Historical Price Monitor on Shares of Paychex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PAYX)

Shares of Paychex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PAYX) have rallied over the past year. After a recent scan, we can see that the stock has posted a gain of 39.12% over that period of time. Investors will be intently watching to see if shares will continue to charge forward over the next 52-weeks.

Investors are constantly on the lookout for that next great stock pick. Finding that particular stock that had been overlooked by the rest of the investing community can bring great satisfaction to the individual investor. Spotting these stocks may take a lot of time and effort, but the rewards may be well worth it. Knowledge is power, and this principle also translates over to the equity market. Investors who are able to dig a little bit deeper may be setting themselves up for much greater success in the long run. These days, investors have access to a wide range of information. Trying to filter out the important information can be a key factor in portfolio strength. Knowing what data to look for and how to trade that information is extremely important. Successful investors are typically able to focus their energy on the right information and then apply it to a trading strategy. 

Taking a look at some other historical performance numbers, we can see that Paychex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PAYX) shares have seen a change of 0.98% over the past week. For the previous month, the stock has changed 4.35%. For the last quarter, the stock has performed 17.71%. If we look back year-to-date, the stock has moved 29.87%. With the stock market still cruising along, investors may be wondering how to trade the market into the next few quarters. If market momentum starts to shift hard one way or the other, investors may need to adjust to accommodate the landscape. Being prepared for any market situation can help the investor deal with the turbulence when it arrives.

Paychex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PAYX) currently has a beta of 1.02. A beta of 1 indicates that the stock price moves along with the market. A beta below 1 indicates that the stock is less volatile than the market in theory. A beta value over one would indicate the opposite. Individual investors have the tendency to flock towards certain stock strategies that have worked previously. While following previous strategies may be profitable, investors have to be ready when the markets turn. Most investors will be overjoyed when stocks in the portfolio are riding a hot streak. On the flip side, investors may become highly anxious when they experience a prolonged losing streak. Sometimes, previously successful strategies run their course and they no longer work. Investors might be better suited to deal with adversity by being able to make the necessary adjustments when the time comes.

Monitoring some Street analyst projections on shares of Paychex, Inc., we note that the current consensus price target is $79.56. Analysts generally work very hard to provide their best estimates of where they believe a stock is going. Analysts may employ various methods to calculate price targets, and investors often closely follow the consensus to get an overall feel of how Wall Street views the stock.

As most investors know, the stock market can be a highly volatile place. Investors often have to figure out a way that they can personally stay on track so they don’t veer of course. Sticking to a well-researched trading strategy may work for some people. Others may jump into the market head first without too much planning and hope to gain profits by learning as they go. The stock market learning curve may be vastly different for individuals depending on their circumstances and backgrounds. What’s good for one person may not be good for another. When the markets are rising steadily and running along smoothly, investors may feel like they can do no wrong when it comes to picking stocks. People who become overconfident in their abilities may be faced with a harsh reality when the market shifts and momentum builds to the downside. Investors who are prepared for any economic situation might be able to much better ride out the storm when the time comes.