AerCap N.V. (AER) vs PayPal (PYPL)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
AerCap N.V. (AER) has outperformed PayPal (PYPL) over the past year, gaining 15.3% versus a loss of 26.4%. Over five years, AER leads with a +133.2% price change compared with -79.5% for PYPL. PayPal is the larger company by market cap ($46.88 billion vs $22.22 billion), about 2.1 times the size, while AerCap N.V. is growing revenue faster (+6.5% vs +4.3%).
On valuation, AerCap N.V. trades at a lower forward P/E (7.8x vs 9.5x for PayPal). AerCap N.V. offers the higher dividend yield (1.04% vs 1.02%). AerCap N.V. converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 44.0% versus 15.8%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | AER | PYPL |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $141.39 | $54.80 |
| Market cap | $22.22B | $46.88B |
| 1-day change | -0.82% | -0.27% |
| YTD return | -0.83% | -5.88% |
| 1-year return | +15.31% | -26.35% |
| 5-year return | +133.25% | -79.52% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 6.93 | 10.36 |
| Forward P/E | 7.76 | 9.48 |
| EPS (TTM) | $20.41 | $5.29 |
| Dividend yield | 1.04% | 1.02% |
| Annual dividend | $1.47 | $0.56 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $8.52B | $33.17B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +6.50% | +4.32% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $3.75B | $5.23B |
| Operating margin | — | 18.28% |
| Net margin | 44.04% | 15.78% |
| 52-week high | $158.81 | $79.22 |
| 52-week low | $118.96 | $38.46 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -10.97% | -30.82% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +26.81% | +3.87% |
| Average volume | 1.06M | 14.06M |
| Shares outstanding | 157.18M | 855.46M |
| Employees | 668 | 23,800 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Industrials |
| Industry | Diversified Commercial Services | Diversified Commercial Services |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- PayPal is about 2.1 times larger than AerCap N.V. by market value ($46.88B vs $22.22B).
- AER has outperformed PYPL by 41.7 percentage points over the past year.
- PayPal trades at a higher earnings multiple (10.4x vs 6.9x trailing P/E).
- AerCap N.V. is more profitable, keeping 44.0 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 15.8 cents for PayPal.
- The two companies sit in different sectors: AerCap N.V. in Consumer Discretionary and PayPal in Industrials.
About AerCap N.V.
AER stock →AerCap Holdings N.V. engages in the lease, financing, sale, and management of commercial flight equipment in the United States, China, and internationally.
Consumer Discretionary · Diversified Commercial Services · 668 employees
About PayPal
PYPL stock →PayPal Holdings, Inc. operates a technology platform that enables digital payments for merchants and consumers worldwide.
Industrials · Diversified Commercial Services · 23,800 employees
AER vs PYPL FAQ
Which is bigger, AerCap N.V. or PayPal?
PayPal (PYPL) is larger, with a market capitalization of $46.88B compared with $22.22B for AerCap N.V. (AER).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, AER or PYPL?
AER returned +15.31% over the past 12 months, compared with -26.35% for PYPL (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, AER or PYPL?
AER has the lower trailing P/E at 6.9, versus 10.4 for PYPL. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, AerCap N.V. or PayPal?
AerCap N.V. has the higher yield at 1.04%, compared with 1.02% for PayPal.
Are AerCap N.V. and PayPal in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Diversified Commercial Services industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.