The value of your investments can fall as well as rise and you may get back less than you invested. Past performance is no indication of future results.
Key takeaways
- Paypal is a global online payments platform with stocks listed in the US on the NASDAQ.
- To buy Paypal stocks you'll need a trading platform with access to the US markets. You should compare foreign exchange and other trading fees.
- Use research tools and PayPal’s performance metrics, such as P/E and ESG scores, to decide if the stock aligns with your financial goals.
Paypal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: PYPL) is an American company that operates an online payment system in many countries all over the world. It launched in 1998 under the name of Confinity but changed its business model in 1999 when it became PayPal. It has had several owners, including the infamous Elon Musk, and was bought out by eBay in 2002. It currently operates as an independent company.
How to buy shares in PayPal
- Compare share trading platforms. To buy shares in a company listed in the US from Australia you'll need to find a trading platform that offers access to US stock markets. Look for a platform with low brokerage and foreign exchange fees.
- Open and fund your brokerage account. Complete an application with your personal and financial details, which will typically include your ID and tax file number. Fund your account with a bank transfer, credit card or debit card.
- Search for PayPal. Find the share by name or ticker symbol: PYPL. Research its history to confirm it's a solid investment that matches your financial goals.
- Purchase now or later. Buy today with a market order or use a limit order to delay your purchase until PayPal reaches your desired price. To spread out your risk, look into dollar-cost averaging, which smooths out buying using consistent intervals and amounts.
- Decide on how many to buy. Weigh your budget against a diversified portfolio that can minimise risk through the market's ups and downs. You may be able to buy a fractional share of PayPal, depending on your broker.
- Check in on your investment. Congratulations, you own a part of PayPal. Optimise your portfolio by tracking how your stock — and even the business — performs with an eye on the long term. You may be eligible for dividends and shareholder voting rights.
Compare trading platforms to buy PayPal shares
Compare other products
We currently don't have that product, but here are others to consider:
How we picked theseFinder Score for share trading platforms
We've scored over 30 share trading platforms assessing them for their core features, fees, customer experience and accessibility. Our experts give each platform a score out of 10.
PayPal shares at a glance
Information last updated 2025-12-01.
| 52-week range | US$55.7212 - US$93.444 |
|---|---|
| 50-day moving average | US$67.2457 |
| 200-day moving average | US$69.2504 |
| Target price | US$82.8152 |
| PE ratio | 12.5884 |
| Dividend yield | US$0.14 (0.23%) |
| Earnings per share (TTM) | US$4.98 |
Use the fields above to explore the returns from a historical investment. Please refer to the charts further up this page to see performance over 5 years, or other periods. Past performance doesn't indicate future results. Capital is at risk.
Is it a good time to buy PayPal stock?
The technical analysis gauge below displays real-time ratings for the timeframes you select. However, this is not a recommendation. It represents a technical analysis based on the most popular technical indicators: Moving Averages, Oscillators and Pivots. Finder might not concur and takes no responsibility.
Is it worth buying PayPal stock?
Valuing PayPal stock is incredibly difficult, and any metric has to be viewed as part of a bigger picture of PayPal's overall performance. However, analysts commonly use some key metrics to help gauge the value of a stock.
PayPal's P/E ratio
PayPal's current share price divided by its per-share earnings (EPS) over a 12-month period gives a "trailing price/earnings ratio" of roughly 13x. In other words, PayPal shares trade at around 13x recent earnings.
That's relatively low compared to, say, the trailing 12-month P/E ratio for the NASDAQ 100 at the end of 2019 (27.29). The low P/E ratio could mean that investors are pessimistic about the outlook for the shares or simply that they're under-valued.
PayPal's PEG ratio
PayPal's "price/earnings-to-growth ratio" can be calculated by dividing its P/E ratio by its growth – to give 0.6347. A low ratio can be interpreted as meaning the shares offer better value, while a higher ratio can be interpreted as meaning the shares offer worse value.
The PEG ratio provides a broader view than just the P/E ratio, as it gives more insight into PayPal's future profitability. By accounting for growth, it could also help you if you're comparing the share prices of multiple high-growth companies.
PayPal's EBITDA
PayPal's EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) is US$6.6 billion (£5 billion).
The EBITDA is a measure of a PayPal's overall financial performance and is widely used to measure stock profitability.
PayPal share price volatility
Over the last 12 months, PayPal's shares have ranged in value from as little as US$55.7212 up to US$93.444. A popular way to gauge a stock's volatility is its "beta".
Beta measures a share's volatility in relation to the market. The market (NASDAQ average) beta is 1, while PayPal's is 1.433. This would suggest that PayPal's shares are more volatile than the average for this exchange and represent, relatively speaking, a higher risk (but potentially also market-beating returns).
PayPal financials
| Revenue TTM | US$32.9 billion |
|---|---|
| Operating margin TTM | 19.2% |
| Gross profit TTM | US$13.7 billion |
| Return on assets TTM | 4.7% |
| Return on equity TTM | 24.36% |
| Profit margin | 14.96% |
| Book value | 21.464 |
| Market capitalisation | US$59.9 billion |
| EBITDA | US$6.6 billion |
TTM: trailing 12 months
PayPal share dividends
Dividend payout ratio: 2.66% of net profits
Recently PayPal has paid out, on average, around 2.66% of net profits as dividends. That has enabled analysts to estimate a "forward annual dividend yield" of 0.89% of the current stock value. This means that over a year, based on recent payouts (which are sadly no guarantee of future payouts), PayPal shareholders could enjoy a 0.89% return on their shares, in the form of dividend payments. In PayPal's case, that would currently equate to about $0.14 per share.
While PayPal's payout ratio might seem low, this can signify that PayPal is investing more in its future growth.
PayPal's most recent dividend payout was on 9 December 2025. The latest dividend was paid out to all shareholders who bought their shares by 18 November 2025 (the "ex-dividend date").
PayPal's environmental, social and governance track record
Environmental, social and governance (known as ESG) criteria are a set of three factors used to measure the sustainability and social impact of companies like PayPal.
When it comes to ESG scores, lower is better, and lower scores are generally associated with lower risk for would-be investors.
PayPal's total ESG risk score
Total ESG risk: 16.47
Socially conscious investors use ESG scores to screen how an investment aligns with their worldview, and PayPal's overall score of 16.47 (as at 12/31/2018) is excellent – landing it in it in the 15th percentile of companies rated in the same sector.
ESG scores are increasingly used to estimate the level of risk a company like PayPal is exposed to within the areas of "environmental" (carbon footprint, resource use etc.), "social" (health and safety, human rights etc.), and "governance" (anti-corruption, tax transparency etc.).
PayPal's environmental score
Environmental score: 2.41/100
PayPal's environmental score of 2.41 puts it squarely in the 2nd percentile of companies rated in the same sector. This could suggest that PayPal is a leader in its sector terms of its environmental impact, and exposed to a lower level of risk.
PayPal's social score
Social score: 10.65/100
PayPal's social score of 10.65 puts it squarely in the 2nd percentile of companies rated in the same sector. This could suggest that PayPal is a leader in its sector when it comes to taking good care of its workforce and the communities it impacts.
PayPal's governance score
Governance score: 7.23/100
PayPal's governance score puts it squarely in the 2nd percentile of companies rated in the same sector. That could suggest that PayPal is a leader in its sector when it comes to responsible management and strategy, and exposed to a lower level of risk.
PayPal's controversy score
Controversy score: 2/5
ESG scores also evaluate any incidences of controversy that a company has been involved in. PayPal scored a 2 out of 5 for controversy – the second-highest score possible, reflecting that PayPal has, for the most part, managed to keep its nose clean.
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) summary
PayPal Holdings Inc was last rated for ESG on: 2019-01-01.
| Total ESG score | 16.47 |
|---|---|
| Total ESG percentile | 14.76 |
| Environmental score | 2.41 |
| Environmental score percentile | 2 |
| Social score | 10.65 |
| Social score percentile | 2 |
| Governance score | 7.23 |
| Governance score percentile | 2 |
| Level of controversy | 2 |
PayPal overview
PayPal Holdings, Inc. operates a technology platform that enables digital payments for merchants and consumers worldwide. It 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 products, credit and debit cards, and cryptocurrencies, as well as other stored value products, including gift cards and eligible rewards. The company provides payment solutions under the PayPal, PayPal Credit, Braintree, Venmo, Xoom, Zettle, Hyperwallet, Honey, and Paidy names. The company was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in San Jose, California.
Past developments
June 30: The PayPal app has launched passkeys outside beyond the US for the first time, expanding to Australia and Europe. This means users will be able to login to their apps using fingerprint or facial recognition.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
More resources on Finder
Ask a question
More guides on Finder
-
Best short term investments in Australia for 2025
If you have funds to invest for 2 or years or less, you can safely earn up to 5% p.a. through a high interest savings account, bonds or ETFs.
-
How to buy Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company shares in Australia
Steps to owning and managing Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company shares from in Australia.
-
How to invest in copper in Australia
Copper is an industrial metal with many applications. Here’s what you should consider before investing.
-
How to invest in financial stocks in Australia
Financial stocks drive the economy and affect many aspects of a consumer’s economic life.
-
How to buy Viva Energy shares in Australia
Steps to owning and managing Viva Energy shares from in Australia.
-
How to buy Verizon shares in Australia
Steps to owning and managing Verizon shares from in Australia.
-
How to buy Wells Fargo shares in Australia
Steps to owning and managing Wells Fargo shares from in Australia.
-
How to buy Visa shares in Australia
Steps to owning and managing Visa shares from in Australia.
-
How to invest in cannabis stocks
Just 5 years ago, few investors took cannabis stocks seriously; today, as billions of dollars pour into the sector, few doubt that it will be one of the next big disruptors.
-
How to buy Uber shares in Australia
Steps to owning and managing Uber shares from in Australia.