Paylocity (PCTY) Stock: Buy, Sell, or Hold?
PCTY - Paylocity Holding Corporation Common Stock
$145.74
-0.86 (-0.59%)
▼
5d:
+1.66%
30d:
-5.73%
90d:
+28.1%
HOLD
LOW Confidence
Analysis Updated: Oct 2, 2026 12:00 AM ET
Earnings: Nov 03, 2026
Get Alerted When PCTY Hits Your Target Price
Join 10,000+ traders who never miss a move
You're in! Check your email to confirm and set your target price.
100% Free
No spam, ever
Unsubscribe anytime
Interactive Price Chart (1 Month)
Loading chart...
Loading historical data...
Bottom Line:
📊 HOLD: PCTY is fairly valued with market pricing in 3.6% annual growth. Fine to hold or accumulate slowly on dips.
📊 HOLD: PCTY is fairly valued with market pricing in 3.6% annual growth. Fine to hold or accumulate slowly on dips.
Long-Term Wealth Forecast (2031)
Based on Analyst Consensus Growth & Historical Valuation
0% (Stagnation)
50% (Hyper Growth)
EST. PRICE IN 2031
$174.16
Based on 5.7% avg growth
INTRINSIC VALUE TODAY
$108.14
Trading above historical range
How this is calculated: We use a Growth Decay Model: starting with analyst consensus growth (adjusted above) and gradually slowing it down to a long-term terminal rate (4%) by Year 5. This provides a more realistic valuation than assuming constant hyper-growth. We then apply a 15.2x Exit PE.
In-depth Analysis How we analyze
Valuation Analysis: PCTY is currently trading at $145.74, which is considered fair relative to its 30-day fair value range of $142.50 to $153.60. From a valuation perspective, the stock is trading at a premium (Forward PE: 16.9) compared to its historical average (15.2). At these levels, the market is pricing in 3.6% annual earnings growth. This growth rate appears achievable given the company's track record, suggesting the valuation is rational.
Technical Outlook: Technically, PCTY is in a strong uptrend. The price is approaching resistance at $149.00. A breakout above this level would be a bullish signal, while rejection here could lead to consolidation.
Market Sentiment: PCTY scores 67/100 on our bottoming-setup gauge — the chart has corrected and is stabilizing (RSI reset, momentum turning up), historically a favorable entry zone. Wall Street analysts see significant upside, with an average price target of $172.15 (+17.4%). The stock is fairly positioned - fine to hold existing positions or accumulate slowly on dips, but not an urgent buy.
Technical Outlook: Technically, PCTY is in a strong uptrend. The price is approaching resistance at $149.00. A breakout above this level would be a bullish signal, while rejection here could lead to consolidation.
Market Sentiment: PCTY scores 67/100 on our bottoming-setup gauge — the chart has corrected and is stabilizing (RSI reset, momentum turning up), historically a favorable entry zone. Wall Street analysts see significant upside, with an average price target of $172.15 (+17.4%). The stock is fairly positioned - fine to hold existing positions or accumulate slowly on dips, but not an urgent buy.
Quick Decision Summary
Current Position
FAIR
Historical Trading Range
$142.50 -
$153.60
Company Quality Score
63/100
(BUY)
Volume Confirmation
HIGH
Confidence Score
81.9%
All Signals
- NEUTRAL: Price in fair range
- BULLISH: Strong technical setup (67/100)
- BULLISH: High volume confirmation
- BULLISH: Trading below Wall St target ($172.15)
- NEUTRAL: Market pricing in 3.6% annual earnings growth - fairly valued
- CAUTION: Bottoming setup, but lagging the sector by 19% over 20 days — wait for relative strength
Trading Range Analysis
30-Day Trading Range
$142.50 -
$153.60
Current vs Trading Range
FAIR
Support & Resistance Levels
Support Level
$139.42
Resistance Level
$149.00
Current Trend
Strong Uptrend
Technical data as of
Oct 2, 2026
Fundamental Context
Forward P/E (Next Year Est.)
16.88
Wall Street Target
$172.15
(+17.4%)
Revenue Growth (YoY)
11.0%
Earnings Growth (YoY)
27.6%
Profit Margin
15.2%
Valuation Premium vs History
+3.6% premium
PE vs Historical
16.9 vs 15.2
FAIR
Market-Implied Price Targets
If current PE multiple persists
Implied Growth (YoY):
+3.6%
(market-implied from PE analysis)
1-Year Target
$151.88
(+4%)
2-Year Target
$157.35
(+7%)
3-Year Target
$163.01
(+11%)
3-Yr Target (if PE normalizes)
(PE: 17→15)
PE COMPRESSION
$146.82
(+0%)
Earnings growth offset by PE compression
3-Year Scenarios
Using analyst projected EPS growth
Bull:
(PE: 20.4, Growth: 7.4%)
$219.66
(+50%)
Base:
(SPY PE: 16.9, Growth: 7.4%)
$181.72
(+24%)
Bear:
(PE: 14.3, Growth: 7.4%)
$154.46
(+5%)
📈
Valuation based on Current Earnings
RECOVERY PLAY: Stock looks expensive now (29x PE), but valuation improves significantly next year (17x PE) as earnings recover.
Trailing PE: 29.10 | Current EPS (TTM): $4.90
Bull Case
$278.03
(+90%)
Analyst growth 77.3%, PE expands to 32.0
Base Case
$252.75
(+72%)
Market implied 77.3%, PE stable at 29.1
Bear Case
$96.95
(-34%)
Severe decline -20.0%, PE contracts to 24.7
These are projections based on PE multiples and EPS growth scenarios, not predictions. Actual results may vary significantly.
Share & Embed Analysis
Last updated: October 02, 2026 2:36 PM ET
Data refreshes hourly during market hours. Next update: 3:36 PM
Data refreshes hourly during market hours. Next update: 3:36 PM
🔥 Top Stocks Breaking Out Now
| Ticker | Score | Recommendation | Change % |
|---|
Technical Signals Check
Is PCTY showing a specific setup today?
Insider Activity (6 Months)
0
Buys
0
Sells
0
Net
NEUTRAL
Top Rated Software - Application Stocks
Top-rated stocks in Software - Application by analyst ratings.
| Stock | Analyst Consensus | Analyst Target | Tradestie Score |
|---|---|---|---|
|
HUBS
HubSpot Inc |
STRONG BUY
36 analysts |
$250 | 69 BUY |
|
NOW
ServiceNow Inc |
STRONG BUY
47 analysts |
$145 | 62 BUY |
|
ADSK
Autodesk Inc |
STRONG BUY
32 analysts |
$309 | 66 BUY |
|
TEAM
Atlassian Corp Plc |
STRONG BUY
33 analysts |
$204 | 46 HOLD |
|
GRAB
Grab Holdings Ltd |
STRONG BUY
27 analysts |
$6 | 48 HOLD |
