SuperworthPaychex free cash flow PAYX
Cash from operations less capital spending, by quarter and over the last twelve months, from 2008.
- Last 12 months, to Aug 31, 2026
- $2B
- Latest quarter, Q1 FY27
- $357.4M
- −46% on a year earlier
- Fiscal year 2026
- $2.3B
- +36% on the year before
Paychex's free cash flow was $2B over the twelve months to Aug 31, 2026, up 8% on a year earlier.
In its latest quarter, Q1 FY27, it was $357.4M, down 46% on the same quarter a year before.
Over the five fiscal years to FY2026 it grew 15% a year on average.
Free cash flow over time
Fiscal year by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Free cash flow | Change |
|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | $2.3B | +36% |
| FY2025 | $1.7B | −2% |
| FY2024 | $1.7B | +14% |
| FY2023 | $1.5B | +11% |
| FY2022 | $1.4B | +20% |
| FY2021 | $1.1B | −13% |
| FY2020 | $1.3B | +14% |
| FY2019 | $1.1B | +2% |
| FY2018 | $1.1B | +30% |
| FY2017 | $866.1M | −6% |
| FY2016 | $920.5M | +16% |
| FY2015 | $792.4M | −1% |
| FY2014 | $796.8M | +38% |
| FY2013 | $576.6M | −7% |
| FY2012 | $617M | +0% |
Each fiscal year is the twelve months to its fourth quarter.
Quarter by quarter
| Quarter | Ended | Free cash flow | On a year earlier | Last 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 FY27 | $357.4M | −46% | $2B | |
| Q4 FY26 | $515M | +82% | $2.3B | |
| Q3 FY26 | $761.5M | +14% | $2.1B | |
| Q2 FY26 | $382.8M | +54% | $2B | |
| Q1 FY26 | $662.5M | +30% | $1.9B | |
| Q4 FY25 | $283.3M | +57% | $1.7B | |
| Q3 FY25 | $667.3M | +6% | $1.6B | |
| Q2 FY25 | $248M | −8% | $1.6B | |
| Q1 FY25 | $510.5M | −22% | $1.6B | |
| Q4 FY24 | $180.4M | −51% | $1.7B | |
| Q3 FY24 | $631M | +17% | $1.9B | |
| Q2 FY24 | $270.6M | −5% | $1.8B |
Against its peers
Companies in Industrials nearest Paychex's size, closest first, today.
| Company | Free cash flow yield |
|---|---|
| PAYXPaychex | 4.8% |
| HEIHEICO | 2.5% |
| FIXComfort Systems USA | 5.3% |
| FERGFerguson | n/m |
| WABWestinghouse Air Brake Technologies | 3.7% |
| CARRCarrier Global | 4.2% |
| ODFLOld Dominion Freight Line | 2.9% |
| WCNWaste Connections | 2.6% |
| LHXL3Harris Technologies | 5.9% |
| ROKRockwell Automation | 3.2% |
| DALDelta Air Lines | n/m |
| Peer median | 3.5% |
Where Paychex ranks
What the free cash flow tells you
Cash from operations minus capital spending. The cash the company could hand back or reinvest.
Seasonal and lumpy quarter to quarter. The TTM view is the one to trust.
More on Paychex
Valuation data, not investment advice. Prices as of . Reported figures come from the company's filings with the SEC.