TMCnet News
Paychex, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2018 ResultsPaychex, Inc. ("Paychex," "we," "our," or "us") (NASDAQ:PAYX) today announced its results of operations for the three months ended May 31, 2018 (the "fourth quarter"), as well as the full fiscal year ended May 31, 2018 ("fiscal 2018" or the "fiscal year"). Total revenue increased 9% for the fourth quarter to $871.1 million. For the fiscal year, total revenue increased 7% to $3.4 billion. Net income and diluted earnings per share both increased 17% for the fourth quarter to $228.5 million and $0.63 per share, respectively. For the fiscal year, net income and diluted earnings per share increased 14% to $933.7 million and 15% to $2.58 per share, respectively. Martin Mucci, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We had a strong finish to fiscal 2018. Providing our clients the value of our complete human capital management ("HCM") solutions through a combination of leading-edge technology and flexible service options is driving our results. Our flexible service options, including 7 by 24 access to our specialists, allows our clients to decide when, where and how they access our services." Mr. Mucci added, "During fiscal 2018, we completed the acquisitions of HR Outsourcing Holdings, Inc. ("HROI"), a national professional employer organization ("PEO"), and Lessor Group ("Lessor"), a market-leading provider of payroll and human resource ("HR") software solutions headquartered in Denmark. The integration of these acquisitions has proceeded well. They are showing better-than-expected progress and are expected to make a positive contribution to our longer-term growth. In addition, we had a reduction in tax expense in fiscal 2018 as a result of the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "Tax Act") in December 2017, the most comprehensive tax reform legislation approved in more than two decades. Given our industry-leading operating margins, we are benefiting significantly from tax reform and passing a substantial amount of this benefit to shareholders while also accelerating technology investments for enhanced product value for our clients and future top-line growth." Human Resource Services ("HRS") revenue increased 17% to $401.0 million for the fourth quarter and 14% to $1.5 billion for the fiscal year, compared to the same periods last year. HRS revenue growth was primarily driven by increases in client bases across the following HCM services: comprehensive HR outsourcing services, including HROI; retirement services; time and attendance; and insurance services. HROI contributed approximately 8% and 6% to the total HRS revenue growth for the fourth quarter and fiscal year, respectively. Our largest HRS revenue stream is Paychex HR Services, which includes our administrative services organization and our PEO. Demand for these services resulted in double-digit growth in the number of client worksite employees served as of May 31, 2018 compared to May 31, 2017. Retirement services revenue benefited from an increase in asset fee revenue earned on the asset value of participants' funds as well as an increase in the number of plans served. Insurance services revenue benefited from an increase in the number of health and benefits applicants, coupled with higher average premiums for our workers' compensation insurance services. Payroll service revenue increased 3% to $452.4 million for the fourth quarter and 2% to $1.8 billion for the fiscal year, compared to the same periods last year. These increases were primarily driven by growth in revenue per check, which improved as a result of price increases, net of discounts. Lessor contributed approximately 1% to total payroll service revenue growth for the fourth quarter. As of May 31, 2018, including the Lessor acquisition, we served over 650,000 payroll clients. Interest on funds held for clients increased 27% to $17.7 million for the fourth quarter and 26% to $63.5 million for the fiscal year, compared to the same periods last year. The increases resulted primarily from higher average interest rates earned. The funds held for clients average investment balances were down 3% for the fourth quarter and 1% for the fiscal year, primarily due to the impact of the Tax Act on employee withholdings and changes in client mix, which offset the impact of wage inflation. Average investment balances and interest rates are summarized below:
Total expenses increased 11% to $553.3 million for the fourth quarter and 10% to $2.1 billion for the fiscal year, compared to the same periods last year. HROI and Lessor contributed approximately 7% and 5% to the total expense growth for the fourth quarter and fiscal year, respectively. Compensation-related costs increased approximately 7% for the fourth quarter and approximately 5% for the fiscal year as compared to the same prior year periods. Higher compensation was driven by higher headcount reflecting accelerated investment in technology, sales teams, and the impact of the acquisitions. Higher compensation for the year also included a one-time bonus paid to non-management employees. Continued growth of our combined PEO business also contributed to the overall increase in total expenses. For the fiscal year, expenses also reflect a one-time expense related to the termination of certain license agreements during the three months ended February 28, 2018 (the "third quarter"). Operating income increased 6% for the fourth quarter and 4% for the fiscal year, compared to the same periods last year. Operating income, as a percent of total revenue, was 36.5% for the fourth quarter and 38.1% for the fiscal year, compared to 37.4% and 39.3% for the same prior year periods. Adjusted operating income increased 6% for both the fourth quarter and fiscal year, compared to the same periods last year. Adjusted operating income for the fiscal year excludes the one-time charge of $32.6 million following the termination of certain license agreements during the third quarter. See the "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section on page 5 of this press release for further discussion of this non-GAAP measure. Our effective income tax rate was 28.7% for the fourth quarter and 28.0% for the fiscal year, compared to 35.0% and 34.3% for the same prior year periods. The effective income tax rate for the fiscal year was significantly impacted by the Tax Act. As it relates to the Tax Act, we recorded a non-recurring net tax benefit of $4.8 million for the fourth quarter and $25.6 million for the fiscal year for the revaluation of our net deferred tax liabilities, which impacted diluted earnings per share by approximately $0.01 per share for the fourth quarter and $0.07 per share for the fiscal year. In addition, our effective income tax rate for the fourth quarter and for the fiscal year benefited from a reduced statutory tax rate applied to our current year taxable income. Financial Position and Liquidity Our financial position as of May 31, 2018 remained strong with cash and total corporate investments of $719.7 million and no debt. Our primary source of cash is generated from our ongoing operations. The slight decrease in cash and total corporate investments from $777.4 million as of May 31, 2017 is primarily the result of share repurchases, business acquisitions, and an increase in the rate for quarterly dividend payments, which offset cash generated from operations during fiscal 2018. Our positive cash flows have historically allowed us to support our business and to pay substantial dividends to our stockholders. It is anticipated that cash and total corporate investments as of May 31, 2018, along with projected operating cash flows and available short-term financing, will support our normal business operations, capital purchases, share repurchases, dividend payments, and business acquisitions, if any, for the foreseeable future. Cash flows from operations were $1.3 billion for fiscal 2018, an increase of 33% over the prior year. This increase is primarily the result of higher net income, adjusted for non-cash items and the increase in cash provided by fluctuations in our operating assets and liabilities including income taxes and PEO payroll accruals and unbilled receivables, which can fluctuate based on timing of period end compared to payroll check dates. The increase in net income for fiscal 2018 was impacted by the enactment of the Tax Act. In addition, for the year ended May 31, 2017, cash outflows were impacted by higher accounts receivable balances related to growth in our payroll funding business for temporary staffing agency clients. During fiscal 2018, we repurchased 2.5 million shares of our common stock for a total of $143.1 million. In the respective prior year period, we repurchased 2.9 million shares for a total of $166.2 million. Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to reporting operating income, net income, and diluted earnings per share, which are U.S. GAAP measures, we present adjusted operating income, adjusted net income, and adjusted diluted earnings per share, which are non-GAAP measures. We believe adjusted operating income, adjusted net income, and adjusted diluted earnings per share are appropriate additional measures, as they are indicators of our core business operations performance period over period. Adjusted operating income, adjusted net income, and adjusted diluted earnings per share are not calculated through the application of GAAP and are not required forms of disclosure by the SEC. As such, they should not be considered as a substitute for the GAAP measures of operating income, net income, and diluted earnings per share, and therefore should not be used in isolation, but in conjunction with the GAAP measures. The use of any non-GAAP measure may produce results that vary from the GAAP measure and may not be comparable to a similarly defined non-GAAP measure used by other companies. Outlook Our outlook for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2019 ("fiscal 2019") is based upon current market expectations and economic conditions continuing with no significant changes. The guidance reflects the adoption of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" ("ASC Topic 606"), which is effective for fiscal 2019. Our guidance for fiscal 2019 is as follows:
Paychex will host a separate, supplemental conference call from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, June 27, 2018 to review the fiscal 2018 quarterly and annual results adjusted for ASC Topic 606 and other items. Annual Report on Form 10-K We anticipate filing our Form 10-K before the end of July 2018, and this will be available at our Investor Relations page. This press release should be read in conjunction with the Form 10-K and the related Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained in that Form 10-K. Conference Call Interested parties may access the webcast of our Earnings Release Conference Call, scheduled for June 27, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time, at our investor relations page. The webcast will be archived for approximately one month. Our news releases, current financial information, SEC filings, and investor presentation are also accessible at our Investor Relations page. About Paychex Paychex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PAYX) is a leading provider of integrated human capital management solutions for payroll, human resources, retirement, and insurance services. By combining its innovative software-as-a-service technology and mobility platform with dedicated, personal service, Paychex empowers small- and medium-sized business owners to focus on the growth and management of their business. Backed by more than 45 years of industry expertise, Paychex serves over 650,000 payroll clients as of May 31, 2018 across more than 100 locations in the U.S. and Europe, and pays one out of every 12 American private sector employees. Learn more about Paychex by visiting paychex.com and stay connected on Twitter and LinkedIn. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Pursuant to the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 Certain written and oral statements made by us may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by such words and phrases as "we expect," "expected to," "estimates," "estimated," "overview," "current outlook," "we look forward to," "would equate to," "projects," "projections," "projected," "projected to be," "anticipates," "anticipated," "we believe," "believes", "could be," and other similar words or phrases. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding operating performance, events, or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future, including statements relating to our outlook, revenue growth, earnings, earnings-per-share growth, or similar projections. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy, and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict, many of which are outside our control. Our actual results and financial conditions may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not place undue reliance upon any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following:
Any of these factors, as well as such other factors as discussed in our SEC filings, could cause our actual results to differ materially from our anticipated results. The information provided in this document is based upon the facts and circumstances known at this time, and any forward-looking statement made by us in this document speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements after the date of issuance of this press release to reflect events or circumstances after such date, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
© 2018 Paychex, Inc.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180627005196/en/ |