚠️ The stock trades above the median target: it has beaten expectations. The “Hold” reflects conviction on the company, but the remaining quantified upside is low/negative.
🎯 PAYX price target & analyst consensus — price $126
The price target · all analysts combined (11 targets)
Highest target · 1 firm of 11$150+18.6%
Median target · of 11 targets$109-13.8%
Lowest target · 1 firm of 11$95-24.9%
Current price$126.48
Where these 11 targets sit · versus the current price · 1 target per firm, last 6 months
Above the price
19%
$150
Below
1091%
$95 ↔ $125
⭐ What the most reliable analysts say
· those who beat their sector, targets replayed on real prices
⭐ The most reliable of them, either direction: Jefferies — 80% of its targets hit on this sector (288 calls tested). It aims for $120 (-5.1 %), call made on August 14, 2026, maturing on August 14, 2027 (14 d ago).
The 7 reliable analysts
$110-13 %
The 4 other firms
$103-19 %
How to read it: the 7 reliable firms are not filtered by optimism — 1 aim above the price, 6 below, hence their $110 median. “The 4 others” are the firms that don't pass our reliability filter on this sector.
The consensus · 12 ratings (last 6 months)
Strong Buy00%
Buy18%
Hold975%
Sell217%
Strong Sell00%
Go deeper on the analysts
🎯 PAYX price target all
All 50 calls, one by one, with our verdict on each firm.
→ See all 50 targets, analyst by analyst💡 The best analysts on PAYX most reliable
The case for and against, with the numbers, per those who've been right on the stock.
→ Should you invest in PAYX? The case for & againstAll analysts (the consensus) · vs · the best (those who've been right)
💬 A question about Paychex? The JPI assistant answers using our backtest data.
💰 Paychex dividend: yield, history & growth › open the full page
4.31%annual yield
📈 Steady dividend — 11 yrs of consecutive dividend increases
That's ~$4.43 per share per year.
📈 Paychex fundamentals: valuation, margins & growth › open the full page
P/E 25.5Net margin 26.6 %Revenue growth +12.5 %Cheap for the growth
Revenue, net income and margin per year
Revenue Net income · hover a bar for details
2023
marg. 31 %
2024
Rev +5%Profit +9%
2025
Rev +6%Profit −2%
2026
Rev +17%Profit +6%
🔎 Detailed analyses
🏛️ Which US Congress members hold Paychex (PAYX)?
2 Congress members have disclosed PAYX buys. Click a highlighted name to see their track record (do they beat the S&P 500?).
Richard Allen 2× · 42%Rick Larsen 1×
✅ Historical analyst reliability on PAYX
Hit rate measured on targets already matured (12 months), replayed against real prices. Click a header to sort.
| Firm ↕ | % right i ↕ | Gain vs sector i ↕ | Calls i ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argus Research ↗ | 100% | +29.4% | 2 |
| UBS ↗ | 100% | +11.7% | 3 |
| TD Cowen ↗ | 100% | +9.2% | 3 |
| Morgan Stanley ↗ | 50% | -1.9% | 2 |
| Credit Suisse | 33% | -8.0% | 3 |
| Goldman Sachs ↗ | 33% | -28.9% | 3 |
| Cowen & Co. | 25% | -2.8% | 4 |
| B of A Securities ↗ | 25% | -13.5% | 8 |
| Citigroup ↗ | 22% | -3.6% | 9 |
| JP Morgan ↗ | 21% | -7.4% | 14 |
See the other 4 firms
| Wolfe Research ↗ | 0% | -26.9% | 2 |
| RBC Capital ↗ | 0% | -15.4% | 2 |
| Jefferies ↗ | 0% | -13.7% | 2 |
| Barclays ↗ | 0% | -11.1% | 6 |
📊 What $1,000 invested in Paychex would be worth › open the full page
In short — $1,000 invested in Paychex 10 years ago would be worth $2,055 today, i.e. +7%/yr on average. Best year: 2021 (+35%), worst: 2025 (-30%). Price performance, excluding dividends.
If I'd invested $1,000 in Paychex
| Investment | Worth today | Gain |
|---|---|---|
| 1 years ago | $666 | -33% |
| 3 years ago | $849 | -15% |
| 5 years ago | $1,126 | +13% |
Return by year (Paychex)
| Year | Return | $1,000 invested at year start |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (YTD) | -5% | $953 (-5%) |
| 2025 | -30% | $666 (-33%) |
| 2024 | +21% | $808 (-19%) |
⚠️ Past performance, not predictive nor advice. Prices in $, excluding dividends. Yahoo Finance data.
📰 Recent news on Paychex
Loading news…
📋 All analyst calls on PAYX
Filtered on — · ✕ show all
■ Hold neutral · not a buy · 🎯$120
Price at call : $122.02 — gap to target -2%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target -5%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 61.8% · +9.1% (288 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Aug 13, 27
matures : Aug 13, 27
▲ Buy · 🎯$150
Price at call : $116.84 — upside +28%
Today : $126.48 — upside +19%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 52.7% · +8.0% (716 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Jul 30, 27
matures : Jul 30, 27
■ Neutral neutral · not a buy · 🎯$115
Price at call : $110.66 — gap to target +4%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target -9%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 50.9% · +3.8% (477 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Jul 22, 27
matures : Jul 22, 27
Morgan Stanley ↗
Jun 30, 26
■ Equal-Weight neutral · not a buy · 🎯$109
Price at call : $98.33 — gap to target +11%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target -14%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 55% · +3.6% (1011 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Jun 30, 27
matures : Jun 30, 27
■ Neutral neutral · not a buy · 🎯$98
Price at call : $99.9 — gap to target -2%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target -23%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 50.9% · +3.8% (477 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Jun 25, 27
matures : Jun 25, 27
▼ Underweight · 🎯$105
Price at call : $99.9 — upside +5%
Today : $126.48 — upside -17%
🎯 on PAYX : 100% (2 calls matureds) · 📊 on Industry : 51% · +6.8% (569 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Jun 25, 27
matures : Jun 25, 27
■ Hold neutral · not a buy · 🎯$110
Price at call : $98.24 — gap to target +12%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target -13%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 48.4% · +2.7% (442 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Jun 17, 27
matures : Jun 17, 27
▲ Buy · 🎯$140
Price at call : $100.9 — upside +39%
Today : $126.48 — upside +11%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 52.7% · +8.0% (716 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Jun 15, 27
matures : Jun 15, 27
See the other 42 calls, newest to oldest
■ Hold neutral · not a buy · 🎯$98
Price at call : $100.28 — gap to target -2%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target -23%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 49.1% · +8.7% (114 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Jun 8, 27
matures : Jun 8, 27
■ Neutral neutral · not a buy · 🎯$94
Price at call : $88.85 — gap to target +6%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target -26%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 50.9% · +3.8% (477 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Apr 13, 27
matures : Apr 13, 27
▼ Underweight · 🎯$100
Price at call : $91.68 — upside +9%
Today : $126.48 — upside -21%
🎯 on PAYX : 100% (2 calls matureds) · 📊 on Industry : 51% · +6.8% (569 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Mar 26, 27
matures : Mar 26, 27
■ Neutral neutral · not a buy · 🎯$99
Price at call : $91.68 — gap to target +8%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target -22%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 52.7% · +8.0% (716 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Mar 26, 27
matures : Mar 26, 27
Wells Fargo ↗
Mar 26, 26
▼ Underweight · 🎯$95
Price at call : $91.68 — upside +4%
Today : $126.48 — upside -25%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 55.2% · +2.9% (578 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Mar 26, 27
matures : Mar 26, 27
■ Hold neutral · not a buy · 🎯$95
Price at call : $91.68 — gap to target +4%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target -25%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 49.1% · +8.7% (114 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Mar 26, 27
matures : Mar 26, 27
■ Neutral neutral · not a buy · 🎯$125
Price at call : $93.59 — gap to target +34%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target -1%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 45.1% · +1.5% (366 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Mar 26, 27
matures : Mar 26, 27
RBC Capital ↗
Mar 19, 26
■ Sector Perform neutral · not a buy · 🎯$102
Price at call : $92.55 — gap to target +10%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target -19%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 47.3% · +3.3% (465 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Mar 19, 27
matures : Mar 19, 27
Guggenheim ↗
Mar 19, 26
■ Neutral neutral · not a buy
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 69.2% · +34.4% (26 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Mar 19, 27
matures : Mar 19, 27
BMO Capital ↗
Mar 13, 26
■ Market Perform neutral · not a buy · 🎯$103
Price at call : $93.1 — gap to target +11%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target -19%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 56.7% · +7.2% (178 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Mar 13, 27
matures : Mar 13, 27
Cantor Fitzgerald ↗
Jan 27, 26
▼ Underweight · 🎯$98
Price at call : $104.94 — upside -7%
Today : $126.48 — upside -23%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 66.7% · -3.3% (9 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Jan 27, 27
matures : Jan 27, 27
■ Neutral neutral · not a buy · 🎯$120
Price at call : $114.1 — gap to target +5%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target -5%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 52.7% · +8.0% (716 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Dec 22, 26
matures : Dec 22, 26
▼ Underweight · 🎯$125
Price at call : $114.88 — upside +9%
Today : $126.48 — upside -1%
🎯 on PAYX : 100% (2 calls matureds) · 📊 on Industry : 51% · +6.8% (569 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Dec 22, 26
matures : Dec 22, 26
Morgan Stanley ↗
Dec 22, 25
■ Equal-Weight neutral · not a buy · 🎯$123
Price at call : $114.88 — gap to target +7%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target -3%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 55% · +3.6% (1011 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Dec 22, 26
matures : Dec 22, 26
■ Hold neutral · not a buy · 🎯$126
Price at call : $116.7 — gap to target +8%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target -0%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 48.4% · +2.7% (442 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Dec 17, 26
matures : Dec 17, 26
Wells Fargo ↗
Dec 9, 25
▼ Underweight · 🎯$116
Price at call : $112.88 — upside +3%
Today : $126.48 — upside -8%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 55.2% · +2.9% (578 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Dec 9, 26
matures : Dec 9, 26
BMO Capital ↗
Dec 9, 25
■ Market Perform neutral · not a buy · 🎯$121
Price at call : $112.88 — gap to target +7%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target -4%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 56.7% · +7.2% (178 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Dec 9, 26
matures : Dec 9, 26
■ Hold neutral · not a buy · 🎯$118
Price at call : $112.45 — gap to target +5%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target -7%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 61.8% · +9.1% (288 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Dec 8, 26
matures : Dec 8, 26
■ Hold neutral · not a buy · 🎯$114
Price at call : $110.78 — gap to target +3%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target -10%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 49.1% · +8.7% (114 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Dec 1, 26
matures : Dec 1, 26
Wells Fargo ↗
Oct 22, 25
▼ Underweight · 🎯$128
Price at call : $126.61 — upside +1%
Today : $126.48 — upside +1%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 55.2% · +2.9% (578 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Oct 22, 26
matures : Oct 22, 26
Morgan Stanley ↗
Oct 20, 25
■ Equal-Weight neutral · not a buy · 🎯$133
Price at call : $127.54 — gap to target +4%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target +5%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 55% · +3.6% (1011 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Oct 20, 26
matures : Oct 20, 26
Stephens & Co. ↗
Oct 7, 25
■ Equal-Weight neutral · not a buy · 🎯$135
Price at call : $127.02 — gap to target +6%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target +7%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 47.1% · +5.8% (140 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Oct 7, 26
matures : Oct 7, 26
Morgan Stanley ↗
Oct 1, 25
■ Equal-Weight neutral · not a buy · 🎯$132
Price at call : $123.42 — gap to target +7%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target +4%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 55% · +3.6% (1011 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Oct 1, 26
matures : Oct 1, 26
BMO Capital ↗
Oct 1, 25
■ Market Perform neutral · not a buy · 🎯$140
Price at call : $124.01 — gap to target +13%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target +11%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 56.7% · +7.2% (178 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Oct 1, 26
matures : Oct 1, 26
▼ Underweight · 🎯$140
Price at call : $124.01 — upside +13%
Today : $126.48 — upside +11%
🎯 on PAYX : 100% (2 calls matureds) · 📊 on Industry : 51% · +6.8% (569 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Oct 1, 26
matures : Oct 1, 26
■ Hold neutral · not a buy · 🎯$142
Price at call : $129.3 — gap to target +10%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target +12%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 48.4% · +2.7% (442 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Sep 22, 26
matures : Sep 22, 26
■ Neutral neutral · not a buy · 🎯$140
Price at call : $131.11 — gap to target +7%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target +11%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 50.9% · +3.8% (477 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Sep 17, 26
matures : Sep 17, 26
■ Neutral neutral · not a buy · 🎯$148
Price at call : $140.81 — gap to target +5%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target +17%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 52.7% · +8.0% (716 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Aug 21, 26
matures : Aug 21, 26
▼ Underweight · 🎯$153
Price at call : $138.25 — upside +11%
Today : $126.48 — upside +21%
Expected +11% · Actual -14% · Reason (≤ −15%) : ✗ No
🎯 on PAYX : 100% (2 calls matureds) · 📊 on Industry : 51% · +6.8% (569 calls)
+14.3%
stock -14% · XLI +24%
matured Aug 14, 26
BMO Capital ↗
Jul 10, 25
■ Market Perform neutral · not a buy · 🎯$160
Price at call : $145.31 — gap to target +10%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target +27%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 56.7% · +7.2% (178 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Jul 10, 26
matures : Jul 10, 26
Morgan Stanley ↗
Jun 27, 25
■ Equal-Weight neutral · not a buy · 🎯$148
Price at call : $145.46 — gap to target +2%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target +17%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 55% · +3.6% (1011 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Jun 27, 26
matures : Jun 27, 26
■ Hold neutral · not a buy · 🎯$152
Price at call : $143.94 — gap to target +6%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target +20%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 48.4% · +2.7% (442 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Jun 26, 26
matures : Jun 26, 26
■ Neutral neutral · not a buy · 🎯$145
Price at call : $143.94 — gap to target +1%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target +15%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 50.9% · +3.8% (477 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Jun 26, 26
matures : Jun 26, 26
■ Hold neutral · not a buy · 🎯$140
Price at call : $141.01 — gap to target -1%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target +11%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 61.8% · +9.1% (288 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Jun 26, 26
matures : Jun 26, 26
▼ Underweight · 🎯$148
Price at call : $149.12 — upside -1%
Today : $126.48 — upside +17%
Expected -1% · Actual -36% · Reason (≤ −15%) : ✓ Yes
🎯 on PAYX : 100% (2 calls matureds) · 📊 on Industry : 51% · +6.8% (569 calls)
+35.7%
stock -36% · XLI +28%
matured Jun 18, 26
RBC Capital ↗
Jun 3, 25
■ Sector Perform neutral · not a buy · 🎯$165
Price at call : $159.33 — gap to target +4%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target +30%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 47.3% · +3.3% (465 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Jun 3, 26
matures : Jun 3, 26
■ Equal-Weight neutral · not a buy · 🎯$155
Price at call : $154.59 — gap to target +0%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target +23%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 49.8% · +3.2% (943 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Mar 31, 26
matures : Mar 31, 26
Morgan Stanley ↗
Mar 27, 25
■ Equal-Weight neutral · not a buy · 🎯$142
Price at call : $151.03 — gap to target -6%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target +12%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 55% · +3.6% (1011 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Mar 27, 26
matures : Mar 27, 26
■ Neutral neutral · not a buy · 🎯$158
Price at call : $151.03 — gap to target +5%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target +25%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 52.7% · +8.0% (716 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Mar 27, 26
matures : Mar 27, 26
■ Hold neutral · not a buy · 🎯$156
Price at call : $151.83 — gap to target +3%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target +23%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 48.4% · +2.7% (442 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Mar 27, 26
matures : Mar 27, 26
■ Neutral neutral · not a buy · 🎯$155
Price at call : $152 — gap to target +2%
Today : $126.48 — gap to target +23%
🎯 on PAYX : no call matured yet · 📊 on Industry : 50.9% · +3.8% (477 calls)
in progress (365j)
matures : Mar 4, 26
matures : Mar 4, 26
Frequently asked questions
Should I buy Paychex stock?
This isn't buy advice. For Paychex, the analyst consensus is "Hold", with an average price target of $109 (-14% vs the current price). What matters is their past reliability on this stock: the most reliable one is right 100% of the time (2 calls tracked on Paychex). We show the numbers — you decide.
Is it too late to buy Paychex? How high can it go?
The most bullish analyst target on Paychex is $150 (+19% above today's price); the average is $109. That's the upside they see. Check how reliable those analysts have actually been on Paychex on our site before trusting it.
Is Paychex still a good buy?
The most useful "opinion" isn't an opinion — it's a track record: 14 analysts have a real record on Paychex, the best hitting 100% over 2 calls. Current consensus: "Hold". Make your call on data, not noise.
Should you invest in Paychex? The case for and against
The arguments for and against, one by one, from the numbers: why invest in PAYX (and why hesitate).
What has Paychex's past performance been?
Historical returns and a "how much if I had invested" calculator: PAYX performance & returns.
Does Paychex pay a dividend?
Yield, consistency and growth history of the dividend: PAYX's dividend.
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