PCTY

We rate Paylocity Holding Corp (PCTY) as a Reduce with a composite score of 46.0/100 at a current price of $103.19. The quantitative profile shows weakness across multiple dimensions, suggesting limited upside potential and elevated risk of underperformance relative to peers over the next 12 months.

The rating is primarily driven by strength in stability (76th percentile) and quality (60th percentile), which together account for the majority of the composite score. Offsetting weakness in investment (27th percentile) and momentum (30th percentile) tempers our overall conviction. We assign a Narrow Moat rating (58/100), Low uncertainty, and Standard capital allocation.

Key items to watch: momentum to confirm whether the current price trend has legs. Any material change in these dynamics could warrant a reassessment of our rating. The moat trend is stable, which suggests the competitive landscape is stable for now.

Paylocity Holding Corp holds a top-quartile position (#0 of 50) within the Services sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 46.0/100 places it at rank #2632 in our full 7,333-stock universe. At $8.8B in market capitalization, Paylocity Holding Corp is a mid-cap player in the Services space, which limits certain scale advantages but may allow for more agile strategic execution.

Revenue is growing at 15%, though momentum at the 30th percentile suggests the market has not yet fully recognized this trajectory. This potential disconnect between fundamental improvement and market recognition could represent an opportunity for patient investors if the growth trend persists.

The margin cascade tells an important story: gross margins of 69% (+9.1pp vs sector) narrow to operating margins of 19% (+15.3pp vs sector) and net margins of 13.5%, yielding a gross-to-net conversion rate of 20%. This conversion rate is typical for the sector, suggesting a standard cost structure without notable efficiency advantages or disadvantages.

At a current price of $103.19, Paylocity Holding Corp is trading near fair value based on current fundamentals. Our value factor score of 57/100 reflects a composite assessment across multiple valuation metrics including price-to-earnings, price-to-book, EV/EBITDA, and price-to-sales ratios relative to both sector peers and the broader market. Valuation metrics are mixed, with no strong signal of mispricing in either direction.

The stock currently trades at a P/E of 25.1x (roughly in line with the sector median of 23.7x), EV/EBITDA of 18.1x (at a premium), P/B of 5.2x, P/S of 3.4x. The above-sector P/E multiple suggests the market is pricing in superior growth or quality, which our analysis partially supports given strong quality metrics.

We assign a Low uncertainty rating to Paylocity Holding Corp. The company exhibits strong financial stability with a beta of 0.80, conservative leverage (7% D/E), and a stability factor in the 76th percentile. The predictable nature of the business model and solid financial position reduce the range of potential outcomes, giving us confidence in our fair value estimate.

We identify no major risk factors at this time. The company's stability factor sits at the 76th percentile with quality at the 60th percentile, both of which support our low-risk assessment. The absence of material leverage, profitability, or volatility concerns reduces the likelihood of a permanent capital loss scenario.

Key risk mitigants include: healthy gross margins of 69% provide a buffer against cost pressures; conservative leverage (7% D/E) limits balance sheet risk; above-average stability (76th percentile) suggests predictable business dynamics. These factors partially offset the identified risks and provide downside protection in adverse scenarios. On balance, the risk-reward profile is favorable for long-term investors.

We rate Paylocity Holding Corp's capital allocation as Standard. Management has shown adequate — though not exceptional — stewardship of shareholder capital. Returns on equity stand at 20.7%, and the balance sheet is managed within acceptable parameters (D/E: 7%). Exemplary allocators typically sustain ROE above 20% and D/E below 50%; Paylocity Holding Corp falls short on at least one dimension.

There is room for improvement in optimizing the capital structure or enhancing shareholder returns. Absent a dividend, the overall capital allocation framework would benefit from either higher reinvestment returns, improved balance sheet efficiency, or increased shareholder distributions. We will monitor for signs of strategic improvement that could warrant an upgrade.

In summary, Paylocity Holding Corp receives a Reduce rating with a composite score of 46.0/100 (rank #2632 of 7,333). Our quantitative framework assigns a Narrow Moat (58/100, trend: stable), Low uncertainty, and Standard capital allocation. The average factor score across quality, value, momentum, stability, and investment is 50/100.

Our analysis does not support a constructive view on Paylocity Holding Corp at this time. The combination of the current quantitative profile, low uncertainty, and standard capital allocation suggests unfavorable risk-reward at current levels. We recommend investors avoid new positions and existing holders consider reducing exposure.