PAYX
Paychex
PE ratio, current and historical analysis
- Stocks
- Industrials
- NASDAQ: PAYX
- PE Ratio
The P/E ratio for Paychex stock stands at 23.84 as of Jul 31, 2026. This is calculated based on the TTM EPS of $4.9 and the stock price of $116.84 per share. The current PE ratio is about the same compared to the last 4 quarters average.
PAYX PE ratio history
Over the last ten years, the average PE ratio of Paychex has been 27.9. The current 23.84 price-to-earnings ratio is 15% less than the historical average. Analyzing the last ten years, PAYX's PE ratio reached its highest point in the May 2025 quarter at 34.33, with a price of $157.91 and an EPS of $4.6. The May 2026 quarter saw the lowest point at 19.79, with a price of $96.98 and an EPS of $4.9.
Paychex PE ratio by year
Maximum annual increase: 40.39% in 2021
Maximum annual decrease: -42.35% in 2026
| Year | PE ratio | PE change | Price | EPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 19.79 | -42.35% | $96.98 | $4.9 |
| 2025 | 34.33 | 34% | $157.91 | $4.6 |
| 2024 | 25.62 | 5.48% | $120.16 | $4.69 |
| 2023 | 24.29 | -24.28% | $104.93 | $4.32 |
| 2022 | 32.08 | -3.26% | $123.83 | $3.86 |
| 2021 | 33.16 | 40.39% | $101.14 | $3.05 |
| 2020 | 23.62 | -20.71% | $72.28 | $3.06 |
| 2019 | 29.79 | 25.8% | $85.79 | $2.88 |
| 2018 | 23.68 | -8.04% | $65.58 | $2.77 |
| 2017 | 25.75 | -0.27% | $59.23 | $2.3 |
| 2016 | 25.82 | -2.79% | $54.22 | $2.1 |
| 2015 | 26.56 | 11.13% | $49.41 | $1.86 |
| 2014 | 23.9 | 0.13% | $41.11 | $1.72 |
| 2013 | 23.87 | 20.25% | $37.23 | $1.56 |
| 2012 | 19.85 | -12.75% | $29.97 | $1.51 |
Paychex PE ratio by quarter (TTM)
| Year | PE ratio | PE change | Price | EPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | 19.79 | -3.84% | $96.98 | $4.9 |
| Feb 2026 | 20.58 | -18.37% | $93.65 | $4.55 |
| Nov 2025 | 25.21 | -19.02% | $111.69 | $4.43 |
| Aug 2025 | 31.13 | -9.32% | $139.46 | $4.48 |
| May 2025 | 34.33 | 9.33% | $157.91 | $4.6 |
| Feb 2025 | 31.4 | 2.61% | $151.67 | $4.83 |
| Nov 2024 | 30.6 | 10.07% | $146.27 | $4.78 |
| Aug 2024 | 27.8 | 8.51% | $131.2 | $4.72 |
| May 2024 | 25.62 | -3.68% | $120.16 | $4.69 |
| Feb 2024 | 26.6 | -1.41% | $122.62 | $4.61 |
| Nov 2023 | 26.98 | -2.21% | $121.97 | $4.52 |
| Aug 2023 | 27.59 | 13.59% | $122.23 | $4.43 |
| May 2023 | 24.29 | -8.24% | $104.93 | $4.32 |
| Feb 2023 | 26.47 | -13.36% | $110.4 | $4.17 |
| Nov 2022 | 30.55 | -1.42% | $124.03 | $4.06 |
PAYX Price vs fair value
PAYX average PE ratio chart
What this chart measures
The Historical Valuation Regime chart shows where the stock's current valuation sits relative to its own historical valuation range over the selected lookback period.
This is a history-relative tool, not a market-relative percentile. It does not compare the stock to other companies. Instead, it compares each historical valuation reading to the stock's own past readings.
Percentile logic
The threshold lines are calculated them from the stock's real historical values using percentile interpolation. That is why some colored bands are narrow while others are wide: the band widths reflect how the stock actually traded through time.
Regime map
| Historical percentile | Regime | Chart meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 0-10 | Historically Low | Deep cheap zone |
| >10-25 | Below Average | Cheap relative to history |
| >25-75 | Average | Within the normal historical range |
| >75-90 | Above Average | Expensive relative to history |
| >90-100 | Historically High | Extreme or stretched valuation |
How to read each part
| Chart element | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Main line | The actual historical valuation values over time for the selected metric. |
| Dashed horizontal lines | The stock's computed P10, P25, Median, P75, and P90 thresholds for the selected period. |
| Colored bands | The historical valuation zones between those thresholds. |
| Metric boxes | Current ratio, historical median, current percentile, and current regime. |
| Timeline strip | A condensed regime history showing how the stock moved between cheap, fair, and expensive states across each observation. |
Important metric definitions
Current Percentile is the percentile rank of the latest valid historical observation within the selected lookback range.
Current Regime is assigned directly from the latest observation's percentile bucket using the fixed 10 / 25 / 75 / 90 cutoffs shown above.
How to use it well
This chart is most useful for answering a narrow question: Is this stock trading high, low, or normal relative to its own history? It works best alongside growth, profitability, and forward-looking business analysis, because a stock can deserve a higher or lower regime if its business quality has changed.
PAYX's current PE ratio is under its 3, 5 and 10-year averages.
PE comparison
With a price to earnings (P/E) of 23.84, PAYX stands lower than the Industrials sector and the industry average. Looking at the Industrials sector average of 28.25, Paychex's price to earnings (P/E) is 16% lower.
PAYX PE vs peers
PAYX's PE ratio is less than its peer stocks ADP and EFX, but it is above INTU's.
| Stock name | PE ratio | Market cap |
|---|---|---|
| INTU Intuit Inc | 19.67 | $89.1B |
| PAYX Paychex Inc | 24.31 | $42.36B |
| ADP Automatic Data Processing Inc | 25.28 | $108.74B |
| EFX Equifax Inc | 30.99 | $20.86B |
| NSP Insperity Inc | N/A | $2.01B |
Frequently asked questions
What is Paychex's PE ratio?
The price to earnings ratio for PAYX stock as of Jul 31, 2026, stands at 23.84.
What is the 3-year average PE ratio for Paychex (PAYX)?
Over the last 3 years, the average PE ratio for PAYX stock is 27.3.
What is the 5-year average PE ratio for Paychex (PAYX)?
Over the last 5 years, the average PE ratio for PAYX stock is 28.55.
What is the highest PE ratio for PAYX?
The highest quarterly PE ratio in the last ten years has been 34.33 and it was in the May 2025 quarter.
How does the current PE ratio for PAYX compare to its historical average?
The current PE ratio of PAYX is 15% lower than the 10-year historical average.
How is PAYX's PE ratio calculated (Paychex PE ratio formula)?
To determine the P/E ratio, divide the latest stock price by the TTM earnings per share (EPS). As of today (Jul 31, 2026), Paychex's share price is $116.84. The company's earnings per share for the trailing twelve months (TTM) ending May 2026 is $4.9. Therefore, Paychex's price to earnings ratio for today is 23.84. PE RATIO(23.84) = STOCK PRICE($116.84) / TTM EPS($4.9)
All PE ratio stats are based on quarterly TTM periods, unless otherwise specified.