Paycom Software (PAYC 1.20%), the provider of workforce management and payroll software, reported its fourth-quarter and full-year 2016 earnings in February. Investors found plenty to celebrate, including yearly top-line gains of 47% and net-income growth of 109%, sending Paycom's stock to new all-time highs. With 2016 now in the books, let's take a look at just how remarkable the company's performance has been over the last five years.
Image source: Paycom Software.
Revenue keeps growing like a weed
Data from Paycom Software 10-K. Chart by author.
Paycom's revenue growth is a thing of beauty, rising from $76.8 million in 2012 to $329.14 million in 2016. For the past four fiscal years, yearly revenue growth has been above 40%. While rates like that may not be sustainable for a whole lot longer, the company has guided for 2017 revenue of $422 million to $424 million, the midpoint of which represents 29% growth. And management has stated that they continue to target yearly top-line growth of 30% plus.
Retention rates -- the most boring chart in the world
Data from Paycom Software 10-K. Chart by author.
Adjusted EBITDA margins have come a long way
Data from Paycom Software 10-K. Chart by author.
Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) margin measures a company's operating profitability as a percentage of its revenue. As you can see, Paycom's adjusted EBITDA margin has risen fairly dramatically from 16.7% in 2012 to just under 29% in 2016. And there is likely even more room for improvement, as management has stated they are targeting long-term adjusted EBITDA margins of 30% to 33%. That said, the company is prioritizing top-line growth in the near term, which will boost expenses for sales, marketing and R&D in 2017. As a result of those strategic investments, management has issued guidance for adjusted EBITDA margin of 27% in 2017.
Adjusted EBITDA growth looks quite healthy
Data from Paycom Software 10-K. Chart by author.
In terms of the bottom line, Paycom's net income has grown at triple-digit annual growth rates for each of the past three years. However, since the company just turned profitable in 2014, the growth rate trend line doesn't make for a good chart. Instead, check out Paycom's adjusted EBITDA. You can see that this measure of "top-line" earnings grew from $12.83 million in 2012 to $94.46 million in 2016, with annual growth rates that exceeded 50% in three of the past four years. However, in line with my previous comments about 2017 being a kind of investment year, the company also issued adjusted EBITDA guidance of $113 million to $115 million, reflecting lower annual growth of 21% at the midpoint.
Paycom's business is generating solid results on the top line, the bottom line, and everywhere in between. And it hasn't been just one or two great quarters -- the company has been exceeding expectations now for several years running. Although 2017 may bring slightly lower margins and earnings growth, the company's continued strong top-line expansion and steady retention rates make me think Paycom's future will look a lot like its past.
