Paychex Cash Flow Statement
NASDAQ: PAYXIndustrialsDiversified Commercial ServicesUSD
At close: Oct 9, 4:00 PM ET · Delayed 15 min
Paychex free cash flow
In fiscal 2026, Paychex generated $2.56 billion of operating cash flow and spent $234.9 million on capital expenditures. That left free cash flow of $2.32 billion, a free-cash-flow margin of 35.7% of revenue. Free cash flow was up 35.8% from the prior year's $1.71 billion.
Paychex returned $2.20 billion to shareholders: $1.59 billion in dividends and $611.0 million in share repurchases, equal to 95% of free cash flow. Free cash flow covered dividend payments 1.5 times.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Paychex cash flow statement (annual)
| Fiscal year (USD) | FY 20262026-05-31 | FY 20252025-05-31 | FY 20242024-05-31 | FY 20232023-05-31 | FY 20222022-05-31 | FY 20212021-05-31 | FY 20202020-05-31 | FY 20192019-05-31 | FY 20182018-05-31 | FY 20172017-05-31 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Income | 1.76B | 1.66B | 1.69B | 1.56B | 1.39B | 1.10B | 1.10B | 1.03B | 994.10M | 826.30M |
| Net Income growth (YoY) | +6.20% | -1.96% | +8.55% | +11.81% | +26.91% | -0.05% | +6.16% | +4.05% | +20.31% | +9.18% |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 442.60M | 209.50M | 176.50M | 176.60M | 191.80M | 192.00M | 209.70M | 181.50M | 138.00M | 126.90M |
| Stock-Based Compensation | 96.10M | 111.80M | 61.10M | 62.60M | 52.80M | 52.50M | 47.40M | 46.20M | 44.60M | 35.40M |
| Change in Working Capital | 225.60M | -100.40M | -39.20M | -67.20M | -48.70M | -119.70M | 48.60M | -38.70M | 77.10M | -97.30M |
| Operating Cash Flow | 2.56B | 1.90B | 1.90B | 1.71B | 1.59B | 1.26B | 1.44B | 1.27B | 1.28B | 960.40M |
| Capital Expenditures | -234.90M | -191.80M | -161.40M | -143.00M | -133.80M | -118.40M | -127.00M | -123.80M | -154.00M | -94.30M |
| Investing Cash Flow | -1.15B | -3.36B | -260.90M | 211.70M | -1.51B | -460.60M | 771.90M | -1.63B | 998.50M | -662.20M |
| Dividends Paid | -1.59B | -1.45B | -1.32B | -1.18B | -999.60M | -908.70M | -889.40M | -826.80M | -739.70M | -662.30M |
| Share Repurchases | -611.00M | -104.50M | -169.20M | 0 | -145.20M | -155.70M | -171.90M | -56.90M | -143.10M | -166.20M |
| Debt Issued | 0 | 4.18B | 0 | — | — | — | — | 796.30M | — | — |
| Debt Repaid | -400.00M | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Financing Cash Flow | -2.65B | 2.29B | -1.87B | -711.40M | -979.30M | -636.40M | -1.49B | -1.01B | -423.80M | -482.70M |
| Net Change in Cash | -1.25B | 837.30M | -237.90M | 1.21B | -894.70M | 163.30M | 724.60M | -1.37B | 1.85B | -184.50M |
| Free Cash Flow | 2.32B | 1.71B | 1.74B | 1.56B | 1.46B | 1.14B | 1.31B | 1.15B | 1.12B | 866.10M |
This table shows 10 annual periods of Paychex's cash flow statement, from FY 2026 back to FY 2017, across 14 line items including net income, depreciation & amortization, stock-based compensation. Values in USD; B = billions, M = millions. Fiscal periods follow PAYX's reporting calendar. What is a cash flow statement?