PayPal (PYPL) vs Visa (V)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Visa (V) has outperformed PayPal (PYPL) over the past year, gaining 5.6% versus a loss of 26.4%. Over five years, V leads with a +61.1% price change compared with -79.5% for PYPL. Visa is the larger company by market cap ($698.56 billion vs $47.01 billion), about 14.9 times the size.
On valuation, PayPal trades at a lower forward P/E (9.5x vs 24.8x for Visa). PayPal offers the higher dividend yield (1.02% vs 0.72%). Visa converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 50.1% 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 | PYPL | V |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $54.95 | $372.10 |
| Market cap | $47.01B | $698.56B |
| 1-day change | +0.62% | +0.39% |
| YTD return | -5.88% | +6.10% |
| 1-year return | -26.35% | +5.58% |
| 5-year return | -79.52% | +61.09% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 10.39 | 31.67 |
| Forward P/E | 9.50 | 24.80 |
| EPS (TTM) | $5.29 | $11.75 |
| Dividend yield | 1.02% | 0.72% |
| Annual dividend | $0.56 | $2.68 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $33.17B | $40.00B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +4.32% | +11.34% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $5.23B | $20.06B |
| Operating margin | 18.28% | 59.98% |
| Net margin | 15.78% | 50.14% |
| 52-week high | $79.22 | $385.57 |
| 52-week low | $38.46 | $293.89 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -30.63% | -3.49% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +3.59% | +12.70% |
| Average volume | 14.04M | 6.56M |
| Shares outstanding | 855.46M | 1.70B |
| Employees | 23,800 | 34,100 |
| Sector | Industrials | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Diversified Commercial Services | Business 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
- Visa is about 14.9 times larger than PayPal by market value ($698.56B vs $47.01B).
- V has outperformed PYPL by 31.9 percentage points over the past year.
- Visa trades at a higher earnings multiple (31.7x vs 10.4x trailing P/E).
- Visa is more profitable, keeping 50.1 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 15.8 cents for PayPal.
- Visa grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+11.34% vs +4.32%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: PayPal in Industrials and Visa in Consumer Discretionary.
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
About Visa
V stock →Visa Inc. operates as a payment technology company in the United States and internationally.
Consumer Discretionary · Business Services · 34,100 employees
PYPL vs V FAQ
Which is bigger, PayPal or Visa?
Visa (V) is larger, with a market capitalization of $698.56B compared with $47.01B for PayPal (PYPL).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, PYPL or V?
V returned +5.58% 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, PYPL or V?
PYPL has the lower trailing P/E at 10.4, versus 31.7 for V. 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, PayPal or Visa?
PayPal has the higher yield at 1.02%, compared with 0.72% for Visa.
Are PayPal and Visa in the same industry?
No. PayPal is in the Industrials sector, while Visa is in Consumer Discretionary.