Paycom Software(PAYC) - 2023 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics - Q1 2023 revenue was $451.6 million, up 27.8$142.7 million, or $2.46 per diluted share, up 28.9$444.4 million, representing 98.4% of total revenue, growing 27.6% YoY [27] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q1 2023 was $220.5 million, or 48.8$170.1 million in Q1 2022 [42] - Cash and cash equivalents stood at $506 million, with total debt of$29 million [29] - Cash from operations increased by 24.6% to $146.1 million in Q1 2023 [29] - Average daily balance of client funds was$2.4 billion, up 10% YoY [29] Business Line Performance - BETI (Employee Self-Service Payroll) continues to drive strong client additions and is a key differentiator in the market [24] - Large organizations benefit from the single database solution, with 5% of the TAM currently addressed [25] - Global HCM product has expanded the TAM by 50%, with plans to roll out BETI internationally [25][50] Market Performance - The company is experiencing rapid growth at the upper end of its target market range [25] - Global HCM product is now available in 180 countries and 15 languages, targeting multinational clients [50][51] Company Strategy and Industry Competition - The company is focused on expanding its global footprint, with plans to build native payroll solutions in key international markets [50][51] - BETI is being developed for international markets, with 16-20 countries representing over 80% of the opportunity being prioritized [119] - The company is investing in R&D, with adjusted R&D costs of $55.2 million in Q1 2023, up from$42.9 million in the prior year [28] - The company is also investing in marketing, with adjusted sales and marketing expenses of $98.1 million in Q1 2023 [43] Management Commentary on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management is optimistic about the company's ability to continue delivering rapid organic revenue growth, high profit margins, and attractive cash flows [47] - The company is well-positioned to exceed its initial outlook for a solid Rule of 65 [39] - Management highlighted the strong demand for HCM solutions and the accelerating industry transformation to more efficient payroll processes [24] Other Important Information - The company announced a quarterly dividend program, with an annual rate of$1.50 per share, reflecting confidence in long-term growth opportunities [31][47] - The company has a $1.1 billion buyback authorization still in place, having returned nearly$600 million to stockholders through buybacks since 2016 [31] Q&A Session Summary Question: Global Initiative and Strategy - The company is expanding its global presence, with Global HCM now available in 180 countries and 15 languages [50][51] - BETI will be rolled out internationally, requiring operations in certain countries to process payroll [51] Question: M&A and Capital Allocation - The company is open to acquisitions, particularly for building out the payroll side internationally [53] - The dividend and buyback strategy will be balanced, with $1.1 billion still available for buybacks [131] Question: Sales and Marketing Expenses - Sales and marketing expenses increased significantly in Q1 2023 due to aggressive marketing campaigns and headcount additions [54][74] Question: Economic Outlook and Hiring - The company is seeing easier hiring conditions, especially for technical talent, compared to a tighter labor market a year ago [75] Question: Retention and Client Base - Retention rates remain strong, particularly for clients using BETI, with a retention rate better than 99$1.50 annually, with potential adjustments in the future based on performance [174]