Is Paychex publicly traded?

Paychex is a public company. Its stock trades on the Nasdaq exchange under the stock ticker PAYX.

Does Paychex stock pay dividends?

Paychex has consistently paid a quarterly dividend for years. As of June 2026, Paychex's forward dividend yield was 4.5%.

What sector is PAYX in?

Specializing in human resources solutions, Paychex is an industrials stock.

What is the ticker for Paychex Inc.?

Investors can find Paychex stock listed under the stock ticker PAYX.

How to Invest in Paychex Inc (PAYX)

How to Buy Paychex Stock (PAYX)

By Scott Levine – Updated May 31, 2026 at 9:31 PM EST | Fact-checked by Frank Bass

Key Points

Paychex's AI-driven HR platforms make it a strong pick for industry exposure.
Investors must consider alignment with goals, profitability, and dividend potential.
Identify stock via ticker PAYX, choose share quantity, set order type, and execute purchase.

Since its founding in 1971, Paychex (PAYX +1.05%) has emerged as a leader in human resources solutions, making Paychex stock a popular option for investors seeking exposure to the professional services industry. In addition to providing customers with cloud-based platforms optimized for various human resources and payroll needs, Paychex offers a software-as-a-service (SaaS) model that integrates advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI).

The company took a major step towards maintaining its industry-leading position with the $4.1 billion acquisition of Paycor in April 2025. According to John Gibson, CEO of Paychex, "The Paycor acquisition unites two industry leaders with unrivaled AI-enabled technology supported by world-class service and advisory capabilities, and artificial intelligence (AI) tools."

Loading paragraph...

NASDAQ: PAYX

Paychex

Today's Change

(1.05%) $1.05

Current Price

$101.69

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$36B

Day's Range

$100.25 - $103.30

52wk Range

$85.45 - $154.90

Volume

1.6M

Avg Vol

3.6M

Gross Margin

72.98%

Dividend Yield

4.40%

Loading company_card...

While investors may be drawn to Paychex stock, there are a variety of factors to consider before they pick up shares such as whether the stock aligns with their investing goals, evaluating Paychex's profitability, and determining if there's an option to collect dividends.

Loading paragraph...

How to buy Paychex (PAYX) stock

For investors looking to gain exposure to Paychex, there are only a few simple steps they need to take:

Open your brokerage app: Log in to your brokerage account where you manage your investments.
Search for the stock: Enter the ticker or company name into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.
Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected, and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.

Loading paragraph...

Adult smiles while using smartphone to deposit a paycheck. — Image source: Getty Images.

Loading image...

Is Paychex profitable?

While Paychex experienced a decline in profits from fiscal years 2024 to 2025, when it reported a 2% dip in diluted earnings per share (EPS) from $4.67 to $4.58, the overall arc of the company's profitability is undeniable. Consistent with top-line growth, Paychex has reported bottom-line growth over the past decade.

From fiscal years 2015 through 2025, Paychex increased revenue at a 7.4% compound annual growth rate (CAGR). During the same period, Paychex has grown diluted EPS at a 9.5% CAGR.

On an adjusted diluted EPS basis, Paychex reported $4.98 in fiscal 2025, and management projects year-over-year adjusted diluted EPS growth of 8.5% to 10.5% for fiscal 2026.

Loading paragraph...

Does Paychex pay a dividend?

Not only does Paychex pay a dividend, but management also views it as the primary means of rewarding shareholders rather than stock buybacks. On the company's fourth-quarter 2025 conference call, Bob Schrader, the company's chief financial officer, stated, "To the extent that we have excess cash, our primary way to return that to shareholders is through dividends versus share buybacks."

From fiscal 2010, when it returned $1.24 per share to investors, to fiscal 2025, when it returned $4.02, Paychex has hiked its dividend at an 8.2% CAGR over the past 15 years.

Loading paragraph...

Will Paychex stock split?

As of October 2025, Paychex had split its stock 10 times in its history, most recently in 2000 -- a 3-for-2 stock split. With many brokerages offering investors the option to buy fractional shares of stock, companies have generally been less inclined to offer stock splits.

With Paychex shares trading around $97 per share as of June 2026, it seems highly unlikely that the company will split its stock in the near future.

Loading paragraph...

The bottom line on Paychex

While the term "industrial stock" may immediately summon to mind companies operating factories and heavy machinery, human resources specialist Paychex also qualifies as an industrial stock.

For those interested in portfolio diversification, Paychex is a conservative choice to balance out higher-risk holdings. The company consistently generates both profits and free cash flow, helping support dividend payments and acquisitions.

Loading paragraph...

FAQ

Investing in Paychex: FAQ

Loading faq...

About the Author

Scott Levine is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering energy, industrials, technology, and materials. He is also a high school English teacher and a small business owner. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English and creative writing from Binghamton University, a master’s degree in secondary education from Adelphi University, and an advanced certificate in school building leadership from CUNY Queens College. A crossword puzzle enthusiast, he has solved more than 3,100 New York Times puzzles with a 97% solve rate.

TMFProudMonkey

@TMFProudMonkey

Scott Levine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

How to Buy Paychex Stock (PAYX)

Key Points

NASDAQ: PAYX

Key Data Points

How to buy Paychex (PAYX) stock

Is Paychex profitable?

Does Paychex pay a dividend?

Will Paychex stock split?

Related investing topics

Best Fintech Stocks to Buy in 2026 and How to Invest in Them

The Largest Industrials Companies by Market Cap in June 2026

Best Bank ETFs for 2026 and How to Invest

How Are Banks, Credit Card Networks, and Payment Processors Adapting to Stablecoins?

The bottom line on Paychex

FAQ

Investing in Paychex: FAQ

Is Paychex publicly traded?

Is Paychex publicly traded?

Does Paychex stock pay dividends?

Does Paychex stock pay dividends?

What sector is PAYX in?

What sector is PAYX in?

What is the ticker for Paychex Inc.?

What is the ticker for Paychex Inc.?

About the Author

Read Next

Stocks Mentioned

Motley Fool Stock Advisor’s Latest Pick

Premium Investing Services

How to buy Paychex (PAYX) stock

Is Paychex profitable?

Does Paychex pay a dividend?

Will Paychex stock split?

Best Fintech Stocks to Buy in 2026 and How to Invest in Them

The Largest Industrials Companies by Market Cap in June 2026

Best Bank ETFs for 2026 and How to Invest

How Are Banks, Credit Card Networks, and Payment Processors Adapting to Stablecoins?

The bottom line on Paychex

Investing in Paychex: FAQ

Is Paychex publicly traded?

Is Paychex publicly traded?

Does Paychex stock pay dividends?

Does Paychex stock pay dividends?

What sector is PAYX in?

What sector is PAYX in?

What is the ticker for Paychex Inc.?

What is the ticker for Paychex Inc.?

ETFs with exposure to Paychex

Should I invest in Paychex?

NASDAQ: PAYX

Key Data Points