← Korn Ferry overview

Korn Ferry vs Paycom Software: why the prices moved differently

Weekly · monthly · quarterly news summaries, side by side in time

Korn Ferry (KFY)

Q3 2026
▲3

Korn Ferry's growth streak and AMS deal reshape its story

  • Fifth straight quarter of revenue growth lifts shares Korn Ferry posted its fifth consecutive quarter of revenue growth, with full-year revenue of $2.94 billion and net income of $277 million. Shares rose 5.1% as investors grew more confident the company can turn consulting work into steadier earnings.

    This is the first hard evidence in the period that the core business is growing consistently, which is the base for the stock's move.

  • Earnings beat estimates for a fourth straight quarter Korn Ferry earned $1.43 per share versus the $1.35 analysts expected, and revenue of $756.5 million also beat forecasts. The stock was already up 24.3% for the year, showing investors were rewarding the company's ability to keep topping expectations.

    Beating estimates shows the business is performing better than the market assumed, which supports a higher share price.

  • AMS acquisition adds recurring revenue and boosts guidance Korn Ferry completed the £850 million purchase of AMS, a recruitment outsourcing firm with long-term contracts averaging 14 years. Management guided next-quarter revenue 15.9% above analyst estimates and targets $40 million in extra profit from AMS within a year.

    The deal is the biggest strategic change in the period and directly explains the large guidance raise that drives the stock's outlook.

  • Strong results but stock falls on costs and dilution worries Korn Ferry led peers with the highest guidance raise, yet its stock dropped 12.3% since reporting. The AMS deal used $326 million cash plus new shares, and next-quarter profit guidance came in below expectations, so investors weighed the growth against integration costs and shareholder dilution.

    This is the real counterweight: the same deal driving optimism also brings cash outflow, dilution, and profit-guidance disappointment that pulled the stock down.

August 2026
▲3

Korn Ferry's growth streak and AMS deal reshape its story

  • Fifth straight quarter of revenue growth lifts shares Korn Ferry posted its fifth consecutive quarter of revenue growth, with full-year revenue of $2.94 billion and net income of $277 million. Shares rose 5.1% as investors grew more confident the company can turn consulting work into steadier earnings.

    This is the first hard evidence in the period that the core business is growing consistently, which is the base for the stock's move.

  • Earnings beat estimates for a fourth straight quarter Korn Ferry earned $1.43 per share versus the $1.35 analysts expected, and revenue of $756.5 million also beat forecasts. The stock was already up 24.3% for the year, showing investors were rewarding the company's ability to keep topping expectations.

    Beating estimates shows the business is performing better than the market assumed, which supports a higher share price.

  • AMS acquisition adds recurring revenue and boosts guidance Korn Ferry completed the £850 million purchase of AMS, a recruitment outsourcing firm with long-term contracts averaging 14 years. Management guided next-quarter revenue 15.9% above analyst estimates and targets $40 million in extra profit from AMS within a year.

    The deal is the biggest strategic change in the period and directly explains the large guidance raise that drives the stock's outlook.

  • Strong results but stock falls on costs and dilution worries Korn Ferry led peers with the highest guidance raise, yet its stock dropped 12.3% since reporting. The AMS deal used $326 million cash plus new shares, and next-quarter profit guidance came in below expectations, so investors weighed the growth against integration costs and shareholder dilution.

    This is the real counterweight: the same deal driving optimism also brings cash outflow, dilution, and profit-guidance disappointment that pulled the stock down.

Latest
▲3

Korn Ferry's growth streak and AMS deal reshape its story

  • Fifth straight quarter of revenue growth lifts shares Korn Ferry posted its fifth consecutive quarter of revenue growth, with full-year revenue of $2.94 billion and net income of $277 million. Shares rose 5.1% as investors grew more confident the company can turn consulting work into steadier earnings.

    This is the first hard evidence in the period that the core business is growing consistently, which is the base for the stock's move.

  • Earnings beat estimates for a fourth straight quarter Korn Ferry earned $1.43 per share versus the $1.35 analysts expected, and revenue of $756.5 million also beat forecasts. The stock was already up 24.3% for the year, showing investors were rewarding the company's ability to keep topping expectations.

    Beating estimates shows the business is performing better than the market assumed, which supports a higher share price.

  • AMS acquisition adds recurring revenue and boosts guidance Korn Ferry completed the £850 million purchase of AMS, a recruitment outsourcing firm with long-term contracts averaging 14 years. Management guided next-quarter revenue 15.9% above analyst estimates and targets $40 million in extra profit from AMS within a year.

    The deal is the biggest strategic change in the period and directly explains the large guidance raise that drives the stock's outlook.

  • Strong results but stock falls on costs and dilution worries Korn Ferry led peers with the highest guidance raise, yet its stock dropped 12.3% since reporting. The AMS deal used $326 million cash plus new shares, and next-quarter profit guidance came in below expectations, so investors weighed the growth against integration costs and shareholder dilution.

    This is the real counterweight: the same deal driving optimism also brings cash outflow, dilution, and profit-guidance disappointment that pulled the stock down.

Paycom Software, Inc. (PAYC)

Q3 2026
▲2▼2

Paycom's Q2 Beat and Raised Outlook Drive a Sharp Rebound

  • Q2 earnings beat and raised guidance Paycom reported Q2 revenue of $531.2 million, beating estimates by 3.5%, and adjusted EPS of $2.78, well above the $2.38 expected. Management raised full-year revenue guidance to about $2.20 billion and issued EBITDA guidance above consensus. The stock jumped sharply on the news, as the results showed the business is growing faster and more profitably than Wall Street feared.

    This is the main new event that directly answers why PAYC is moving right now.

  • Profit margins expanded significantly Paycom's operating margin expanded to 31.7% from 23.2% a year earlier, and adjusted EBITDA of $235 million topped forecasts by over 10%. Billings rose 9.4% year over year. This shows the company is not just growing sales but keeping much more of each dollar as profit, which supports a higher stock price.

    Margin expansion is a key new fundamental driver behind the positive price reaction.

  • Fed rate-hike signals pressured software stocks In mid-June, the Federal Reserve removed expectations of a 2026 rate cut and introduced the possibility of a hike, pushing up Treasury yields. That lowers the present value of future profits for software companies like Paycom, whose value depends heavily on earnings years away. Paycom shares fell on that news, part of a broader rotation out of high-multiple growth stocks.

    This explains the negative pressure on PAYC earlier in the period and remains a real counterweight.

  • Weaker growth than HR software peers In a June peer comparison, Paycom's revenue growth of 7.8% was the slowest among major HR software companies, and its results were the weakest relative to estimates. Paylocity and Paychex posted stronger growth and beat estimates by wider margins. This competitive gap is a concern that can hold back Paycom's stock even after a good quarter.

    It provides a fair counterweight by showing Paycom still lags some competitors on growth.

July 2026
▲2▼2

Paycom's Q2 Beat and Raised Outlook Drive a Sharp Rebound

  • Q2 earnings beat and raised guidance Paycom reported Q2 revenue of $531.2 million, beating estimates by 3.5%, and adjusted EPS of $2.78, well above the $2.38 expected. Management raised full-year revenue guidance to about $2.20 billion and issued EBITDA guidance above consensus. The stock jumped sharply on the news, as the results showed the business is growing faster and more profitably than Wall Street feared.

    This is the main new event that directly answers why PAYC is moving right now.

  • Profit margins expanded significantly Paycom's operating margin expanded to 31.7% from 23.2% a year earlier, and adjusted EBITDA of $235 million topped forecasts by over 10%. Billings rose 9.4% year over year. This shows the company is not just growing sales but keeping much more of each dollar as profit, which supports a higher stock price.

    Margin expansion is a key new fundamental driver behind the positive price reaction.

  • Fed rate-hike signals pressured software stocks In mid-June, the Federal Reserve removed expectations of a 2026 rate cut and introduced the possibility of a hike, pushing up Treasury yields. That lowers the present value of future profits for software companies like Paycom, whose value depends heavily on earnings years away. Paycom shares fell on that news, part of a broader rotation out of high-multiple growth stocks.

    This explains the negative pressure on PAYC earlier in the period and remains a real counterweight.

  • Weaker growth than HR software peers In a June peer comparison, Paycom's revenue growth of 7.8% was the slowest among major HR software companies, and its results were the weakest relative to estimates. Paylocity and Paychex posted stronger growth and beat estimates by wider margins. This competitive gap is a concern that can hold back Paycom's stock even after a good quarter.

    It provides a fair counterweight by showing Paycom still lags some competitors on growth.

Latest
▲2▼2

Paycom's Q2 Beat and Raised Outlook Drive a Sharp Rebound

  • Q2 earnings beat and raised guidance Paycom reported Q2 revenue of $531.2 million, beating estimates by 3.5%, and adjusted EPS of $2.78, well above the $2.38 expected. Management raised full-year revenue guidance to about $2.20 billion and issued EBITDA guidance above consensus. The stock jumped sharply on the news, as the results showed the business is growing faster and more profitably than Wall Street feared.

    This is the main new event that directly answers why PAYC is moving right now.

  • Profit margins expanded significantly Paycom's operating margin expanded to 31.7% from 23.2% a year earlier, and adjusted EBITDA of $235 million topped forecasts by over 10%. Billings rose 9.4% year over year. This shows the company is not just growing sales but keeping much more of each dollar as profit, which supports a higher stock price.

    Margin expansion is a key new fundamental driver behind the positive price reaction.

  • Fed rate-hike signals pressured software stocks In mid-June, the Federal Reserve removed expectations of a 2026 rate cut and introduced the possibility of a hike, pushing up Treasury yields. That lowers the present value of future profits for software companies like Paycom, whose value depends heavily on earnings years away. Paycom shares fell on that news, part of a broader rotation out of high-multiple growth stocks.

    This explains the negative pressure on PAYC earlier in the period and remains a real counterweight.

  • Weaker growth than HR software peers In a June peer comparison, Paycom's revenue growth of 7.8% was the slowest among major HR software companies, and its results were the weakest relative to estimates. Paylocity and Paychex posted stronger growth and beat estimates by wider margins. This competitive gap is a concern that can hold back Paycom's stock even after a good quarter.

    It provides a fair counterweight by showing Paycom still lags some competitors on growth.