-- CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:
We raise our target by $19 to $150, 12.3x our 2027 EPS estimate, significantly below PAYC's three-year historical forward P/E average of 24.9x. We lift our 2026 EPS view by $0.53 to $10.73 and 2027's EPS view by $0.95 to $12.23. PAYC conservative 2026 guidance, which projects a revenue growth slowdown to 6%-7%, is a primary concern as it contrasts sharply with the company's current performance. This strength is evidenced by an expanding 48.2% adjusted EBITDA margin, robust 17% Y/Y growth in operating cash flow, and high 91% client retention, all fueled by the demonstrable ROI its AI-powered platform delivers to clients. Underscoring this internal confidence, management executed a massive $1.06B share repurchase in Q1, taking on $675M in debt to capitalize on what it views as a significant undervaluation. This aggressive, debt-funded capital return increases financial leverage but signals a profound belief in the company's long-term value proposition, despite the cautious near-term growth outlook.