Is PayPal (PYPL) a Buy Right Now?
A plain-English read on PayPal stock — what the chart and the numbers are saying today, with no jargon and no hype.
We've already run the numbers on PYPL.
Our AI has a Buy, Hold or Be Careful call on PayPal right now — in plain English, why, the 4 factors moving it, and the bottom line. That's the part a beginner actually needs, and it's the one thing on this page we don't give away for free.
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What PayPal actually does
PayPal Holdings, Inc. operates a technology platform that enables digital payments for merchants and consumers worldwide. The company operates a two-sided network at scale that connects merchants and consumers that enables its customers to connect, transact, and send and receive payments through online and in person, as well as transfer and withdraw funds using various funding sources, such as bank accounts, PayPal or Venmo account balance, consumer credit and debit products, credit and debit cards, and cryptocurrencies, as well as other stored value products, including gift cards and eligible rewards. It provides payment solutions under the PayPal, PayPal Credit, Braintree, Venmo, Xoom, Hyperwallet, Honey, and Paidy names. The company was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in San Jose, California.
PayPal by the numbers
Wall Street consensus on PYPL is Hold. That is the analyst community's view, shown for context — it is not our read and not a recommendation.
PayPal's earnings history
Earnings per share for PayPal's last 4 reported financial years, as filed — EPS has risen over that span. We don't hold analyst consensus estimates for these periods, so no beat-or-miss judgement is shown.
| Period end | EPS reported |
|---|---|
| 2025-12-31 | 5.46 |
| 2024-12-31 | 4.03 |
| 2023-12-31 | 3.85 |
| 2022-12-31 | 2.10 |
Who owns PayPal?
Institutions — pension funds, asset managers, index providers — hold 79.0% of PYPL, and the concentration matters: the largest single holder alone controls 8.76% of the company.
| Holder | Shares | % held |
|---|---|---|
| 74.97M | 8.76% | |
| 53.62M | 6.27% | |
| 41.23M | 4.82% |
Names withheld — plus 3 more records not shown.
See who owns itWhat PayPal insiders have been doing
Executives and directors must disclose their own trades in company stock. Of the last 6 disclosed transactions we hold for PayPal, 3 were sales and 0 were open-market purchases; the other 3 were awards, vesting or option exercises rather than a decision to buy or sell. Insiders sell for many ordinary reasons — scheduled plans, tax, diversification — so a sale is not by itself a signal.
| Insider | Date | Type | Shares | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-03 | SELL | 4.6K | $255.7K | |
| 2026-09-03 | SELL | 3.4K | $188.3K | |
| 2026-09-03 | SELL | 552 | $30.3K |
Names withheld — plus 3 more records not shown.
See which insidersThe numbers behind the read
Who in Washington has been trading PYPL?
Members of Congress must disclose trades over $1,000 within 45 days under the STOCK Act. At least 25 disclosures name PYPL — filed by 13 separate members or more and worth $330K–$1.00M combined (filings report bands, never exact amounts). 9 purchase-side, 16 sale-side, most recently on 2026-05-15.
| Member | Date | Action | Amount filed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-15 | SELL | $1,001 - $15,000 | |
| 2026-03-16 | SELL | $1,001 - $15,000 | |
| 2026-03-13 | BUY | $1,001 - $15,000 |
Names withheld — plus 22 more records not shown.
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Important disclaimer
This page is for educational and informational purposes only and is not financial, investment, tax, or legal advice, nor a recommendation, offer, or solicitation to buy, sell, or hold PayPal (PYPL) or any other security. The Money GPS is not a registered investment adviser, broker-dealer, or financial planner, and no content here should be relied upon to make an investment decision.
The verdict, indicators, and commentary are generated automatically — in part using AI — from third-party market data (via Yahoo Finance) that may be delayed, incomplete, or inaccurate, and is provided “as is” without any warranty. Figures reflect the market as of 2026-09-18 and change constantly; the read above may already be out of date. A “Buy,” “Hold,” or “Be Careful” label is a simplified, rules-based signal for beginners — not a price target or a guarantee of any outcome.
All investing involves risk, including the possible loss of your entire principal. Past performance and historical patterns do not guarantee future results. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial professional who knows your personal circumstances before investing. You are solely responsible for your own investment decisions. The Money GPS and its authors may hold positions in the securities discussed and accept no liability for any loss arising from the use of this information.