PayPal Holdings Inc logo

PayPal Holdings Inc(PYPL)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL RECENCY
1-STAR RATING
Consider higher Upturn Star rating
BUY for 4 days
PROFIT SINCE LAST BUY
-0.21% ▼
LAST CLOSE
$57.02
10/23/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
  • ALL
  • 1Y
  • 1M
  • 1W
  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
  • Profit
  • Loss
  • PASS (Skip)
Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for PYPL

10/23/2026: PYPL (1-star) has a low Upturn Star Rating. Not recommended to BUY.

PayPal Holdings Inc is a major global technology platform facilitating digital and mobile payments for consumers and merchants. The company's primary strength lies in its extensive two-sided network and established brand, which historically provided a significant competitive advantage. Its growth story now hinges on scaling newer segments like Venmo and Braintree while improving operational efficiency. However, the company faces substantial competitive risks from Big Tech and other fintechs, alongside regulatory challenges and potential margin pressure. PayPal may suit investors looking for exposure to digital commerce, though it is not a dividend-paying stock, and investors should monitor its ability to defend market share in an increasingly crowded payments landscape.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorMixed fitGrowth has moderated from historical levels, requiring a focus on margin expansion over pure top-line gains.
Momentum investorWeak fitThe stock has faced significant price volatility and lacks a clear, sustained uptrend in recent quarters.
Value investorStrong fitThe stock is often viewed as reasonably valued relative to its cash flow generation and market position.
Dividend investorWeak fitPayPal does not pay a dividend, making it unsuitable for income-focused portfolios.
Low-risk investorWeak fitThe high degree of competitive and regulatory uncertainty contributes to significant stock price fluctuations.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityHighThe stock is susceptible to significant price swings driven by quarterly earnings results and changes in macro sentiment.
Valuation riskMediumMarket expectations for growth recovery can lead to valuation sensitivity if results disappoint.
Competition risk (Digital payments)HighIntense pressure from Apple Pay and others threatens market share in core checkout services.
Business qualityMediumWhile the network is vast, the shift toward lower-margin unbranded processing affects overall profitability.
Dividend incomeLow / noneInvestors receive no cash return through dividends.
Execution riskMedium / highManagement must successfully balance product innovation with cost controls to improve margins.

Price Behavior

Rolling Over
PRICE PATH

Rolling Over

The price momentum is slowing down and beginning to turn downward.

Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Choppy

The stock has experienced frequent reversals and pronounced short-term price swings.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit -7.05%
Avg. Invested days 41
Today’s Advisory Consider higher Upturn Star rating
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 2.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 1.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 10/23/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
PYPL receives a 4-star rating, supported by solid unit economics, solid company fundamentals, solid quantitative characteristics, and solid analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum, and limited analyst upside.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
PYPL has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with solid financial health, moderate growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, solid earnings growth (+26.2%) and strong cash generation (FCF margin 16.8%) are partially offset by moderate revenue growth (+4.3%), very low insider ownership of 0.71%.

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
PYPL's financial health is supported by strong cash strength, including free-cash-flow generation of $5.6B (16.8% of revenue). Profitability is moderate (3 stars), which helps explain the 4-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Earnings growth is PYPL's strongest growth driver at +26.2% FY2025 versus FY2024 (solid, 4 stars). By comparison, while free-cash-flow growth (-17.8%, negative) holds the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 79.1% and approximately 99.0% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership is only 0.71%, which materially reduces the ownership score.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

BlackRock Inc 8.76%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 6.27%
State Street Corp 4.82%
Amvescap Plc. 3.91%
Geode Capital Management, LLC 3.43%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
PYPL generates approximately $466 of gross profit, $183 of operating income, and $168 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Solid margins, cash conversion, and capital efficiency support the rating.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 16.83%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
PYPL has a high-quality, large-cap, liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while elevated volatility.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Value-OrientedQuality TiltHigh VolatilityLarge / Mega Cap StabilityHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Large-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 49.60B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 10.75
1Y Target Price 56.74
Price to earnings Ratio 10.75
1Y Target Price 56.74
Volume (30-day avg) 11.6M shares
Beta 1.28
52 Weeks Range 38.12 - 78.34
Updated Date 10/23/2026
52 Weeks Range 38.12 - 78.34
Updated Date 10/23/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 0.98%
Basic EPS (TTM) 5.35

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Transaction RevenuesFees from processing payments for merchants and consumers.This is the core engine, generated every time someone uses PayPal to pay.
Other Value Added ServicesInterest on customer balances, credit products, and subscription services.These secondary revenue streams help diversify the business beyond simple transaction fees.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Revenue by Geography

Geography revenue - Year on Year

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Earnings Date

Report Date 2026-10-27
When Before Market
Estimate 1.31
Actual -

Profitability

Profit Margin 14.36%
Operating Margin (TTM) 16.97%

Management Effectiveness

Return on Assets (TTM) 4.62%
Return on Equity (TTM) 24.5%

Valuation

Trailing PE 10.75
Forward PE 9.07
Enterprise Value 47.06B
Price to Sales(TTM) 1.44
Enterprise Value 47.06B
Price to Sales(TTM) 1.44
Enterprise Value to Revenue 1.38
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 6.46
Shares Outstanding 862.00M
Shares Floating 853.51M
Shares Outstanding 862.00M
Shares Floating 853.51M
Percent Insiders 0.71
Percent Institutions 79.07

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

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