Why PayPal Stock Deserves a Second Look Before 2025 Ends

Core Insights - PayPal Holdings (PYPL) is showing signs of recovery after facing challenges in the post-pandemic period and intense competition in the fintech sector, with Q3 earnings indicating a successful transformation that could lead to a stock rebound as 2026 approaches [1][3] Financial Performance - In Q3, PayPal's total payment volume (TPV) rose by 8% year-over-year to $458 billion, with the Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) segment experiencing a 20% increase in payment volume, aiming for nearly $40 billion in BNPL TPV by 2025 [4] - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) increased by 12% year-over-year, attributed to strong operating leverage [4] Business Segments - Venmo, a key growth driver, reported a 14% increase in overall payment volume in Q3, up from 9% the previous year, and is projected to generate $1.7 billion in revenue by 2025, reflecting over 20% year-over-year growth [5] - Venmo's payment volume surged by 40% in September alone, achieving a record high of $1 billion in TPV [4] Strategic Initiatives - Under CEO Alex Chriss, PayPal is diversifying its business engines, including branded checkout, Venmo, BNPL, and its enterprise payments platform (PSP), contributing to a more balanced and profitable growth model [3] - The "PayPal Everywhere" initiative aims to establish PayPal and Venmo as the default payment options across all commerce channels, enhancing their presence at every checkout point [6]