Paychex (PAYX) released its second quarter financial results before the opening bell on Friday. Here’s what the results mean for mutual fund investors.
Inside the Results
Earnings
Earnings came in at $173 million, or 47 cents per share, up from $157.8 million, or 43 cents per share, last year. Analysts expected to see 47 cents per share in earnings.
Revenue
Revenue rose to $676.3 million from $616.4 million a year ago. Analysts expected to see revenue of $672.61 million.
Attractive Dividend Yield, but Payout Ratio Is High
The stock’s valuation is currently very expensive at 25x 2015 EPS estimates, so some fund managers may not want to add to their positions at the stock’s current level. Although the stock is expensive, it does offer an attractive dividend yield, which is about 3%. While this may be a good pick for income-focused investors, the stock’s payout ratio of 82% may mean that the company has little room for dividend growth.
Mutual Funds to Watch
The mutual funds below may be a good option for investors seeking exposure to PAYX. The three funds listed currently hold the largest stakes in the company.
| Symbol | Mutual Fund | Stake |
|---|---|---|
| FDSAX | SunAmerica Focused Dividend Strategy | 3.51% |
| VTSMX | Vanguard Total Stock Mkt Idx | 2.80% |
| FNKLX | Fidelity Series Equity-Income | 2.28% |
The Bottom Line
The funds listed above allow investors to gain exposure to a wide range of holdings. Investors interested in Paychex may also be interested in Trinet (TNET).