PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL) AI Stock Analysis

NASDAQ: PYPLAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

PYPL AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

PayPal Holdings, Inc. operates a digital payments platform serving merchants and consumers globally through brands like PayPal, Venmo, and Braintree. In FY2025, revenue grew 4.3% to $33.17B while net income reached $5.23B with free cash flow of $5.56B. The company repurchased $6.05B of its shares in FY2025 and maintains a trailing P/E ratio of 10.7x.

Market cap
$48.50B
Revenue (TTM)
$34.13B
P/E
10.7x
fwd 9.1x
1Y return
-13.2%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$56.74
0.1% vs last close

Bull case

  • PayPal generated $5.56B in free cash flow in FY2025 while returning capital through $6.05B in share buybacks.
  • The company has reduced its share count by -24.1% over 5 years while increasing net income to $5.23B in FY2025.
  • Operating margin expanded to 18.3% in FY2025, up from 16.7% in FY2024 and 16.9% in FY2023.

Bear case

  • Revenue growth slowed from 18.3% in FY2021 to 4.3% in FY2025, and quarterly earnings fell 3.1% year-over-year in the quarter ended June 30, 2026.
  • Gross margin has declined from 55.2% in FY2021 to 46.6% in FY2025.
  • PayPal shares fell 78.6% over the 5-year period, significantly trailing the S&P 500 return of 83.0%.

What PayPal does

PayPal Holdings, Inc. operates a technology platform facilitating digital payments for merchants and consumers across approximately 200 markets in nearly 100 currencies. The company offers services under brands including PayPal, Braintree, Venmo, and Xoom. In addition, it provides PayPal Credit for consumer financing, Hyperwallet for mass payouts, and Zettle for small business payments. The platform allows users to withdraw funds to bank accounts in 56 currencies and maintain balances in 25 currencies. Through its acquisition of Honey, PayPal offers online shopping tools and savings opportunities for consumers.

Growth and profitability

PayPal generated revenue of $25.37B in FY2021, which expanded to $27.52B in FY2022, $29.77B in FY2023, $31.80B in FY2024, and $33.17B in FY2025, reflecting a 5-year revenue CAGR of 9.1%. Gross margin shifted from 55.2% in FY2021 to 46.6% in FY2025, while operating margin expanded from 16.8% to 18.3%. Net income rose to $5.23B in FY2025, up from $4.15B in FY2024 and $2.42B in FY2022, generating EPS of $5.30. In the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue grew 4.8% year-over-year, while quarterly earnings declined 3.1% year-over-year, alongside trailing twelve months revenue of $34.13B and net profit margin of 14.4%.

PYPL income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of June 30, 2026, PayPal held $11.26B in cash and short-term investments against total debt of $14.22B, resulting in net debt of $2.96B. Total assets stood at $82.74B, shareholders' equity reached $19.82B, and the current ratio was 1.29 with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. In FY2025, operating cash flow was $6.42B and free cash flow reached $5.56B. Capital expenditures totaled $852.0M, dividends paid were $130.0M, and share buybacks totaled $6.05B, contributing to a 5-year share count change of -24.1%.

PYPL balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

PayPal trades at a trailing P/E of 10.7x and a forward P/E of 9.1x, alongside a PEG ratio of 0.93. Its enterprise value of $47.06B corresponds to an EV to EBITDA multiple of 6.5x and an EV to revenue multiple of 1.4x, with a price-to-sales ratio of 1.4x and price-to-book of 2.3x. In the stock market, PayPal has declined 13.2% over the 1-year period, trailing the S&P 500 (SPY) return of 16.8%. Over a 5-year period, PayPal dropped 78.6% while the S&P 500 gained 83.0%.

PYPL key metrics →

PYPL dividend

PayPal pays an annual forward dividend of $0.56, offering a dividend yield of 0.99% with a payout ratio of 10.6%. The company distributes dividends on a Quarterly frequency and has logged 2 consecutive years paid. Its last ex-dividend date was September 4, 2026.

PYPL dividend history →

What analysts expect

Among Wall Street analysts, ratings consist of 4 Strong Buy, 3 Buy, 33 Hold, 1 Sell, and 3 Strong Sell recommendations. The mean price target is $56.74, representing an upside of 0.1% over the last close of $56.70. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, analysts estimate revenue of $34.74B and EPS of $5.39, reflecting 1.5% EPS growth. Over the last 4 quarters, PayPal recorded 3 EPS beats. The next earnings date is October 27, 2026.

PYPL forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • Total debt stood at $14.22B as of June 30, 2026, exceeding cash and short-term investments of $11.26B.
  • With 33 Hold ratings among analysts, market sentiment remains largely cautious near the last close of $56.70.
  • Quarterly earnings growth was -3.1% in the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, highlighting near-term profit pressure.

AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer

About this PYPL AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.

Related: PYPL income statement, PYPL balance sheet, PYPL key metrics, PYPL analyst forecast, PYPL chart. See the PYPL stock overview for the latest quote and news.

PYPL AI stock analysis FAQ

Does PayPal pay a dividend?

Yes, PayPal pays an annual forward dividend of $0.56 per share, representing a dividend yield of 0.99% and a payout ratio of 10.6%. Dividends are distributed on a Quarterly schedule, with 2 consecutive years paid.

What is PayPal's valuation?

As of October 16, 2026, PayPal trades at a trailing P/E of 10.7x, a forward P/E of 9.1x, and an enterprise value to EBITDA ratio of 6.5x. Its price-to-sales ratio is 1.4x based on a market cap of $48.50B.

How fast is PayPal growing?

PayPal recorded annual revenue growth of 4.3% in FY2025 to reach $33.17B, with a 5-year revenue CAGR of 9.1% from FY2020 to FY2025. In the quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue grew 4.8% year-over-year.

What is the consensus price target for PYPL stock?

The mean price target for PayPal is $56.74, indicating a 0.1% difference from its last close of $56.70. Ratings include 4 Strong Buy, 3 Buy, 33 Hold, 1 Sell, and 3 Strong Sell.

When does PayPal report its next quarterly earnings?

PayPal is scheduled to report its next earnings on October 27, 2026. For the current fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, analysts estimate EPS of $5.39 on revenue of $34.74B.

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