(PYPL) stock has fallen 22.9% over the past week, 29.7% over the past month, and 46.2% across the past year, leaving investors wary after a brutal stretch. Wall Street’s analysts are neutral, forecasting a 50.8% increase in PYPL over the next twelve months. Despite deep losses, the 12-month consensus price target stands at $62.87 against a last close of $41.70, underscoring the tug-of-war between skepticism and perceived value.
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Mihir Bhatia (BofA Securities) maintained PYPL at Hold and trimmed the price target to $48, implying 15% upside from current levels. He cited the surprise CEO switch, a disappointing fourth-quarter print, and lingering doubts about whether PayPal’s issues are managerial or structural. Bhatia argues the shares look inexpensive at 8x 2026 earnings with $6 billion in free cash flow, but insists new leadership must demonstrate tangible progress before the stock can outperform. This 4-star analyst ranks 837 out of 11,984, with a 68.0% success rate and 9.7% average return per rating.
Dominick Gabriele (Compass Point) upgraded PYPL from Sell to Hold, lifting the price target to $51 for a projected 22% gain. He believes most of his bearish thesis has played out amid CEO churn, stalled branded checkout, and withdrawn long-term guidance. While still skeptical of PayPal’s fundamentals, he sees limited downside at roughly 7x 2027 EPS and expects the shares to remain range-bound until a clear turnaround plan emerges. This 3-star analyst ranks 3,805 out of 11,984, with a 48.2% success rate and 3.4% average return.
Saul Martinez (HSBC) cut PYPL to Hold with a $47 target, signaling 13% upside as he slashed free cash flow forecasts and raised the cost of equity. Martinez doubts management can quickly revive branded checkout or regain e-commerce share, arguing that lower earnings power outweighs buyback-driven EPS support. He warns that the 2026 guidance reset and lack of a timeline for improvement underscore execution risks. This 3-star analyst ranks 4,030 out of 11,984, boasting a 57.9% success rate and 4.4% average return.
Joseph Vafi (Canaccord Genuity) downgraded the shares to Hold with a $42 target, effectively neutral on near-term direction. Vafi contends PayPal lacks a “next chapter” as e-commerce matures and Apple Pay or Google Pay steal the checkout spotlight. He sees promise in bank-like services, BNPL, and agentic commerce but stresses these initiatives need time and bold reinvestment to matter. This 4-star analyst ranks 271 out of 11,984, with a 48.4% success rate and an impressive 27.0% average return.
James Faucette (Morgan Stanley) reiterated a Sell rating and trimmed his target to $34, implying 18% downside ahead. He criticizes PayPal for funneling nearly all free cash flow into buybacks instead of reinvigorating branded checkout, integrating with hardware wallets, or expanding Venmo acceptance. Faucette argues competitors such as Shopify and Adyen are investing aggressively while PayPal risks falling further behind by prioritizing capital return over innovation. This 4-star analyst ranks 1,650 out of 11,984, with a 62.8% success rate and 4.3% average return. Never miss a stock rating. Find all the latest ratings on TipRanks’ Top Wall Street Analysts page.