Let’s dig into the relative performance of Paychex (NASDAQ: PAYX) and its peers as we unravel the now-completed Q4 hr software earnings season.

Modern HR software has two powerful benefits: cost savings and ease of use. For cost savings, businesses large and small much prefer the flexibility of cloud-based, web-browser-delivered software paid for on a subscription basis rather than the hassle and complexity of purchasing and managing on-premise enterprise software. On the usability side, the consumerization of business software creates seamless experiences whereby multiple standalone processes like payroll processing and compliance are aggregated into a single, easy-to-use platform.

The 4 HR software stocks we track reported a mixed Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 0.9% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was in line.

In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady as they are up 1.3% on average since the latest earnings results.

Paychex (NASDAQ: PAYX)

Once known as the go-to service for small business payroll needs, Paychex (NASDAQ: PAYX) provides payroll processing, HR services, employee benefits administration, and insurance solutions to small and medium-sized businesses.

Paychex reported revenues of $1.56 billion, up 18.3% year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations, but overall, it was a mixed quarter for the company with revenue in line with analysts’ estimates but a slight miss of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

Paychex delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates of the whole group. Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 16.1% since reporting and currently trades at $95.87.

Read our full report on Paychex here, it’s free.

Best Q4: Asure Software (NASDAQ: ASUR)

Operating in the often-overlooked smaller metropolitan markets where HR expertise can be scarce, Asure Software (NASDAQ: ASUR) provides cloud-based human capital management software and services that help small and medium-sized businesses manage payroll, taxes, time tracking, and HR compliance.

Asure Software reported revenues of $39.31 million, up 27.7% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 1.4%. The business had a strong quarter with an impressive beat of analysts’ billings estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

Asure Software scored the fastest revenue growth and highest full-year guidance raise among its peers. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 21.5% since reporting. It currently trades at $9.43.

Is now the time to buy Asure Software? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Weakest Q4: Paycom (NYSE: PAYC)

Pioneering the concept of employees doing their own payroll with its "Beti" technology, Paycom (NYSE: PAYC) provides cloud-based human capital management software that helps businesses manage the entire employment lifecycle from recruitment to retirement.

Paycom reported revenues of $544.3 million, up 10.2% year on year, in line with analysts’ expectations. It was a slower quarter as it posted full-year revenue guidance missing analysts’ expectations significantly and full-year guidance of slowing revenue growth.

Paycom delivered the slowest revenue growth and weakest full-year guidance update in the group. Interestingly, the stock is up 10.4% since the results and currently trades at $131.08.

Read our full analysis of Paycom’s results here.

Paylocity (NASDAQ: PCTY)

Operating in a field where companies traditionally juggled multiple disconnected systems, Paylocity (NASDAQ: PCTY) provides cloud-based human capital management and payroll software solutions that help businesses manage their workforce and HR processes.

Paylocity reported revenues of $416.1 million, up 10.4% year on year. This number topped analysts’ expectations by 1.9%. Overall, it was a strong quarter as it also recorded an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates and full-year EBITDA guidance slightly topping analysts’ expectations.

Paylocity achieved the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The stock is down 10.6% since reporting and currently trades at $113.52.

Read our full, actionable report on Paylocity here, it’s free.

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