Paychex, Inc. Reports Fiscal 2011 Results
FISCAL 2011 HIGHLIGHTS
-- Service revenue increased 5% to $2.0 billion.
-- Payroll service revenue increased 2% to $1.4 billion.
-- Human Resource Services revenue increased 10% to $597.4 million.
-- Operating income increased 8% to $786.4 million and operating income,
net of certain items, increased 7% to $738.3 million.
-- Operating income for fiscal 2010 reflected an $18.7 million expense
charge recognized to increase the litigation reserve related to the
Rapid Payroll court decision.
-- Net income and diluted earnings per share increased 8% to $515.3 million
and $1.42 per share, respectively.
-- Cash flow from operations increased 17% to $715.3 million.
-- Dividends paid to shareholders were $448.8 million, or 87% of net
income.
ROCHESTER, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Paychex, Inc. ("Paychex," "we," "our," or "us") (NASDAQ:PAYX) today announced total revenue of $2.1 billion for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2011 ("fiscal 2011"), a 4% increase from $2.0 billion for the prior fiscal year ended May 31, 2010 ("fiscal 2010"). Net income and diluted earnings per share increased 8% to $515.3 million and $1.42 per share, respectively. Our results for fiscal 2010 were impacted by an expense charge of $18.7 million to increase the litigation reserve, which reduced diluted earnings per share by $0.03 per share. The acquisition of SurePayroll, Inc. ("SurePayroll") as of February 8, 2011 was dilutive to fiscal 2011 by less than $0.01 per share.
Commenting on our results, Martin Mucci, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are pleased with our favorable results for fiscal 2011. Many of our key business indicators improved during the year. Most significantly, checks per client increased 2.1%, payroll services client retention improved two percentage points, and while the sales environment is still challenging, we have seen improvement in the latter half of the fiscal year in our core payroll sales. We increased our investment in product development, reached the highest levels of client satisfaction in our history, and acquired two software-as-a-service companies, SurePayroll and ePlan, to bolster our future growth."
Payroll service revenue increased 2% to $1.4 billion for fiscal 2011, primarily benefiting from the improvement in checks per client and revenue per check. Checks per client increased 2.1% for fiscal 2011 compared to a decrease of 2.6% for fiscal 2010. Revenue per check was positively impacted by lower discounting within our overall client base and price increases. As of May 31, 2011, we served approximately 564,000 clients, an increase of 5.2% from May 31, 2010. Excluding the impact of clients obtained from business acquisitions, our client base would have decreased 0.9%. This decrease is primarily attributable to the adverse impact on the sales of new units from lack of growth in new business starts. Client retention improved for fiscal 2011 with client losses that were 9% lower than for fiscal 2010, largely a result of fewer clients going out of business or having no employees.
Human Resource Services revenue increased 10% to $597.4 million for fiscal 2011. The growth in Human Resource Services revenue for fiscal 2011 was impacted by the revenue earned from Stromberg time and attendance operations ("Stromberg") for fiscal 2010 prior to its sale in October 2009. Excluding Stromberg, Human Resource Services revenue would have increased 12% for fiscal 2011.
This growth was generated from the following:
As of May 31: % % $ in billions 2011 Change 2010 Change(1) Paychex HR Solutions client employees (2) 567,000 13% 502,000 11% Paychex HR Solutions clients(2) 21,000 9% 19,000 8% Insurance services clients(3) 100,000 8% 92,000 7% Health and benefits services applicants 99,000 23% 80,000 38% Retirement services clients (4) 57,000 12% 51,000 3% Asset value of retirement services client $15.3 35% $11.3 33% employees' funds(4)
(1) Percent change compared to balances as of May 31, 2009.
(2) Includes Paychex HR Essentials as of May 31, 2011.
(3) Includes workers' compensation insurance services clients and health and
benefits services clients.
Includes ePlan Services, Inc. ("ePlan") as of May 31, 2011. Excluding
(4) ePlan clients, retirement services clients would have increased 5% for
fiscal 2011.
Human Resource Services revenue growth for fiscal 2011 reflects modest improvements in economic conditions, the client growth noted above, and price increases. Paychex HR Solutions revenue for fiscal 2011 was positively impacted by increases in both clients and client employees. Contributing to this growth in the clients and client employees is our new product offering, Paychex HR Essentials, which provides support to our clients online or over the phone to help manage employee-related topics. Human Resource Services revenue was also positively impacted by growth in certain products that primarily support our Major Market Services clients. Also, insurance services revenue continued to grow as a result of increases in both health and benefits services and workers' compensation insurance services revenue. Health and benefits services revenue continued its accelerated growth since inception, increasing 29% to $42.0 million for fiscal 2011, driven primarily by the number of applicants.
Total expenses increased 2% to $1.3 billion for fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010. During the third quarter last year, an expense charge of $18.7 million was recognized to increase the litigation reserve. Excluding this expense charge, total expenses would have increased 3%. This increase was primarily driven by personnel-related costs. In addition, we continue to invest in our product development and the supporting technology. Improvements in operations productivity with related lower headcount have somewhat offset this increase.
For fiscal 2011, our operating income was $786.4 million, an increase of 8% from fiscal 2010. We continue to closely manage expenses, generating an increase in operating income, net of certain items (see Note 1 on page 4 for further description of this non-GAAP measure) of 7% for fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010.
For the three months ended For the twelve months ended
May 31, May 31,
2011 2010 % 2011 2010 %
$ in millions Change Change
Operating income $ 182.8 $ 173.6 5 % $ 786.4 $ 724.8 8 %
Excluding:
Interest on funds (12.3 ) (13.7 ) (10 %) (48.1 ) (55.0 ) (13 %)
held for clients
Expense charge to
increase the -- -- -- 18.7 (100 %)
litigation
reserve
Operating income,
net of certain $ 170.5 $ 159.9 7 % $ 738.3 $ 688.5 7 %
items
Operating income,
net of certain
items, as a 33.4 % 33.1 % 36.3 % 35.4 %
percent of total
service revenue
For fiscal 2011, interest on funds held for clients decreased 13% to $48.1 million due to lower average interest rates earned, offset somewhat by a 6% increase in average investment balances. The increase in average investment balances was the result of increases in state unemployment insurance rates for the 2011 calendar year and the increase in checks per client, offset somewhat by the lingering effects of the difficult economic conditions on our client base.
Investment income, net increased 29% to $5.8 million for fiscal 2011. This increase was primarily the result of higher average investment balances, and a slight increase in average interest rates earned. Average investment balances for corporate investments increased 1% for fiscal 2011 as a result of investment of cash generated from operations. This was offset by cash utilized to fund the acquisitions of SurePayroll and ePlan during the second half of fiscal 2011, which resulted in a decline in average investment balances for the three months ended May 31, 2011 (the "fourth quarter"). The increase in the average interest rates earned on corporate investments was primarily driven by higher yields on funds invested into our longer-term investment portfolio compared to the prior year.
Average investment balances and interest rates are summarized below:
For the three months ended For the twelve months ended
May 31, May 31,
% %
$ in 2011 2010 Change 2011 2010 Change
millions
Average
investment
balances:
Funds held $ 3,895.2 $ 3,511.2 11 % $ 3,350.3 $ 3,167.9 6 %
for clients
Corporate $ 642.8 $ 697.6 (8 %) $ 662.4 $ 653.8 1 %
investments
Average
interest
rates
earned
(exclusive
of net
realized
gains):
Funds held 1.2 % 1.5 % 1.4 % 1.6 %
for clients
Corporate 0.9 % 0.8 % 0.9 % 0.8 %
investments
Net
realized
gains:
Funds held $ 0.9 $ 0.9 $ 1.3 $ 3.2
for clients
Corporate $ -- $ -- $ -- $ --
investments
Our investment strategy focuses on optimizing liquidity and protecting principal. Yields on high quality financial instruments remain low, negatively impacting our income earned on funds held for clients and corporate investments. We invest primarily in high credit quality securities with AAA and AA ratings and short-term securities with A-1/P-1 ratings, with more than 95% of our portfolio rated AA or better. We limit the amounts that can be invested in any single issuer. We invest predominantly in municipal bonds - general obligation bonds; pre-refunded bonds, which are secured by a United States ("U.S.") government escrow; and essential services revenue bonds. Starting in November 2009, we began to invest in select A-1/P-1-rated variable rate demand notes ("VRDNs") and we have gradually increased our investment in VRDNs to $828.3 million as of May 31, 2011, up from $226.3 million as of May 31, 2010. During fiscal 2011, we earned an after-tax rate of approximately 0.23% on VRDNs compared to approximately 0.06% on U.S. agency discount notes, which have been our primary short-term investment vehicle.
The available-for-sale securities within the funds held for clients and corporate investment portfolios reflected a net unrealized gain of $59.3 million as of May 31, 2011, compared with a net unrealized gain of $66.6 million as of May 31, 2010. During fiscal 2011, the net unrealized gain on our investment portfolios ranged from $41.4 million to $86.2 million. The net unrealized gain on our investment portfolios was approximately $59.4 million as of June 17, 2011.
FOURTH QUARTER FISCAL 2011 HIGHLIGHTS
Payroll service revenue growth was higher for the fourth quarter compared to the full year growth as a result of revenue from SurePayroll, which was acquired in February 2011. Excluding SurePayroll, payroll service revenue would have increased 3% for the fourth quarter compared to the same period last year.
The acquisition of ePlan during the fourth quarter positively impacted Human Resource Services growth. Excluding ePlan, Human Resource Services revenue would have increased 8% for the fourth quarter. This growth rate was less than experienced in the first nine months due to fluctuations in revenue growth from our professional employer organization ("PEO"). PEO net service revenue is more variable quarter to quarter than our other revenue streams due to fluctuations in adding and retaining client employees as healthcare rates change.
Total expenses for the fourth quarter were impacted by the expenses of the newly acquired entities, which are included in our financial results since their dates of acquisition.
The highlights for the fourth quarter are as follows:
-- Payroll service revenue increased 5% to $356.9 million.
-- Human Resource Services revenue increased 9% to $153.5 million.
-- Total service revenue increased 6% to $510.4 million.
-- Total revenue increased 5% to $522.7 million.
-- Combined interest on funds held for clients and investment income, net
decreased $1.3 million, or 9%.
-- Operating income increased 5% to $182.8 million, and operating income,
net of certain items, increased 7% to $170.5 million.
-- Net income and diluted earnings per share increased 3% to $118.9 million
and $0.33 per share, respectively.
OUTLOOK
Our outlook for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2012 ("fiscal 2012") is based upon current economic and interest rate conditions continuing with no significant changes. Consistent with our policy regarding guidance, our projections do not anticipate or speculate on future changes to interest rates. Our fiscal 2012 guidance reflects anticipated results for SurePayroll and ePlan. The anticipated service revenue impact is approximately 2% and the earnings dilution is expected to be approximately $0.01 per share, mainly due to amortization of acquired intangible assets. Our fiscal 2012 guidance is as follows:
Low High
Payroll service revenue 5 % -- 7 %
Human Resource Services revenue 12 % -- 15 %
Total service revenue 7 % -- 9 %
Interest on funds held for clients (14 %) -- (12 %)
Investment income, net -- -- 2 %
Net income 5 % -- 7 %
Operating income, net of certain items, as a percentage of total service revenue is expected to be in the range of 35% to 36% for fiscal 2012. The effective income tax rate is expected to approximate 35% for fiscal 2012.
Interest on funds held for clients and investment income for fiscal 2012 are expected to be impacted by the continuing low interest rate environment. As investments in our long-term portfolio mature, the proceeds are being reinvested at lower average interest rates. Investment income is expected to benefit from ongoing investment of cash generated from operations. Combined interest on funds held for clients and investment income, net are expected to decrease approximately 11% for fiscal 2012.
Note 1: In addition to reporting operating income, a U.S. generally accepted accounting principle ("GAAP") measure, we present operating income, net of certain items, which is a non-GAAP measure. We believe operating income, net of certain items, is an appropriate additional measure, as it is an indicator of our core business operations performance period over period. It is also the basis of the measure used internally for establishing the following year's targets and measuring management's performance in connection with certain performance-based compensation payments and awards. Operating income, net of certain items, excludes interest on funds held for clients and the expense charge in fiscal 2010 to increase the litigation reserve. Interest on funds held for clients is an adjustment to operating income due to the volatility of interest rates, which are not within the control of management. The expense charge to increase the litigation reserve is also an adjustment to operating income due to its unusual and infrequent nature. It is outside the normal course of our operations and obscures the comparability of performance period over period. Operating income, net of certain items, is not calculated through the application of GAAP and is not the required form of disclosure by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). As such, it should not be considered as a substitute for the GAAP measure of operating income and, therefore, should not be used in isolation of, but in conjunction with, the GAAP measure. The use of any non-GAAP measure may produce results that vary from the GAAP measure and may not be comparable to a similarly defined non-GAAP measure used by other companies.
CURRENT REPORT ON FORM 8-K
We will file a Current Report on Form 8-K ("Form 8-K") by the close of business on the same day as this press release is issued, and this will be available at www.paychex.com. The Form 8-K will furnish as exhibits this press release and a preliminary discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations. This press release should be read in conjunction with the preliminary discussion and analysis. The discussion and analysis furnished with the Form 8-K is preliminary and is not a complete discussion and analysis intended to satisfy the requirements of Item 303 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC. We expect to file our fiscal 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K ("Form 10-K") with the SEC within 60 days following our May 31, 2011 fiscal year end. The fiscal 2011 Form 10-K will contain a complete set of audited consolidated financial statements, notes to consolidated financial statements, and complete Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations that will satisfy the requirement of Item 303 of Regulation S-K.
CONFERENCE CALL
Interested parties may access the webcast of our Earnings Release Conference Call, scheduled for June 23, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time, at www.paychex.com on the Investor Relations page. The webcast will also be archived on the Investor Relations page for approximately one month. Our news releases, current financial information, SEC filings, and investor presentation are also accessible at www.paychex.com.
ABOUT PAYCHEX
Paychex, Inc. is a leading provider of payroll, human resource, and benefits outsourcing solutions for small- to medium-sized businesses. The company offers comprehensive payroll services, including payroll processing, payroll tax administration, and employee pay services, including direct deposit, check signing, and Readychex(R). Human Resource Services include 401(k) plan recordkeeping, section 125 plans, a professional employer organization, time and attendance solutions, and other administrative services for business. A variety of business insurance products, including group health and workers' compensation, are made available through Paychex Insurance Agency, Inc. Paychex, Inc. was founded in 1971. With headquarters in Rochester, New York, the company has more than 100 offices and serves approximately 564,000 payroll clients nationwide as of May 31, 2011. For more information about Paychex, Inc. and our products, visit www.paychex.com.
"SAFE HARBOR" STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995
Certain written and oral statements made by us may constitute "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Reform Act"). Forward-looking statements are identified by such words and phrases as "we expect," "expected to," "estimates," "estimated," "current outlook," "we look forward to," "would equate to," "projects," "projections," "projected to be," "anticipates," "anticipated," "we believe," "could be," and other similar phrases. All statements addressing operating performance, events, or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future, including statements relating to revenue growth, earnings, earnings-per-share growth, or similar projections, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Reform Act. Because they are forward-looking, they should be evaluated in light of important risk factors. These risk factors include, but are not limited to, the following risks, as well as those that are described in our periodic filings with the SEC:
-- general market and economic conditions including, among others, changes
in U.S. employment and wage levels, changes in new hiring trends,
legislative changes to stimulate the economy, changes in short- and
long-term interest rates, changes in the fair value and the credit
rating of securities held by us, and accessibility of financing;
-- changes in demand for our services and products, ability to develop and
market new services and products effectively, pricing changes and the
impact of competition, and the availability of skilled workers;
-- changes in the laws regulating collection and payment of payroll taxes,
professional employer organizations, and employee benefits, including
retirement plans, workers' compensation, health insurance, state
unemployment, and section 125 plans;
-- changes in workers' compensation rates and underlying claims trends;
-- the possibility of failure to keep pace with technological changes and
provide timely enhancements to services and products;
-- the possibility of failure of our operating facilities, computer
systems, and communication systems during a catastrophic event;
-- the possibility of third-party service providers failing to perform
their functions;
-- the possible failure of internal controls or our inability to implement
business processing improvements; and
-- potentially unfavorable outcomes related to pending legal matters.
Any of these factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from our anticipated results. The information provided in this document is based upon the facts and circumstances known at this time. We undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements after the date of issuance of this release to reflect events or circumstances after such date, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
PAYCHEX, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)
(In millions, except per share amounts)
For the three months ended For the twelve months ended
May 31, May 31,
2011 2010 % 2011 2010 %
Change Change
Revenue:
Payroll service $ 356.9 $ 341.3 5 % $ 1,438.8 $ 1,404.9 2 %
revenue
Human Resource 153.5 141.2 9 % 597.4 540.9 10 %
Services revenue
Total service 510.4 482.5 6 % 2,036.2 1,945.8 5 %
revenue
Interest on funds
held for clients 12.3 13.7 (10 %) 48.1 55.0 (13 %)
(1)
Total revenue 522.7 496.2 5 % 2,084.3 2,000.8 4 %
Expenses:
Operating expenses 167.8 163.1 3 % 653.6 653.6 --
Selling, general
and administrative 172.1 159.5 8 % 644.3 622.4 4 %
expenses
Total expenses 339.9 322.6 5 % 1,297.9 1,276.0 2 %
Operating income 182.8 173.6 5 % 786.4 724.8 8 %
Investment income, 1.4 1.3 9 % 5.8 4.5 29 %
net (1)
Income before 184.2 174.9 5 % 792.2 729.3 9 %
income taxes
Income taxes 65.3 59.4 10 % 276.9 252.3 10 %
Net income $ 118.9 $ 115.5 3 % $ 515.3 $ 477.0 8 %
Basic earnings per $ 0.33 $ 0.32 3 % $ 1.42 $ 1.32 8 %
share
Diluted earnings $ 0.33 $ 0.32 3 % $ 1.42 $ 1.32 8 %
per share
Weighted-average
common shares 362.0 361.5 361.8 361.4
outstanding
Weighted-average
common shares 363.0 362.0 362.4 361.7
outstanding,
assuming dilution
Cash dividends per $ 0.31 $ 0.31 -- $ 1.24 $ 1.24 --
common share
Further information on interest on funds held for clients and
investment income, net, and the short- and long-term effects of
changing interest rates can be found in our filings with the SEC,
(1) including our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and our Form 10-K, as
applicable, under the caption "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and subheadings "Results
of Operations" and "Market Risk Factors." These filings are accessible
at our website www.paychex.com.
PAYCHEX, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)
(In millions, except per share amount)
May 31, May 31,
2011 2010
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents $ 119.0 $ 284.3
Corporate investments 345.0 82.5
Interest receivable 29.4 28.7
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful 161.1 186.6
accounts
Deferred income taxes 5.9 3.8
Prepaid income taxes 1.4 6.7
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 29.4 25.5
Current assets before funds held for clients 691.2 618.1
Funds held for clients 3,566.7 3,541.0
Total current assets 4,257.9 4,159.1
Long-term corporate investments 207.3 290.1
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation 308.7 269.3
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization 77.2 61.6
Goodwill 513.7 421.6
Deferred income taxes 25.4 21.1
Other long-term assets 3.6 3.5
Total assets $ 5,393.8 $ 5,226.3
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable $ 45.4 $ 37.3
Accrued compensation and related items 172.5 163.2
Deferred revenue 3.0 3.5
Deferred income taxes 14.9 17.0
Other current liabilities 38.6 41.2
Current liabilities before client fund obligations 274.4 262.2
Client fund obligations 3,513.9 3,480.0
Total current liabilities 3,788.3 3,742.2
Accrued income taxes 34.1 27.4
Deferred income taxes 23.1 7.8
Other long-term liabilities 52.1 46.9
Total liabilities 3,897.6 3,824.3
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock, $0.01 par value; Authorized: 600.0 shares;
Issued and outstanding: 362.1 shares as of May 31, 2011 3.6 3.6
and 361.5 shares as of May 31, 2010, respectively.
Additional paid-in capital 535.6 499.7
Retained earnings 919.5 856.3
Accumulated other comprehensive income 37.5 42.4
Total stockholders' equity 1,496.2 1,402.0
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 5,393.8 $ 5,226.3
PAYCHEX, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
(In millions)
For the twelve months ended
May 31,
2011 2010
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income $ 515.3 $ 477.0
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization on property and 88.7 86.5
equipment and intangible assets
Amortization of premiums and discounts on 38.9 35.0
available-for-sale securities
Stock-based compensation costs 24.8 25.6
Provision for/(benefit from) deferred income taxes 13.6 (3.9 )
Provision for allowance for doubtful accounts 1.8 2.6
Provision for litigation reserve -- 18.7
Net realized gains on sales of available-for-sale (1.3 ) (3.2 )
securities
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Interest receivable (0.7 ) (1.0 )
Accounts receivable 23.7 (10.2 )
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 1.8 (2.5 )
Accounts payable and other current liabilities 2.2 (15.0 )
Net change in other assets and liabilities 6.5 1.3
Net cash provided by operating activities 715.3 610.9
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchases of available-for-sale securities (6,229.1 ) (1,554.9 )
Proceeds from sales and maturities of 5,598.9 1,152.0
available-for-sale securities
Net change in funds held for clients' money market
securities and other cash 450.4 61.7
equivalents
Purchases of property and equipment (100.5 ) (61.3 )
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired (126.4 ) --
Proceeds from sale of business -- 13.1
Purchases of other assets (2.8 ) (11.9 )
Net cash used in investing activities (409.5 ) (401.3 )
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Net change in client fund obligations (34.9 ) 42.3
Dividends paid (448.8 ) (448.6 )
Proceeds from exercise and excess tax benefit 12.6 8.2
related to stock-based awards
Net cash used in financing activities (471.1 ) (398.1 )
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents (165.3 ) (188.5 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 284.3 472.8
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 119.0 $ 284.3
Source: Paychex, Inc.
Released June 22, 2011