Paychex, Inc. stock research
FY2025 Q2
Paychex (PAYX) Gross Margin — Quarter Ended Nov 30, 2024
Gross margin improved slightly compared to both the prior quarter and the same quarter last year, reflecting a stable relationship between revenue and cost of revenue. Revenue was higher year over year while cost of revenue grew at a slower pace, and compared to the previous quarter revenue held steady while cost of revenue edged lower.
Gross margin takeaway
Quarter ended Nov 30, 2024 · FY2025 Q2
Gross margin improved slightly compared to both the prior quarter and the same quarter last year, reflecting a stable relationship between revenue and cost of revenue. Revenue was higher year over year while cost of revenue grew at a slower pace, and compared to the previous quarter revenue held steady while cost of revenue edged lower.
- The primary observable driver was the proportion of cost of revenue to revenue, which decreased marginally compared to both the prior quarter and the year-ago quarter.
- Compared to the immediately preceding quarter, gross margin was slightly higher, with revenue essentially unchanged and cost of revenue modestly lower. Relative to the same quarter one year earlier, gross margin also edged higher as revenue increased while cost of revenue rose at a slower rate.
Gross margin snapshot
The selected quarter's reported revenue, gross profit, direct costs, and margin comparisons.
Gross margin
70.4%
Gross profit
$901.7M
Revenue
$1.3B
Cost of revenue
$379.1M
Quarter-over-quarter change
+0.1 pts
Year-over-year change
+0.1 pts
Quarterly gross margin trend
A four-quarter view of the revenue and direct-cost bridge behind gross margin.
| Period | Revenue | Gross profit | Cost of revenue | Gross margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 29, 2024 | $1.4B | $1.0B | $379.8M | 72.8% |
| May 31, 2024 | $1.3B | $881.7M | $375.2M | 70.1% |
| Aug 31, 2024 | $1.3B | $901.0M | $380.0M | 70.3% |
| Nov 30, 2024 | $1.3B | $901.7M | $379.1M | 70.4% |
Quarterly comparisons
Compare the selected margin with the preceding quarter and the same fiscal quarter one year earlier.
Previous-quarter change
Aug 31, 2024
+0.1 pts
Year-over-year change
Nov 30, 2023
+0.1 pts
What the margin says
Filing-constrained interpretation of margin direction, comparisons, and what to monitor next.
The primary observable driver was the proportion of cost of revenue to revenue, which decreased marginally compared to both the prior quarter and the year-ago quarter.
Compared to the immediately preceding quarter, gross margin was slightly higher, with revenue essentially unchanged and cost of revenue modestly lower. Relative to the same quarter one year earlier, gross margin also edged higher as revenue increased while cost of revenue rose at a slower rate.
Monitor the trend in PEO direct insurance costs, as highlighted in the filing's expense discussion, given their impact on total cost structure.