Paychex (PAYX) valuation
Paychex P/E ratio history
Paychex trades at 22.3 times its earnings over the last twelve months and 18.5 times the earnings analysts expect over the next twelve. At its last 10 fiscal year ends its P/E ranged from 19.8 (year to May 2026) to 34.5 (year to May 2025), with a median of 26.0.
| Fiscal year ended | Price | EPS | P/E | Forward P/E |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 2026 | $96.98 | $4.89 | 19.8 | 16.7 |
| May 31, 2025 | $157.91 | $4.58 | 34.5 | 30.3 |
| May 31, 2024 | $120.16 | $4.67 | 25.7 | — |
| May 31, 2023 | $104.93 | $4.30 | 24.4 | 23.2 |
| May 31, 2022 | $123.83 | $3.84 | 32.3 | 31.1 |
| May 31, 2021 | $101.14 | $3.03 | 33.4 | — |
| May 31, 2020 | $72.28 | $3.04 | 23.8 | — |
| May 31, 2019 | $85.79 | $2.86 | 30.0 | — |
| May 31, 2018 | $65.58 | $2.74 | 23.9 | — |
| May 31, 2017 | $59.23 | $2.26 | 26.2 | — |
n/m: not meaningful (a loss, or earnings close to zero). The daily P/E line is a chart indicator in the app.
Paychex valuation against its peers
| Company | Market value | P/E | Forward P/E | Price / sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PaychexPAYX | $39.9B | 22.3 | 18.5 | 6.0 |
| Automatic Data ProcessingADP | $117B | 26.1 | 23.2 | 5.4 |
| Peer median | 26.1 | 23.2 | 5.4 |
Reading these multiples
The P/E divides the share price by earnings per share over the last twelve months; the forward P/E divides it by the earnings analysts expect over the next twelve. Price to sales compares the company's market value with its revenue over the last twelve months. A multiple reads differently from one industry to the next, so the peer group above is the fairer comparison.
See also: PAYX financials · PAYX returns
No forecast, no recommendation. This page describes Paychex from published data; it is not advice to buy, sell or hold any security.
Figures as of the close on Oct 30, 2026 unless a row says otherwise. Prices are split adjusted; returns include dividends reinvested. Data may be delayed. See the disclaimer and how TrendArc works.