Paychex (Nasdaq: PAYX) reported earnings on June 26. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended May 31 (Q4), Paychex met expectations on revenues and missed estimates on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue expanded. GAAP earnings per share stayed the same.

Gross margins grew, operating margins grew, net margins shrank.

Revenue details
 Paychex logged revenue of $585.3 million. The 20 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $586.4 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 6.1% higher than the prior-year quarter's $551.5 million.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

EPS details
 EPS came in at $0.34. The 23 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.37 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.34 were the same as the prior-year quarter.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

Margin details
 For the quarter, gross margin was 70.8%, 190 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 36.2%, 70 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 21.1%, 130 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $611.1 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.45.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $2.47 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.71.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,443 members out of 1,515 rating the stock outperform, and 72 members rating it underperform. Among 553 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 542 give Paychex a green thumbs-up, and 11 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Paychex is hold, with an average price target of $33.94.

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