Visa (V) vs PayPal (PYPL): Stock Comparison
Data as of November 7, 2026. Refreshed weekly from SEC filings and market data.
PayPal is cheaper on earnings, at 10.5 times against 35.1; Visa keeps the higher net margin (50.8% against 13.8%); Visa grew revenue faster over the last year (14.4% against 4.4%); dividend yield is about the same (0.6% and 1.0%). Visa clears 2 of this site's 8 value filters and PayPal 5. Figures are as of November 7, 2026; each is on the page below with its source.
How do Visa and PayPal compare on the numbers?
| Measure | Visa (V) | PayPal (PYPL) | Clearer lead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share price | $422.65 | $59.24 | |
| Market value | $793 billion | $49.6 billion | |
| P/E ratio (trailing) | 35.1 | 10.5 | PYPL |
| PEG ratio | 2.71 | 1.91 | PYPL |
| Free-cash-flow yield | 2.8% | 12.7% | PYPL |
| Net profit margin | 50.8% | 13.8% | V |
| Revenue growth, last year | 14.4% | 4.4% | V |
| Return on equity | 61.3% | 23.8% | V |
| Debt to equity | 0.61 | 0.69 | V |
| Dividend yield | 0.6% | 1.0% | About the same |
| Margin of safety (DCF) | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Value filters passed (of 8) | 2 | 5 | PYPL |
| Distance from 52-week high | -3.2% | -18.9% |
How have Visa and PayPal shares done against each other?
Visa 192PayPal 26
Each share price set to 100 on Nov 2021, to Nov 2026. Price only: dividends are not included.
From Nov 2021 to Nov 2026, Visa shares are up 92% and PayPal shares down 74%, so Visa has pulled ahead of PayPal by 166 points of the starting price. The deepest fall from a prior high in that window was 21% for Visa and 82% for PayPal.
| Period | Visa (V) | PayPal (PYPL) |
|---|---|---|
| Last 1 year | +25.4% | -10.6% |
| Last 3 years | +73.6% | +8.5% |
| Last 5 years | +95.1% | -73.8% |
Which has grown faster, Visa or PayPal?
Over 5 years, Visa grew revenue 12.9% a year and earnings per share 15.8% a year; PayPal grew revenue 9.1% and earnings per share 8.9%. Its net margin averaged 52.0% at Visa and 13.7% at PayPal.
| Measure | Visa (V) | PayPal (PYPL) |
|---|---|---|
| Latest fiscal year ended | Sep 2025 | Dec 2025 |
| Revenue, first year to latest | $21.8 billion to $40 billion | $21.5 billion to $33.2 billion |
| Revenue growth per year | 12.9% | 9.1% |
| Earnings per share, first year to latest | $4.89 to $10.20 | $3.54 to $5.41 |
| Earnings per share growth per year | 15.8% | 8.9% |
| Net margin, latest year | 50.1% | 15.8% |
| Net margin, average of the years | 52.0% | 13.7% |
| Free cash flow margin, latest year | 53.9% | 16.8% |
From each company's 10-K filings (SEC EDGAR), over its latest 5 years. Fiscal years end in different months, so each is shown for its own latest 5 years.
What growth does each share price assume?
| Measure | Visa (V) | PayPal (PYPL) |
|---|---|---|
| Free cash flow growth the price implies | n/a | n/a |
| Free cash flow per share | $11.76 | $7.53 |
| Margin of safety on this site's DCF | n/a | n/a |
A free-cash-flow DCF does not fit Visa (its free cash flow is negative or missing, or it is the kind of business the DCF leaves out), so no implied growth is shown.
A free-cash-flow DCF does not fit PayPal (its free cash flow is negative or missing, or it is the kind of business the DCF leaves out), so no implied growth is shown.
The same model and baseline as every stock page. A price that asks for less growth is not a better company, only a lower bar to clear.
Where is each stronger?
Where Visa leads
- Higher net margin: 50.8% against 13.8%
- Faster revenue growth last year: 14.4% against 4.4%
- Higher return on equity: 61.3% against 23.8%
- Less debt for its equity: 0.61 against 0.69
- Faster revenue growth over its filed record: 12.9% against 9.1%
- Faster earnings-per-share growth over its filed record: 15.8% against 8.9%
- A higher net margin in its latest filed year: 50.1% against 15.8%
- A higher average net margin: 52.0% against 13.7%
- A higher free-cash-flow margin in its latest filed year: 53.9% against 16.8%
Where PayPal leads
- Lower P/E: 10.5 against 35.1
- Lower PEG: 1.91 against 2.71
- Higher free-cash-flow yield: 12.7% against 2.8%
- More of the 8 value filters: 5 against 2
About the same on: dividend yield. A lead needs a clear gap (10% apart on a ratio, 1 point on a percentage), so a rounding difference never names a winner. A lead on one measure is not a verdict on the company.
How do the businesses differ?
Visa. Visa runs the payment network behind Visa credit and debit cards. It does not lend money or issue most cards, since banks do that; Visa earns small fees each time a card is used.
PayPal. PayPal runs a digital-payments platform for online checkout and person-to-person payments, with Venmo, card processing and buy-now-pay-later. It earns fees on the payment volume it handles.
Both are in the Financial Services industry on this site.
What stands out about Visa
- Misses 4 of the 8 value filters. It fails Trailing P/E < 25 (35.08), PEG Ratio < 1.5 (2.71) and Price/Book < 8 (21.95) and 1 more; the other 2 pass and 2 were not evaluated.
- Strongest against peers: net margin. At 50.8% (peer median 20.6%) it ranks 1st of 40 among financial services stocks this site tracks.
- Weakest against peers: dividend yield. At 0.65% (peer median 1.45%) it ranks 32nd of 34 among financial services stocks this site tracks.
What stands out about PayPal
- Misses 1 of the 8 value filters. It fails PEG Ratio < 1.5 (1.91); the other 5 pass and 2 were not evaluated.
- Strongest against peers: P/E ratio. At 10.5× (peer median 23.9×) it ranks 5th of 36 among financial services stocks this site tracks.
- Weakest against peers: dividend yield. At 1.01% (peer median 1.45%) it ranks 26th of 34 among financial services stocks this site tracks.
Frequently asked questions about Visa and PayPal
Which is cheaper, Visa or PayPal?
On trailing earnings, PayPal is cheaper: Visa trades at 35.1 times and PayPal at 10.5 times. On free cash flow, the yields are 2.8% and 12.7%. Cheaper is not the same as better value: read the growth each price assumes below.
Which pays the higher dividend, Visa or PayPal?
Their yields are about the same: Visa 0.6% and PayPal 1.0% over the last year.
Which has grown faster, Visa or PayPal?
Over their latest filed five years, Visa grew revenue 12.9% a year and PayPal 9.1%; earnings per share grew 15.8% and 8.9% a year.
Which has more debt, Visa or PayPal?
PayPal has more debt for its equity: debt to equity is 0.61 for Visa and 0.69 for PayPal. A very high figure can also come from buybacks that shrank equity.
Which is more profitable, Visa or PayPal?
Visa keeps more of each sales dollar as profit: 50.8% for Visa and 13.8% for PayPal, with a return on equity of 61.3% and 23.8%.
Which passes more of the 8 value filters?
PayPal clears more: Visa 2 of 8 and PayPal 5 of 8. The filters are this site's own value rules, not a prediction.
Where do these numbers come from?
Prices, ratios and yield are from this site's weekly data as of November 7, 2026; growth and margins by year are from each company's 10-K filings (sources on Visa and PayPal). The DCF is the same model on every stock page. See Editorial Standards. Educational, not investment advice.