Paycom SoftwarePAYC -1.67%85 Operating Margin % is 36.74% as of Mar. 2026, which is 28% above its 10-year median of 28.80. GuruFocus rates PAYC with a GF Score™ of 85/100 and a GF Value™ of $253.58 (Significantly Undervalued). The stock has 3 warning signs investors should review. Among 2,818 Software companies, Paycom Software ranks better than 94.22% on this metric.
Just like Gross Margin %, it is important to see a company maintains its operating margin over time. Among the same industry, a company with higher operating margin is more efficient in its operation. It is also more stable during industry slowdown or recessions. Peter Lynch prefers those with higher margins than those with lower margins.
Be Aware
Operating Margin % can be manipulated by adjusting the rate of depreciation, depletion and amortization (DDA).
If a company is facing competition, its Operating Margin % may decline. Often the Operating Margin % declines well before the company's Revenue or even profit decline. Therefore, Operating Margin % is a very important indicator of whether the company is facing problems.
For instance, by 2012, Nokia (NOK)'s problems were well known and its stock had lost more than 90% of its market value since 2007. But Nokias Operating Margin % had already been in decline since 2002, although its Earnings per Share (Diluted) were still rising. Investors who paid attention to Operating Margin % would have avoided this huge loss. The same can be said for Research-in-Motion (RIMM).
Therefore, Operating Margin % is a very important screening filter for GuruFocus. GuruFocus's Buffett-Munger screener requires that the profit margin is either consistent or expanding. The Model Portfolio of the Buffett-Munger screener has outperformed the market every year since inception in 2009.
Paycom Software Operating Margin % Related Terms
Paycom Software Operating Margin % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for Paycom Software's Operating Margin % can be seen below:
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
PAYC vs IDCC, ESTC, PCTY: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Software - Application subindustry, Paycom Software's Operating Margin %, along with its competitors' market caps and Operating Margin % data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
Paycom Software Operating Margin % vs Software Industry
For the Software industry and Technology sector, Paycom Software's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Paycom Software's Operating Margin % falls into.
Operating Margin % - also known as operating income margin, operating profit margin and return on sales (ROS) - is the ratio of Operating Income divided by net sales or Revenue, usually presented in percent.
Paycom Software's Operating Margin % for the fiscal year that ended in Dec. 2025 is calculated as
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
Paycom Software (PAYC) has a Operating Margin % of 36.74% as of Mar. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Paycom Software and its competitors. This is 28% above median its historical median of 28.80. Over the past decade, Paycom Software's Operating Margin % has ranged from 22.12 to 33.68. According to the industry distribution chart, Paycom Software ranks #163 out of 2818 companies in the Software industry, placing it in the top 5.8%.
Is Paycom Software's Operating Margin % too high?
Paycom Software's current Operating Margin % of 36.74% is 28% above median its 10-year median of 28.80. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 22.12 to a high of 33.68. The Software industry median Operating Margin % is 3.87. Paycom Software's value of 36.74% is 850.6% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Paycom Software ranks #163 out of 2818 companies in the Software industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Paycom Software has a GF Score™ of 85/100 and is considered Significantly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Paycom Software's Operating Margin % compare to IDCC and ESTC?
According to the Software industry distribution chart, Paycom Software ranks #163 out of 2818 companies for Operating Margin %. This places Paycom Software in the top 6% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Operating Margin % is 3.87. Paycom Software's value of 36.74% is 850.6% above this benchmark. Historically, Paycom Software's own Operating Margin % has ranged from 22.12 to 33.68 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 28.80 vs. the industry median of 3.87, Paycom Software has consistently been above the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Operating Margin % for a Software company?
The median Operating Margin % among Software companies is 3.87, based on 2,818 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Operating Margin % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Operating Margin % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Paycom Software's current Operating Margin % of 36.74% is 850.6% above the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Operating Margin % mean?
A high Operating Margin % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Paycom Software and its competitors. For the Software industry, the median Operating Margin % is 3.87 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Paycom Software's current Operating Margin % is 36.74%, which is 28% above median its own 10-year median of 28.80. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Paycom Software stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Paycom Software (PAYC) is currently considered Significantly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $253.58, compared to a current price of $125.09 — trading 50.7% below its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 36.74%, which is 28% above median its 10-year median of 28.80 and 850.6% above the Software industry median of 3.87. Paycom Software's overall GF Score™ is 85/100 with 3 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Operating Margin % calculated?
Operating Margin % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Paycom Software (PAYC), the current Operating Margin % is 36.74% as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is Paycom Software (PAYC) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Paycom Software stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of $125.09 is trading 50.7% below its estimated GF Value™ of $253.58.
GuruFocus considers Paycom Software to be Significantly Undervalued.
Key valuation signals for PAYC:
Operating Margin %: 36.74% (28% above median its 10-year median of 28.80)
GF Value™: $253.58 vs. price of $125.09 (50.7% below fair value)
Industry Position: 850.6% above the Software median (#163 of 2818)
No single metric tells the full story. See the PAYC stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Founded in 1998, Paycom is a human capital management software-as-a-service provider addressing customer requirements surrounding payroll, talent acquisition, talent management, HR management, as well as time and labor. The company services businesses of all sizes within the United States and internationally. The company primarily generates revenue through the sale of subscriptions providing access to its HCM platform. To a lesser extent, the company also generates revenue from implementation services provided to customers as well as interest income generated from customer funds. As of fiscal 2024, the company serviced slightly over 37,500 customers and stored data on over 7 million employees.
85GF Score
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