Atlanticus (ATLC) vs PayPal (PYPL)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 10, 2026.
Summary
Atlanticus (ATLC) has outperformed PayPal (PYPL) over the past year, gaining 62.1% versus a loss of 26.7%. Over five years, ATLC leads with a +50.4% price change compared with -79.3% for PYPL. PayPal is the larger company by market cap ($47.50 billion vs $1.42 billion), about 33.4 times the size, while Atlanticus is growing revenue faster (+50.1% vs +4.3%).
On valuation, Atlanticus trades at a lower forward P/E (6.9x vs 9.6x for PayPal). PayPal pays a dividend yielding 1.01%, while Atlanticus does not currently pay one. PayPal converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 15.8% versus 6.2%.
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 | ATLC | PYPL |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $93.73 | $55.53 |
| Market cap | $1.42B | $47.50B |
| 1-day change | +2.16% | +0.93% |
| YTD return | +40.00% | -4.88% |
| 1-year return | +62.13% | -26.69% |
| 5-year return | +50.45% | -79.31% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 11.91 | 10.40 |
| Forward P/E | 6.89 | 9.61 |
| EPS (TTM) | $7.87 | $5.34 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 1.01% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.56 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $1.97B | $33.17B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +50.09% | +4.32% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $122.20M | $5.23B |
| Gross margin | 91.83% | — |
| Operating margin | — | 18.28% |
| Net margin | 6.21% | 15.78% |
| 52-week high | $114.34 | $79.22 |
| 52-week low | $47.50 | $38.46 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -18.03% | -29.90% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +39.34% | +2.45% |
| Average volume | 142.70K | 14.14M |
| Shares outstanding | 15.17M | 855.46M |
| Employees | 576 | 23,800 |
| Sector | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| Industry | Credit Services | Credit 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 33.4 times larger than Atlanticus by market value ($47.50B vs $1.42B).
- ATLC has outperformed PYPL by 88.8 percentage points over the past year.
- PayPal offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.01% vs 0.00%).
- PayPal is more profitable, keeping 15.8 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 6.2 cents for Atlanticus.
- Atlanticus grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+50.09% vs +4.32%).
About Atlanticus
ATLC stock →Atlanticus Holdings Corporation, a financial technology company, provides products and services to lenders in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Credit as a Service (CaaS) and Auto Finance.
Financial Services · Credit Services · 576 employees
About PayPal
PYPL stock →PayPal Holdings, Inc. operates a technology platform that enables digital payments for merchants and consumers worldwide.
Financial Services · Credit Services · 23,800 employees
ATLC vs PYPL FAQ
Which is bigger, Atlanticus or PayPal?
PayPal (PYPL) is larger, with a market capitalization of $47.50B compared with $1.42B for Atlanticus (ATLC).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ATLC or PYPL?
ATLC returned +62.13% over the past 12 months, compared with -26.69% for PYPL (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ATLC or PYPL?
PYPL has the lower trailing P/E at 10.4, versus 11.9 for ATLC. 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, Atlanticus or PayPal?
PayPal pays a dividend yielding 1.01%, while Atlanticus does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Atlanticus and PayPal in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Credit Services industry within the Financial Services sector.