PayPal Holdings Inc (PYPL)vsUpstart Holdings Inc (UPST)
PYPL
PayPal Holdings Inc
$54.03
+0.58%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $45.49B
UPST
Upstart Holdings Inc
$25.59
+1.95%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $2.52B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
PayPal Holdings Inc generates 2554% more annual revenue ($34.13B vs $1.29B). PYPL leads profitability with a 14.4% profit margin vs 4.7%. PYPL trades at a lower P/E of 10.1x. PYPL earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 65/100 (C+).
PYPL
Buy65
out of 100
Grade: C+
UPST
Buy53
out of 100
Grade: C-
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Every $100 of equity generates 25 in profit
Growing faster than its price suggests
Reasonable price relative to book value
Generating 1.8B in free cash flow
Revenue surging 42.3% year-over-year
Earnings expanding 211.2% YoY
Areas to Watch
4.8% revenue growth
Distress zone — elevated risk
Earnings declined 3.1%
ROE of 6.7% — below average capital efficiency
4.7% margin — thin
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Negative free cash flow — burning cash
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : PYPL
The strongest argument for PYPL centers on P/E Ratio, Return on Equity, PEG Ratio. PEG of 0.91 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.
Bull Case : UPST
The strongest argument for UPST centers on Revenue Growth, EPS Growth. Revenue growth of 42.3% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : PYPL
The primary concerns for PYPL are Revenue Growth, Altman Z-Score, EPS Growth.
Bear Case : UPST
The primary concerns for UPST are Return on Equity, Profit Margin, P/E Ratio. A P/E of 51.8x leaves little room for execution misses. Debt-to-equity of 2.54 is elevated, increasing financial risk.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
PYPL profiles as a value stock while UPST is a hypergrowth play — different risk/reward profiles.
UPST carries more volatility with a beta of 2.17 — expect wider price swings.
UPST is growing revenue faster at 42.3% — sustainability is the question.
PYPL generates stronger free cash flow (1.8B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
PYPL scores higher overall (65/100 vs 53/100). Both earn "Buy" and "Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
PayPal Holdings Inc
FINANCIAL SERVICES · CREDIT SERVICES · USA
PayPal Holdings, Inc. is an American company operating an online payments system in the majority of countries that support online money transfers, and serves as an electronic alternative to traditional paper methods like checks and money orders. The company operates as a payment processor for online vendors, auction sites, and many other commercial users, for which it charges a fee.
Visit Website →Upstart Holdings Inc
FINANCIAL SERVICES · CREDIT SERVICES · USA
Upstart Holdings, Inc. operates a cloud-based artificial intelligence (AI) lending platform. The company is headquartered in San Mateo, California.
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