Is Paylocity a Good Cloud Stock to Add to Your Portfolio?

NASDAQ: PCTY | Paylocity Holding Corporation News, Ratings, and Charts

PCTY – Despite several strategic advancements, Paylocity’s (PCTY) shares are down 26.6% year-to-date. Also, the stock is currently trading at a significant premium to its peers, so would it be worth buying the stock now? Let’s find out.

Paylocity Holding Corporation (PCTY) is a user-friendly product suite that assists firms in automating and streamlining HR and payroll procedures, attracting and retaining personnel, and building culture.

The company recently reported its third-quarter earnings results. Its sales grew 32% year over year to $246 million. The rise in top-line revenue may be attributed to a 32% increase in recurring revenues (99.6% of total sales), which reached $245 million. However, interest income on funds held for clients fell 10.5% to $1 million.

The stock is down 26.6% year-to-date and 11.5% over the past three months to close its last trading session at $173.42. In addition, last month, Jefferies Financial Group lowered its price target for the stock from $255.00 to $200.00.

Here’s what could shape PCTY’s performance in the near term:

Mixed Profitability

PCTY’s trailing-12-month gross profit margin of 66.1% is 31.2% higher than the industry average of 50.4%. Its trailing-12-month net income margin and ROC are 107.3% and 68.7% higher than their respective industry averages. However, its trailing-12-month asset turnover ratio, EBITDA margin, and ROA are 67.8%, 7.2%, and 44.2% lower than their respective industry averages.

Premium Valuation

In terms of forward non-GAAP P/E, the stock is currently trading at 57.86x, 220.8% higher than the industry average of 18.04x. Also, its trailing-12-month EV/Sales of 11.34x is 303% higher than the industry average of 2.81x. Moreover, PCTY’s forward Price/Sales of 11.36x is 299.7% higher than the industry average of 2.84x.

Consensus Rating and Price Target Indicate Potential Upside

Of the 12 Wall Street analysts that rated PCTY, ten rated it Buy, and two rated it Hold. The 12-month median price target of $238.96 indicates a 37.8% potential upside. The price targets range from a low of $185.00 to a high of $325.00.

POWR Ratings Reflect Uncertainty

PCTY has an overall C rating, which equates to a Neutral in our proprietary POWR Ratings system. The POWR ratings are calculated considering 118 different factors, with each factor weighted to an optimal degree.

Our proprietary rating system also evaluates each stock based on eight different categories. PCTY has a C grade for Stability and Quality. Its stock beta of 1.30 is in sync with the Stability grade. In addition, the company’s mixed profitability is consistent with the Quality grade.

Of the 156 stocks in the D-rated Software – Application industry, PCTY is ranked #51.

Beyond what I’ve stated above, you can view PCTY ratings for Growth, Value, Momentum, and Sentiment here.

Bottom Line

The stock is currently trading below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages of $185.88 and $227.47, respectively, indicating a downtrend. In addition, its premium valuation and the recently lowered price objective could add to investors’ concerns. So, we think investors should wait before scooping up its shares.

How Does Paylocity Holding Corporation (PCTY) Stack Up Against its Peers?

While PCTY has an overall C rating, one might want to consider its industry peer, Commvault Systems Inc. (CVLT), Rimini Street Inc. (RMNI), and Enghouse Systems Limited (EGHSF), which has an overall A (Strong Buy) rating.

Want More Great Investing Ideas?

3 Stocks to DOUBLE This Year


PCTY shares were trading at $161.50 per share on Monday morning, down $11.92 (-6.87%). Year-to-date, PCTY has declined -31.61%, versus a -19.91% rise in the benchmark S&P 500 index during the same period.


About the Author: Pragya Pandey


Pragya is an equity research analyst and financial journalist with a passion for investing. In college she majored in finance and is currently pursuing the CFA program and is a Level II candidate. More...


More Resources for the Stocks in this Article

TickerPOWR RatingIndustry RankRank in Industry
PCTYGet RatingGet RatingGet Rating
CVLTGet RatingGet RatingGet Rating
RMNIGet RatingGet RatingGet Rating
EGHSFGet RatingGet RatingGet Rating

Most Popular Stories on StockNews.com


Investors: Are You Ready for November?

The S&P 500 (SPY) tumbled to end October. Is that a harbinger of more downside to come? Or will the bull market return with gusto? Investment pro Steve Reitmeister shares his time market views including a preview of his favorite stocks. Get the full story below...

3 Cybersecurity Stocks Defending Against Digital Threats

The demand for cybersecurity solutions is rising as digital threats and sophisticated cyberattacks continue to escalate. Therefore, it might be wise to keep track of cybersecurity stocks, CrowdStrike (CRWD), Palo Alto Networks (PANW), and Fortinet (FTNT), as they offer innovative solutions presenting further growth opportunities. Continue reading...

3 Oil Stocks With High Upside as Global Demand Rebounds

The outlook for oil demand growth appears promising despite economic uncertainties and worldwide supply deficit. Amid this, investing in quality oil stocks Enterprise Products Partners (EPD), Marathon Oil (MRO), and Plains All American Pipeline (PAA) could be ideal as global demand rebounds. Read more...

3 Tech Stocks Under $10 That Could Deliver Big Gains

The technology industry is booming, driven by breakthroughs and significant government investments. Thus, incorporating affordable tech stocks, Sprinklr (CXM), Sabre Corporation (SABR), and Cricut (CRCT) into your portfolio provides an accessible entry point to capitalize on the industry’s growth. Read more…

2 Concerns for Investors in October

The S&P 500 (SPY) may be touching all time highs...but recent action points to concerns on 2 fronts: inflation and earnings. Investment veteran Steve Reitmeister shares his views on these 2 timely topics along with a preview of his top stocks to buy now.

Read More Stories

More Paylocity Holding Corporation (PCTY) News View All

Event/Date Symbol News Detail Start Price End Price Change POWR Rating
Loading, please wait...
View All PCTY News