PayPal Holdings Inc (PYPL)vsUpstart Holdings Inc (UPST)
PYPL
PayPal Holdings Inc
$44.85
+1.45%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $41.37B
UPST
Upstart Holdings Inc
$26.09
-1.92%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $2.55B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
PayPal Holdings Inc generates 2984% more annual revenue ($33.17B vs $1.08B). PYPL leads profitability with a 15.8% profit margin vs 5.0%. PYPL trades at a lower P/E of 8.2x. PYPL earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 78/100 (B+).
PYPL
Strong Buy78
out of 100
Grade: B+
UPST
Buy51
out of 100
Grade: C-
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
+82.3%
Fair Value
$253.19
Current Price
$44.85
$208.34 discount
Margin of Safety
-57.2%
Fair Value
$21.06
Current Price
$26.09
$5.03 premium
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Every $100 of equity generates 26 in profit
Growing faster than its price suggests
Reasonable price relative to book value
Earnings expanding 39.4% YoY
Generating 2.2B in free cash flow
Revenue surging 34.4% year-over-year
Areas to Watch
3.7% revenue growth
Distress zone — elevated risk
2.1% earnings growth
ROE of 7.5% — below average capital efficiency
5.0% margin — thin
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : PYPL
The strongest argument for PYPL centers on P/E Ratio, Return on Equity, PEG Ratio. Profitability is solid with margins at 15.8% and operating margin at 17.5%. PEG of 0.69 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.
Bull Case : UPST
The strongest argument for UPST centers on Revenue Growth. Revenue growth of 34.4% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : PYPL
The primary concerns for PYPL are Revenue Growth, Altman Z-Score.
Bear Case : UPST
The primary concerns for UPST are EPS Growth, Return on Equity, Profit Margin. A P/E of 57.7x leaves little room for execution misses. Thin 5.0% margins leave little buffer for downturns.
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 2.19 — expect wider price swings.
UPST is growing revenue faster at 34.4% — sustainability is the question.
PYPL generates stronger free cash flow (2.2B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
PYPL scores higher overall (78/100 vs 51/100), backed by strong 15.8% margins. Both earn "Strong 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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