Paychex (NASDAQ:PAYX) Stock

Paychex

Paychex is a leading provider of payroll, human capital management, and insurance solutions servicing small and midsize clients primarily in the United States. The company, founded in 1971, services over 745,000 clients and pays 1 in 12 US private-sector workers. Alongside its traditional payroll services, Paychex offers HCM solutions such as benefits administration and time and attendance software, as well as human resources outsourcing and insurance agency services.

Plug Power hardware.

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These mid-cap stocks had impressive gains last week, including Inari Medical, Unifirst Corporation, and Walgreens. Are they in your portfolio?

Plug Power, Capri And Frontline Are Among Top Mid Cap Gainers Last Week (Jan 6-10): Are The Others In Your Portfolio?

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TD Bank is considering a Charles Schwab stake sale while Disney inks deal with FuboTV. Meanwhile, bankruptcy cases spiked in 2024.

Deal Dispatch: TD Bank To Sell Charles Schwab Stake? Eyenovia, Smart Share Hit Auction Block

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Paychex to fully acquire Paycor HCM,  in a $4.1B all-cash transaction, generating cost and revenue synergies.

Paychex Snaps Up Paycor: $4.1 Billion Deal To Strengthen AI-Driven HR Solutions

Paychex Inc

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Industrials sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>KULR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$2.50</td>
<td>$52.6K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
<td>1.9K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DAL</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$64.00</td>
<td>$36.6K</td>
<td>651</td>
<td>902</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>FTAI</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$130.00</td>
<td>$61.0K</td>
<td>4.6K</td>
<td>710</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SMR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$38.0K</td>
<td>2.0K</td>
<td>409</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PAYX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$49.6K</td>
<td>526</td>
<td>221</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CHRW</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$110.00</td>
<td>$37.0K</td>
<td>776</td>
<td>202</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UAL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$36.2K</td>
<td>440</td>
<td>47</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GWW</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$1100.00</td>
<td>$26.1K</td>
<td>74</td>
<td>17</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$115.00</td>
<td>$57.4K</td>
<td>94</td>
<td>9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BE</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$23.00</td>
<td>$31.0K</td>
<td>584</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding KULR (AMEX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KULR#AMEX">KULR</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 39 day(s) on February 21, 2025. Parties traded 1500 contract(s) at a $2.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 12 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $52.6K, with a price of $35.0 per contract. There were 1412 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1975 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding DAL (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DAL#NYSE">DAL</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 4 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 300 contract(s) at a $64.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 11 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $36.6K, with a price of $122.0 per contract. There were 651 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 902 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For FTAI (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FTAI#NASDAQ">FTAI</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 39 day(s) on February 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 165 contract(s) at a $130.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 16 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $61.0K, with a price of $370.0 per contract. There were 4678 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 710 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding SMR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMR#NYSE">SMR</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 123 day(s) on May 16, 2025. Parties traded 192 contract(s) at a $30.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 31 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $38.0K, with a price of $198.0 per contract. There were 2079 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 409 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding PAYX (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PAYX#NASDAQ">PAYX</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 94 day(s) on April 17, 2025. Parties traded 77 contract(s) at a $140.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 13 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $49.6K, with a price of $648.0 per contract. There were 526 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 221 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For CHRW (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CHRW#NASDAQ">CHRW</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 39 day(s) on February 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 200 contract(s) at a $110.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 5 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $37.0K, with a price of $185.0 per contract. There were 776 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 202 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For UAL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UAL#NASDAQ">UAL</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 39 day(s) on February 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 15 contract(s) at a $80.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 7 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $36.2K, with a price of $2418.0 per contract. There were 440 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 47 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding GWW (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GWW#NYSE">GWW</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 94 day(s) on April 17, 2025. Parties traded 7 contract(s) at a $1100.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $26.1K, with a price of $3730.0 per contract. There were 74 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 17 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding BA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 368 day(s) on January 16, 2026. Parties traded 9 contract(s) at a $115.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $57.4K, with a price of $6385.0 per contract. There were 94 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 9 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For BE (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BE#NYSE">BE</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 39 day(s) on February 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 100 contract(s) at a $23.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 6 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $31.0K, with a price of $310.0 per contract. There were 584 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 6 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more news on unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Options

CHRW

FTAI

KULR

10 Industrials Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

These eleven mid-cap stocks were the best performers in the last week. Are they in your portfolio?
<ol>
<li>Inari Medical, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NARI#NASDAQ">NARI</a>) shares jumped 53.07% after Stryker Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SYK#NYSE">SYK</a>) agreed to acquire the company for $80 per share or equity value <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/42841672" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">of approximately $4.9 billion</a>.</li>
<li>Unifirst Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNF#NYSE">UNF</a>) stock escalated 29.58% after the company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/42878530" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported first-quarter results</a>.</li>
<li>Plug Power, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLUG#NASDAQ">PLUG</a>) stock gained 23.18% last week after the U.S. Treasury unveiled its final guidance on the 45V Production Tax Credit, setting the stage for a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/hydrogen" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">greener hydrogen future</a>. Plug Power stands to benefit.</li>
<li>Paycor HCM, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYCR#NASDAQ">PYCR</a>) shares rose 20.77% after the company disclosed a deal to be fully acquired by Paychex, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PAYX#NASDAQ">PAYX</a>) in an all-cash transaction representing an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/42855388" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">enterprise value of around $4.1 billion</a>.</li>
<li>MP Materials Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MP#NYSE">MP</a>) shares upped 20.50%.</li>
<li>SpringWorks Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SWTX#NASDAQ">SWTX</a>) gained 19.18% last week amid rumors of takeover interest.</li>
<li>Frontline Plc&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FRO#NYSE">FRO</a>) stock grew 17.29%, probably after President-elect Donald Trump said he would reverse President Biden&#8217;s ban on offshore drilling.</li>
<li>Guardant Health, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GH#NASDAQ">GH</a>) shares rose 15.53%. The company announced that the Shield Multi-Cancer Detection Test was selected for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/42842047" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the National Cancer Institute&#8217;s Vanguard Study</a>.</li>
<li>GDS Holdings Limited (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GDS#NASDAQ">GDS</a>) shares increased 15.40%.</li>
<li>Capri Holdings Limited (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CPRI#NYSE">CPRI</a>) stock grew 15.04% amid reports suggesting Prada may be a potential buyer for Capri&#8217;s Versace.</li>
<li>Equinox Gold Corp. (AMEX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EQX#AMEX">EQX</a>) stock rose 14.88%. The company reported producing 213,960 ounces of gold in the fourth quarter <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/42888339" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">and 621,870 ounces in 2024</a>.</li>
</ol>
Photo courtesy Plug Power
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/25/01/42934826/mobileye-palantir-tech-and-affirm-are-among-top-large-cap-losers-last-week-jan-6-10-are-the-others-in-your-portfolio" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mobileye, Palantir Tech And Affirm Are Among Top Large Cap Losers Last Week (Jan 6-10): Are The Others In Your Portfolio?</a></li>
</ul>

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">New On The Block</h2>
TD Bank, or Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TD#TSX">TD</a>), will consider selling its 10.1% stake in Charles Schwab Corp. The sale is part of a strategic review stemming from the Canadian bank&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/10/41271816/td-bank-to-face-3b-penalty-growth-limits-in-us-settlement-over-anti-money-laundering-failures">U.S. money-laundering scandal</a>. 
Incoming TD Bank CEO Raymond Chun confirmed the process to <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-07/td-mulling-fate-of-schwab-stake-in-review-incoming-ceo-says?srnd=phx-deals">Bloomberg</a>.
Meanwhile, Eyenovia Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EYEN#NASDAQ">EYEN</a>) hired New York-based investment bank Chardan to explore either a reverse merger or sale. The ophthalmic technology company is keen on conserving cash while continuing to develop its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/08/40514648/why-is-eye-disease-focused-eyenovia-stock-trading-higher-on-thursday">Gen-2 Optejet device</a>. 
By cutting spending by 60%, Eyenovia is stretching its financial resources to give itself more time to consider potential opportunities. Whether that turns out to be a deal remains to be seen.
Smart Share Global Ltd (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EM#NASDAQ">EM</a>) is also considering buyout offers. So far, only Trustar Capital offered to take the company private at 62 cents per share. That&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/small-cap/25/01/42809956/why-is-smart-share-global-stock-surging-premarket-on-monday">a tempting 74.8% premium</a>. 
Smart Share boasted a financial war chest of $440.9 million as of mid-2024.
Lastly, Warburg Pincus is exploring a sale of Boca Raton, Florida-based medical software firm Modernizing Medicine. Reuters reports that the auction could attract bids north of $5 billion.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Off The Block</h2>
Revelyst, the former Vista Outdoor Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VSTO#NYSE">VSTO</a>) unit that includes bicycle-related brands, is officially owned by investment firm Strategic Value Partners as part of a $1.125 billion deal. 
True Religion, the jeans brand that&#8217;s as resilient as its famously chunky stitching, has a new owner. After surviving <a href="https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2020-04-13/true-religion-files-for-bankruptcy-again-as-denims-allure-fades">two bankruptcies</a>, the brand began collecting offers from apparel companies and private equity firms, CNBC <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/15/jeans-brand-true-religion-exploring-sale.html">reported</a> last year. Acon Investments, teaming up with a fund led by American Eagle CEO Jay Schottenstein, emerged as a winning bidder.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/42913622/dollar-soars-to-27-month-highs-30-year-yields-hit-5-stocks-tumble-jobs-report-oil-spike-darken-feds-interest-rate-cut-hopes">Dollar Soars To 27-Month Highs, 30-Year Yields Hit 5%, Stocks Tumble As Jobs Report, Oil Spike Darken Fed&#8217;s Interest Rate Cut Hopes</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Updates From The Block</h2>
Houston-based gas power producer Calpine received a $30-billion offer from Constellation Energy (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CEG#NASDAQ">CEG</a>), a nuclear power giant known for its &#8220;emissions-free&#8221; messaging. The deal marks a significant pivot for Constellation, which spun off from Exelon in 2022 and has since doubled its share price. Calpine, previously taken private in 2018 for $17 billion by Energy Capital Partners, Access Industries and CPP Investments, would bring a major gas-fired portfolio under Constellation&#8217;s umbrella, forcing a rethinking of its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/green-energy">green-energy branding</a>.
Walt Disney Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>) and Fubotv Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FUBO#NYSE">FUBO</a>) have agreed to merge their <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/25/01/42857294/fubo-gets-fairy-tale-outcome-analyst-says-disney-deal-lowers-risks-overhang-on-stock">live TV streaming businesses</a>. Disney will take a 70% ownership stake in Fubo and the combined entity will become the second-largest live TV streamer in North America, with 6.2 million subscribers — trailing YouTube TV. Hulu + Live TV is included in the deal, while the rest of Hulu remains independent. As part of the agreement, Fubo <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40855153/fubotvs-lawsuit-against-disney-fox-and-warner-scheduled-for-october-2025-trial-report">will drop its lawsuit</a> against Disney-backed Venu Sports. Disney and its partners will pay Fubo $220 million and Disney will provide a $145 million term loan due in 2026. The deal also includes a $130 million termination fee if it fails to close due to regulatory issues.
KKR &amp; Co. Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KKR#NYSE">KKR</a>) is extending its offer period to FUJI SOFT shareholders from Jan. 9 to Jan. 24, seemingly hoping patience will outlast Bain Capital's aggressive courtship. Bain Capital, meanwhile, has gone full &#8220;hostile partial takeover&#8221; mode. But KKR, as the largest shareholder, is reportedly confident that Bain Capital's offer <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42894417/kkr-extends-tender-offer-for-fuji-soft-amid-bain-capitals-hostile-bid">will not gain traction</a>.
Paychex, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PAYX#NASDAQ">PAYX</a>) is acquiring Paycor HCM, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYCR#NASDAQ">PYCR</a>) in an all-cash deal valued at $4.1 billion, offering $22.50 per share — a 19% premium over Paycor's recent trading average. The acquisition, unanimously approved by both companies&#8217; boards, is set to close in the first half of 2025, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42855388/paychex-buys-paycor-41-billion-deal-to-strengthen-ai-driven-hr-solutions">pending regulatory approvals</a>.
The Goodyear Tire &amp; Rubber Company (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GT#NASDAQ">GT</a>) entered <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42873285/goodyear-sells-dunlop-brand-to-sumitomo-rubber-expects-65-million-annual-soi-impact">a deal to sell its Dunlop brand</a> to Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) for cash <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/01/n42865505/goodyear-announces-sale-of-dunlop-brand-to-sumitomo-rubber-industries" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">proceeds of around $701 million</a>. The purchase amount covers the brand transfer across Europe, North America and Oceania, a transition support fee and Dunlop tire inventory purchase. The deal also includes ongoing offtake, licensing and other commercial arrangements. Dunlop brand includes trademarks and related intangible assets for consumer, commercial and specialty tires across Europe, North America and Oceania. As per the deal, Goodyear will continue producing and distributing Dunlop consumer tires in Europe until at least Dec. 31, 2025, paying royalties to SRI while retaining all profits.
Italy&#8217;s Banca Ifis on Wednesday made a 298 million euro ($309 million) offer in shares and cash for its competitor, specialty lender Illimity Bank S.p.A. 
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bankruptcy Block</h2>
Prospect Medical Holdings is working with law firm Sidley Austin and consulting firm Alvarez &amp; Marsal to restructure three Connecticut hospitals that are under financial strain, according <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/prospect-medical-explores-restructuring-56ab7a48" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">to</a> The Wall Street Journal. Prospect purchased the hospitals (located in Waterbury, Manchester and Vernon) in 2016. Yale New Haven Health System intended to buy the hospitals for $435 million in 2022, but an agreement never came to fruition. As of Friday, the hospitals have not yet filed for bankruptcy.
Corsa Coal Corp. (TSXV:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSO#TSXV">CSO</a>) filed for voluntary chapter 11 relief in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania on Jan. 6. It intends to conduct a sale of its assets. The company committed $15 million in debtor-in-possession financing to support operations during the bankruptcy and sale process.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Notes From The Block</h2>
<ul>
<li>At least 686 U.S. companies filed for bankruptcy in 2024, according to the <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/ac3c1e2f-c9bc-417e-a686-7170e1bf8533">Financial Times</a>.</li>
<li>That&#8217;s up about 8% from 2023. It&#8217;s also higher than any year since the 828 filings in 2010. Recall how companies were still reeling from the financial crisis at the time.</li>
<li>At least 30 of last year's bankruptcy filers had at least $1 billion in liabilities at the time of filing, the publication noted, citing data from S&amp;P Global Market Intelligence.</li>
<li>Some of the major bankruptcies from 2024 included Party City, Tupperware, Red Lobster, Spirit Airlines and Avon Products.</li>
<li>It&#8217;s worth noting that liability management exercises are becoming increasingly common. These out-of-court sessions are meant to serve as a workaround or alternative to bankruptcy.</li>
<li>Joshua Clark, a senior director at Fitch Ratings, notes that many of the companies that go through those types of ordeals go bankrupt anyway if a debt agreement falls apart.</li>
</ul>
For last week&#8217;s Deal Dispatch, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/01/42793786/deal-dispatch-vera-bradley-party-city-modells-interest">click here</a>.
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/25/01/42877452/27-million-price-tag-for-late-hasbro-ceos-beverly-hills-oasis">$27 Million Price Tag For Late Hasbro CEO&#8217;s Beverly Hills Oasis</a></li>
</ul>

Paychex, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PAYX#NASDAQ">PAYX</a>) shares are trading higher on Tuesday after the company disclosed a deal to fully acquire Paycor HCM, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYCR#NASDAQ">PYCR</a>) in an all-cash transaction representing&nbsp;an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/01/b42843436/paychex-enters-into-definitive-agreement-to-acquire-paycor" rel="noreferrer noopener">enterprise&nbsp;value of around $4.1 billion.</a>
Paychex will acquire Paycor for $22.50 per share, which represents a 19% premium over Paycor&#8217;s 30-day volume-weighted average trading price as of January 3, 2025.
The Apax Funds acquired a majority stake in Paycor in&nbsp;November 2018&nbsp;for&nbsp;$1.3 billion&nbsp;and took the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/42847975" rel="noreferrer noopener">company public in&nbsp;July 2021.&nbsp;</a>
Paychex plans to maintain its dividend policy and strong balance sheet, with committed financing in place for the transaction, which will be supported by incremental debt.
The agreement has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies. The acquisition is expected to close in the first half of 2025, pending regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.
The deal is expected to generate over $80 million in cost synergies and significant revenue synergies, with the acquisition being neutral to slightly accretive to EPS in the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/guidance" rel="noreferrer noopener">first fiscal year and accretive thereafter</a>.
The acquisition is expected to create a comprehensive HCM portfolio, enhancing Paychex&#8217;s ability to serve all customer segments.
Paycor&#8217;s upmarket strength complements Paychex&#8217;s existing position, expanding sales coverage and growth opportunities through strategic partnerships.
John Gibson, President and CEO of Paychex highlighted that acquiring Paycor will enhance Paychex&#8217;s upmarket capabilities, broaden its AI-driven HR technology, and provide new growth opportunities.
As of November 30, 2024, PAYX had $1.3 billion in cash and investments and $841.1 million in operating <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42593740/paychex-maintains-fiscal-2025-outlook-as-q2-results-show-mixed-performance-across-key-revenue-segments" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cash flow for the six months</a>.
Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;USCF ETF Trust USCF Dividend Income Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UDI#NYSE">UDI</a>) and WBI BullBear Value 3000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WBIF#NYSE">WBIF</a>).
Price Action: PAYX shares are up 2.11% at $138.93 at the last check Tuesday, while PYCR is down 3.06%.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/42826154/wall-street-rallies-chipmakers-soar-ahead-of-nvidias-huang-speech-bitcoin-reclaims-100000-whats-driving-markets-monday" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wall Street Rallies, Chipmakers Soar Ahead Of Nvidia&#8217;s Huang Speech, Bitcoin Reclaims $100,000: What&#8217;s Driving Markets Monday?</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock.

Paychex To Acquire Paycor For $22.50 Per Share In Cash

Wall Street is in full risk-on mode, as traders eagerly snap up technology stocks, particularly semiconductors, ahead of Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) CEO Jensen Huang&#8216;s speech later on Monday at the Consumer Electronics Show <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/42822846/nvidia-5000-series-product-updates-make-it-top-semiconductor-pick-ahead-of-jensen-huangs-ces-keynote-analyst">in Las Vegas.</a>
Tech-linked indices and sector outperformed by midday trading in New York. The Nasdaq 100 notched a 1.3% increase while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOXX#NASDAQ">SOXX</a>) soared by over 4%, eyeing the strongest session since mid-September.
Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MU#NASDAQ">MU</a>) shares led gains, flagging a 12% surge, on the back of expectations for strong AI demand. Nvidia rose 4.8%.
Among Monday&#8217;s notable headlines, The Washington Post reported Donald Trump&#8217;s economic team is exploring a more targeted version of its universal tariff plan, aiming to apply tariffs to specific sectors rather than implementing a broad <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42813324/trumps-universal-tariff-plans-take-shape-analysts-expect-stronger-for-longer-greenback">measure on all imports. </a>The dollar softened by 0.5% in reaction to the news.
The Federal Reserve announced the vice chair for supervision Michael Barr, a strong advocate for tighter banking regulations, will step down from his role in February but will retain his seat on the Board of Governors.
&#8220;The risk of a dispute over the position could be a distraction from our mission,&#8221; Barr stated, alluding to potential clashes with the incoming administration&#8217;s inclination toward looser banking regulations. Regional bank stocks reacted positively, with the S&amp;P SPDR Regional Banking ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KRE#NYSE">KRE</a>) rising 1.6% on Monday.
In commodities markets, natural gas prices rocketed by another 7% on the heels of an extension of cold temperatures, while oil prices slipped 0.7%, potentially snapping a 5-day winning streak. 
Sentiment turned bullish again in cryptocurrency markets, as Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) ferociously reclaimed the $100,000 mark, sending crypto-linked stocks such as Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>), CleanSpark Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CLSK#NASDAQ">CLSK</a>) and Microstrategy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) all higher by about 6%. 
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Monday&#8217;s Performance In Major U.S. Indices, ETFs</h1>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>1-day % chg</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>21,584.34</td>
<td>1.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>5,996.40</td>
<td>0.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,284.16</td>
<td>0.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>42,832.88</td>
<td>0.2%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 1:15 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent010625&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) rose 0.9% to $597.33.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>)&nbsp;rose 0.4% to $429.05.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) rose 1.3% to $525.31.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) soared 0.9% to $226.44.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>) outperformed, up 1.7%; the&nbsp;Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLU#NYSE">XLU</a>) lagged, down 0.7%.</li>
</ul>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Monday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h1>
<ul>
<li>Shares of Paycor HCM Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYCR#NASDAQ">PYCR</a>) surged 23% after reports surfaced that the company is nearing a potential acquisition by Paychex Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PAYX#NASDAQ">PAYX</a>). </li>
<li>Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) tumbled over 4% following a cautious note from Morgan Stanley. </li>
<li>Fubotv Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FUBO#NYSE">FUBO</a>) skyrocketed by 220% after Walt Disney Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>) announced to combine its Hulu + Live TV business with Fubo.</li>
</ul>
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/01/42822625/big-techs-date-with-antitrust-alphabet-meta-amazon-brace-for-legal-showdowns-in-2025">Big Tech&#8217;s Date With Antitrust: Alphabet, Meta, Amazon Brace For Legal Showdowns In 2025</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

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Wall Street Rallies, Chipmakers Soar Ahead Of Nvidia's Huang Speech, Bitcoin Reclaims $100,000: What's Driving Markets Monday?

Barclays analyst Ramsey El-Assal maintains Paychex (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PAYX#NASDAQ">PAYX</a>) with a Equal-Weight and raises the price target from $135 to $140.

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

Barclays Maintains Equal-Weight on Paychex, Raises Price Target to $140

10 analysts have expressed a variety of opinions on Paychex (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PAYX#NASDAQ">PAYX</a>) over the past quarter, offering a diverse set of opinions from bullish to bearish.
The table below offers a condensed view of their recent ratings, showcasing the changing sentiments over the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th align="right">Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Indifferent</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th align="right">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">9</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">8</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Analysts have recently evaluated Paychex and provided 12-month price targets. The average target is $138.9, accompanied by a high estimate of $148.00 and a low estimate of $130.00. Witnessing a positive shift, the current average has risen by 8.77% from the previous average price target of $127.70.
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734717653_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Investigating Analyst Ratings: An Elaborate Study</h2>
The standing of Paychex among financial experts is revealed through an in-depth exploration of recent analyst actions. The summary below outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Ashish Sabadra</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Sector Perform</td>
<td>$148.00</td>
<td>$148.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tien-Tsin Huang</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Underweight</td>
<td>$139.00</td>
<td>$133.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bryan Bergin</td>
<td>TD Cowen</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$131.00</td>
<td>$126.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Grossman</td>
<td>Stifel</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$141.00</td>
<td>$130.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Samad Samana</td>
<td>Jefferies</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$130.00</td>
<td>$120.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ashish Sabadra</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Sector Perform</td>
<td>$148.00</td>
<td>$130.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kevin Mcveigh</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$142.00</td>
<td>$125.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>James Faucette</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$133.00</td>
<td>$122.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Peter Christiansen</td>
<td>Citigroup</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$145.00</td>
<td>$125.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ramsey El-Assal</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$132.00</td>
<td>$118.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Analysts frequently update their recommendations based on evolving market conditions and company performance. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their reaction to recent developments related to Paychex. This information provides a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Analysts unravel qualitative evaluations for stocks, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings offer insights into expectations for the relative performance of Paychex compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Understanding forecasts, analysts offer estimates for Paychex's future value. Examining the current and prior targets provides insight into analysts' changing expectations.</li>
</ul>
To gain a panoramic view of Paychex's market performance, explore these analyst evaluations alongside essential financial indicators. Stay informed and make judicious decisions using our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PAYX/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Paychex analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Get to Know Paychex Better</h2>
Paychex is a leading provider of payroll, human capital management, and insurance solutions servicing small and midsize clients primarily in the United States. The company, founded in 1971, services over 745,000 clients and pays 1 in 12 US private-sector workers. Alongside its traditional payroll services, Paychex offers HCM solutions such as benefits administration and time and attendance software, as well as human resources outsourcing and insurance agency services.
<h3>Key Indicators: Paychex's Financial Health</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: With an elevated market capitalization, the company stands out above industry averages, showcasing substantial size and market acknowledgment.
Revenue Growth: Over the 3 months period, Paychex showcased positive performance, achieving a revenue growth rate of 2.53% as of 31 August, 2024. This reflects a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. As compared to its peers, the company achieved a growth rate higher than the average among peers in Industrials sector.
Net Margin: Paychex's net margin is impressive, surpassing industry averages. With a net margin of 32.42%, the company demonstrates strong profitability and effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): Paychex's financial strength is reflected in its exceptional ROE, which exceeds industry averages. With a remarkable ROE of 11.17%, the company showcases efficient use of equity capital and strong financial health.
Return on Assets (ROA): Paychex's financial strength is reflected in its exceptional ROA, which exceeds industry averages. With a remarkable ROA of 4.1%, the company showcases efficient use of assets and strong financial health.
Debt Management: With a below-average debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, Paychex adopts a prudent financial strategy, indicating a balanced approach to debt management.
<h2>Understanding the Relevance of Analyst Ratings</h2>
Experts in banking and financial systems, analysts specialize in reporting for specific stocks or defined sectors. Their comprehensive research involves attending company conference calls and meetings, analyzing financial statements, and engaging with insiders to generate what are known as analyst ratings for stocks. Typically, analysts assess and rate each stock once per quarter.
Beyond their standard evaluations, some analysts contribute predictions for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue, furnishing investors with additional guidance. Users of analyst ratings should be mindful that this specialized advice is shaped by human perspectives and may be subject to variability.
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Demystifying Paychex: Insights From 10 Analyst Reviews

RBC Capital analyst Ashish Sabadra reiterates Paychex (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PAYX#NASDAQ">PAYX</a>) with a Sector Perform and maintains $148 price target.

Reiteration

RBC Capital Reiterates Sector Perform on Paychex, Maintains $148 Price Target

The day after a volatile Federal Reserve meeting, Wall Street grappled with the stark reality of Fed Chair <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/jerome-powell">Jerome Powell</a>&#8216;s cautious tone on cutting interest rates in 2024. The message left investors weighing the impact of higher-for-longer interest rates amid<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42585715/us-gdp-upwardly-revised-to-31-in-q3-jobless-claims-drop-more-than-expected-treasury-yields-hit-7-month-highs"> a still-resilient economy.</a>
Despite the hawkish undertones, stocks managed to stabilize, with major indices posting modest gains as dip-buyers emerged.
The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.5%, recovering from a steep 3% selloff on Wednesday—its worst one-day drop since September 2022. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.4%, attempting to break a staggering 10-day losing streak, its longest since 1974, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 edged 0.3% higher. 
While equities regained some ground, market conviction remains tepid as investors brace for Friday's release of the November inflation report, a critical data point for the Federal Reserve&#8217;s future policy decisions. The report could either reaffirm the Fed's hawkish stance or inject hope for an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42598354/wall-street-pins-hopes-on-fridays-crucial-fed-inflation-report-yet-a-miracle-is-needed-to-shift-the-narrative">lower-than-expected data.</a>
Thursday's economic data continued to underscore the resilience of the U.S. economy. Third-quarter GDP growth was upwardly revised from 2.8% to 3.1%, amid strong consumer spending. Weekly jobless claims fell to 220,000 last week, below forecasts of 230,000, signaling a still-tight labor market.
The bond market extended its selloff, with longer-dated Treasuries taking the biggest hit. Fixed-income investors remain under pressure, exacerbated by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42594797/trump-wants-to-get-rid-of-the-debt-ceiling-30-year-treasury-bonds-fall-to-2024-lows-stocks-cut-gains">recent comments from Donald Trump,</a> who floated the idea of eliminating the U.S. debt ceiling entirely—a development that could upend Treasury market dynamics.
In currency markets, the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) rose 0.2%, hitting its highest level since November 2022, supported by robust economic data.
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) remained flat at $100,000, following Wednesday&#8217;s 5.6% plunge.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Thursday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>1-day %chg</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>5,903.81</td>
<td>0.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>42,511.46</td>
<td>0.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>21,278.46</td>
<td>0.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,228.69</td>
<td>-0.1%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 12:10 p.m. ET </figcaption></figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent121924&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) rose 0.5% to $589.79.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>)&nbsp;rose 0.5% to $426.40.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) edged 0.3% up to $517.89.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) stalled at $220.70. </li>
<li>The&nbsp;Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLU#NYSE">XLU</a>) outperformed, up by 1%; the&nbsp;Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLB#NYSE">XLB</a>) lagged, down 0.6%.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Thursday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h3>
<ul>
<li>Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MU#NASDAQ">MU</a>) plummeted over 16% after a weaker-than-expected guidance for fiscal 2025, eyeing the worst 1-day drop since March 2020. </li>
<li>Accenture plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACN#NYSE">ACN</a>) rallied over 6% in reaction to stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings.</li>
<li>Other stocks reacting to earnings included Darden Restaurants Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DRI#NYSE">DRI</a>) up 15%, Cintas Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTAS#NASDAQ">CTAS</a>) down 10%, Paychex Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PAYX#NASDAQ">PAYX</a>), up 2.5%, ConAgra Brands Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAG#NYSE">CAG</a>), down 2%, FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDS#NYSE">FDS</a>) up 3.3%, CarMax Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KMX#NYSE">KMX</a>), up 4.3%, and Lamb Weston Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LW#NYSE">LW</a>), down 23%. </li>
<li>Major companies slated to report their earnings after the close include FedEx Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDX#NYSE">FDX</a>) and Nike Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>). </li>
</ul>
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</ul>
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Politics

Treasuries

CTAS

iShares Trust Barclays 20+ Year Treasury Bond Fund

XLRE

US Stocks Edge Up, Micron Suffers Worst Day Since March 2020, Bond Yields Surge: What's Driving Thursday's  Markets?

Payroll services company Paychex, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PAYX#NASDAQ">PAYX</a>) shares are trading higher after the company <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/12/b42577037/paychex-inc-reports-second-quarter-results" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported second-quarter results</a>.
The company reported sales growth of 5% year over year to $1.316 billion, which aligns with the analyst consensus estimate. Adjusted EPS of $1.14 (+6% YoY) beat the analyst <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">consensus estimate of $1.13.</a>
Management Solutions revenue rose 3% to $962.9 million, driven by client growth and higher product penetration.
PEO and Insurance Solutions revenue grew 7% to $317.9 million in he quarter, driven by higher PEO worksite employees and increased insurance revenues.
Operating income increased 6% to $538.1 million, with the operating margin rising to 40.9% from 40.2%. The expiration of the ERTC program impacted operating income.
As of November 30, 2024, the company reported $1.3 billion in cash and investments and $841.1 million in operating cash flow for the six months. The company paid $706.2 million in cumulative dividends and repurchased 828,855 shares for $104.0 million in six months.
&#8220;The demand for our comprehensive suite of solutions remains solid as we head into the selling season with a new set of award-winning solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of small and medium-sized businesses. In the face of challenging labor market conditions and rising healthcare and benefits costs, many businesses are reevaluating their HR strategies as we head into the new year,&#8221; commented President and Chief Executive Officer John Gibson.
Outlook: The fiscal 2025 outlook remains unchanged, with expected revenue growth of 4.0% &#8211; 5.5%, reflecting $5.489 billion &#8211; $5.569 billion (consensus $5.521 billion).
Paychex anticipates Management Solutions revenue growth of 3.0% &#8211; 4.0%, PEO and Insurance Solutions growth of 7.0% &#8211; 9.0%, and adjusted EPS growth of 5% &#8211; 7%, representing $4.96 &#8211; $5.05 versus the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/guidance">$4.99 analyst estimate.</a>
Price Action: PAYX shares are trading higher by 2.64% at $139.45 at the last check Thursday.
Photo via Shutterstock.

Earnings

Paychex Delivers Q2 Earnings Beat As HR Solutions Demand Stays Strong

WIIM

Paychex shares are trading higher after the company reported better-than-expected Q2 adjusted EPS results.

Paychex Says FY25 Business Outlook Remains Unchanged From Previously Provided In Q1

Paychex (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PAYX#NASDAQ">PAYX</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $1.14 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $1.13 by 0.88 percent. This is a 5.56 percent increase over earnings of $1.08 per share from the same period last year. The company reported quarterly sales of $1.32 billion which met the analyst consensus estimate. This is a 4.70 percent increase over sales of $1.26 billion the same period last year.

Earnings Beats

Paychex Q2 2025 Adj EPS $1.14 Beats $1.13 Estimate, Sales $1.32B Inline

The most oversold stocks in the industrials sector presents an opportunity to buy into undervalued companies.
The RSI is a momentum indicator, which compares a stock&#8217;s strength on days when prices go up to its strength on days when prices go down. When compared to a stock&#8217;s price action, it can give traders a better sense of how a stock may perform in the short term. An asset is typically considered oversold when the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/rsi"> RSI is below 30</a>, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Here's the latest list of major oversold players in this sector, having an RSI near or below 30.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Paychex Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PAYX#NASDAQ">PAYX</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>On Nov. 19, JP Morgan analyst Tien-Tsin Huang maintained Paychex with an Underweight rating and raised the price target from $133 to $139. The company's stock fell around 4% over the past five days and has a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PAYX">52-week low of $114.72</a>.</li>
<li>RSI Value: 29.58&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>PAYX Price Action: Shares of Paychex fell 3.2% to close at $135.86 on Wednesday.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro's real-time newsfeed alerted to <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent121924&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">latest PAYX news</a>. </li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent121924&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="908" height="850" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/19074317/image-164.png" alt="" class="wp-image-699579" style="width:617px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/19074317/image-164.png 908w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/19074317/image-164-300x281.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/19074317/image-164-768x719.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 908px) 100vw, 908px" /></a></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Sunrun Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RUN#NASDAQ">RUN</a>)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>
<ul>
<li>On Dec. 17, Goldman Sachs analyst Brian Lee maintained Sunrun with a Buy and lowered the price target from $19 to $17. The company's stock fell around 12% over the past five days and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/RUN">has a 52-week low</a> of $9.13.</li>
<li>RSI Value: 28.40</li>
<li>RUN Price Action: Shares of Sunrun fell 9.1% to close at $9.15 on Wednesday.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro&#8217;s charting tool helped identify the<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent121924&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"> trend in RUN stock</a>. </li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent121924&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="916" height="842" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/19074410/image-165.png" alt="" class="wp-image-699581" style="width:630px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/19074410/image-165.png 916w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/19074410/image-165-300x276.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/19074410/image-165-768x706.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 916px) 100vw, 916px" /></a></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">A O Smith Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AOS#NYSE">AOS</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>On Dec. 11, Stifel analyst Nathan Jones maintained A.O. Smith with a Buy and lowered the price target from $91 to $90. The company's stock fell around 5% over the past five days and has a 52-week <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AOS">low of $68.89.</a></li>
<li>RSI Value: 25.09</li>
<li>AOS Price Action: Shares of A O Smith fell 2.7% to close at $68.91 on Wednesday.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro&#8217;s signals feature notified of a potential <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent121924&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">breakout in AOS shares</a>. </li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent121924&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="927" height="836" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/19074507/image-166.png" alt="" class="wp-image-699582" style="width:567px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/19074507/image-166.png 927w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/19074507/image-166-300x271.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/19074507/image-166-768x693.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 927px) 100vw, 927px" /></a></figure>
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</ul>

Long Ideas

Pre-Market Outlook

Markets

Top 3 Industrials Stocks Which Could Rescue Your Portfolio For December

<h3>Companies Reporting Before The Bell</h3>
• Lamb Weston Hldgs (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LW#NYSE">LW</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $1.01 per share on revenue of $1.67 billion. 
• Soho House (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHCO#NYSE">SHCO</a>) is expected to report quarterly loss at $0.01 per share on revenue of $332.86 million. 
• FuelCell Energy (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCEL#NASDAQ">FCEL</a>) is estimated to report quarterly loss at $1.80 per share on revenue of $40.83 million. 
• MBX Biosciences (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MBX#NASDAQ">MBX</a>) is likely to report earnings for its third quarter. 
• Darden Restaurants (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DRI#NYSE">DRI</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $2.02 per share on revenue of $2.87 billion. 
• Cintas (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTAS#NASDAQ">CTAS</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $1.02 per share on revenue of $2.56 billion. 
• Paychex (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PAYX#NASDAQ">PAYX</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $1.13 per share on revenue of $1.31 billion. 
• Conagra Brands (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAG#NYSE">CAG</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.68 per share on revenue of $3.15 billion. 
• CarMax (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KMX#NYSE">KMX</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.59 per share on revenue of $6.00 billion. 
• Accenture (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACN#NYSE">ACN</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $3.42 per share on revenue of $17.17 billion. 
• FactSet Research Systems (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDS#NYSE">FDS</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $4.25 per share on revenue of $564.74 million. 
<h3>Companies Reporting After The Bell</h3>
• Mobix Labs (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MOBX#NASDAQ">MOBX</a>) is likely to report earnings for its fourth quarter. 
• Innovative Solns (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ISSC#NASDAQ">ISSC</a>) is estimated to report earnings for its fourth quarter. 
• BlackBerry (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BB#NYSE">BB</a>) is projected to report quarterly loss at $0.01 per share on revenue of $149.98 million. 
• Scholastic (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHL#NASDAQ">SCHL</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $2.61 per share on revenue of $584.04 million. 
• Mission Produce (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVO#NASDAQ">AVO</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.08 per share on revenue of $216.80 million. 
• Nike (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $0.83 per share on revenue of $12.47 billion. 
• FedEx (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDX#NYSE">FDX</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $3.95 per share on revenue of $22.14 billion. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

FCEL

ISSC

MOBX

SCHL

SHCO

Earnings Scheduled For December 19, 2024

In the preceding three months, 10 analysts have released ratings for Paychex (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PAYX#NASDAQ">PAYX</a>), presenting a wide array of perspectives from bullish to bearish.
The table below provides a concise overview of recent ratings by analysts, offering insights into the changing sentiments over the past 30 days and drawing comparisons with the preceding months for a holistic perspective.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th align="right">Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Indifferent</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th align="right">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">9</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">8</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
In the assessment of 12-month price targets, analysts unveil insights for Paychex, presenting an average target of $136.7, a high estimate of $148.00, and a low estimate of $126.00. Marking an increase of 9.36%, the current average surpasses the previous average price target of $125.00. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1732032031_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Understanding Analyst Ratings: A Comprehensive Breakdown</h2>
A comprehensive examination of how financial experts perceive Paychex is derived from recent analyst actions. The following is a detailed summary of key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Tien-Tsin Huang</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Underweight</td>
<td>$139.00</td>
<td>$133.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bryan Bergin</td>
<td>TD Cowen</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$131.00</td>
<td>$126.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Grossman</td>
<td>Stifel</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$141.00</td>
<td>$130.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Samad Samana</td>
<td>Jefferies</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$130.00</td>
<td>$120.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ashish Sabadra</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Sector Perform</td>
<td>$148.00</td>
<td>$130.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kevin Mcveigh</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$142.00</td>
<td>$125.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>James Faucette</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$133.00</td>
<td>$122.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Peter Christiansen</td>
<td>Citigroup</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$145.00</td>
<td>$125.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ramsey El-Assal</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$132.00</td>
<td>$118.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bryan Bergin</td>
<td>TD Cowen</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$126.00</td>
<td>$121.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Responding to changing market dynamics and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their response to recent developments related to Paychex. This offers insight into analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Gaining insights, analysts provide qualitative assessments, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings reflect expectations for the relative performance of Paychex compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts gauge the dynamics of price targets, providing estimates for the future value of Paychex's stock. This comparison reveals trends in analysts' expectations over time.</li>
</ul>
Assessing these analyst evaluations alongside crucial financial indicators can provide a comprehensive overview of Paychex's market position. Stay informed and make well-judged decisions with the assistance of our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PAYX/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Paychex analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Delving into Paychex's Background</h2>
Paychex is a leading provider of payroll, human capital management, and insurance solutions servicing small and midsize clients primarily in the United States. The company, founded in 1971, services over 745,000 clients and pays 1 in 12 US private-sector workers. Alongside its traditional payroll services, Paychex offers HCM solutions such as benefits administration and time and attendance software, as well as human resources outsourcing and insurance agency services.
<h3>Paychex: Financial Performance Dissected</h3>
Market Capitalization: Positioned above industry average, the company's market capitalization underscores its superiority in size, indicative of a strong market presence.
Revenue Growth: Paychex displayed positive results in 3 months. As of 31 August, 2024, the company achieved a solid revenue growth rate of approximately 2.53%. This indicates a notable increase in the company's top-line earnings. As compared to competitors, the company surpassed expectations with a growth rate higher than the average among peers in the Industrials sector.
Net Margin: Paychex's net margin excels beyond industry benchmarks, reaching 32.42%. This signifies efficient cost management and strong financial health.
Return on Equity (ROE): The company's ROE is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive ROE of 11.17%, the company showcases effective utilization of equity capital.
Return on Assets (ROA): Paychex's ROA surpasses industry standards, highlighting the company's exceptional financial performance. With an impressive 4.1% ROA, the company effectively utilizes its assets for optimal returns.
Debt Management: The company maintains a balanced debt approach with a debt-to-equity ratio below industry norms, standing at 0.23.
<h2>What Are Analyst Ratings?</h2>
Benzinga tracks 150 analyst firms and reports on their stock expectations. Analysts typically arrive at their conclusions by predicting how much money a company will make in the future, usually the upcoming five years, and how risky or predictable that company's revenue streams are.
Analysts attend company conference calls and meetings, research company financial statements, and communicate with insiders to publish their ratings on stocks. Analysts typically rate each stock once per quarter or whenever the company has a major update.
In addition to their assessments, some analysts extend their insights by offering predictions for key metrics such as earnings, revenue, and growth estimates. This supplementary information provides further guidance for traders. It is crucial to recognize that, despite their specialization, analysts are human and can only provide forecasts based on their beliefs.
Breaking: Wall Street's Next Big Mover
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This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Analyst Expectations For Paychex's Future

JP Morgan analyst Tien-Tsin Huang maintains Paychex (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PAYX#NASDAQ">PAYX</a>) with a Underweight and raises the price target from $133 to $139.

JP Morgan Maintains Underweight on Paychex, Raises Price Target to $139

ALIT

BBSI

CRAI

ELWS

EXPO

HSII

HURN

INOD

KELYA

PAYC

PCTY

TNET

Shares of professional service companies are trading higher after Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election.

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Industrials sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>ENVX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$12.50</td>
<td>$43.7K</td>
<td>14.6K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HON</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/25/24</td>
<td>$220.00</td>
<td>$197.6K</td>
<td>43</td>
<td>899</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PAYX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$135.00</td>
<td>$35.4K</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
<td>787</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KTOS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$28.0K</td>
<td>535</td>
<td>257</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RTX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>11/01/24</td>
<td>$127.00</td>
<td>$34.5K</td>
<td>64</td>
<td>220</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>JBLU</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$5.00</td>
<td>$25.4K</td>
<td>10.6K</td>
<td>105</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ETN</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$350.00</td>
<td>$29.4K</td>
<td>52</td>
<td>104</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$130.00</td>
<td>$26.7K</td>
<td>127</td>
<td>31</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GEV</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$230.00</td>
<td>$28.9K</td>
<td>287</td>
<td>7</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding ENVX (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ENVX#NASDAQ">ENVX</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 92 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 218 contract(s) at a $12.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 18 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $43.7K, with a price of $200.0 per contract. There were 14676 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1159 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For HON (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HON#NASDAQ">HON</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 8 day(s) on October 25, 2024. This event was a transfer of 449 contract(s) at a $220.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 26 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $197.6K, with a price of $440.0 per contract. There were 43 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 899 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For PAYX (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PAYX#NASDAQ">PAYX</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be neutral, expiring in 1 day(s) on October 18, 2024. This event was a transfer of 52 contract(s) at a $135.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 6 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $35.4K, with a price of $675.0 per contract. There were 1357 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 787 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding KTOS (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KTOS#NASDAQ">KTOS</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 127 day(s) on February 21, 2025. Parties traded 255 contract(s) at a $30.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.0K, with a price of $110.0 per contract. There were 535 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 257 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For RTX (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be neutral, expiring in 15 day(s) on November 1, 2024. This event was a transfer of 140 contract(s) at a $127.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $34.5K, with a price of $247.0 per contract. There were 64 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 220 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For JBLU (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JBLU#NASDAQ">JBLU</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 92 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 100 contract(s) at a $5.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.4K, with a price of $255.0 per contract. There were 10662 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 105 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding ETN (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ETN#NYSE">ETN</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 1 day(s) on October 18, 2024. Parties traded 84 contract(s) at a $350.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 28 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $29.4K, with a price of $350.0 per contract. There were 52 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 104 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding BA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>), we observe a call option sweep with neutral sentiment. It expires in 246 day(s) on June 20, 2025. Parties traded 7 contract(s) at a $130.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $26.7K, with a price of $3825.0 per contract. There were 127 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 31 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For GEV (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEV#NYSE">GEV</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be neutral, expiring in 29 day(s) on November 15, 2024. This event was a transfer of 6 contract(s) at a $230.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.9K, with a price of $4820.0 per contract. There were 287 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 7 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more news on unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

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