PYPL's Transaction Revenues: Will it Pave the Way or Hinder Growth?

Core Insights - PayPal Holdings (PYPL) reported transaction revenues of $7.82 billion in Q4 2025, reflecting a 3% year-over-year growth and accounting for approximately 90.1% of its net revenues [1][8] - The growth in transaction revenues was driven by the rise in online shopping and mobile payments, contributing to solid quarterly results [1] Transaction Revenue Details - Transaction revenues primarily come from fees charged to merchants and consumers for payments processed through PayPal's platforms, calculated as a percentage of the transaction amount plus a fixed fee [2] - For Q4 2025, PayPal's transaction margin dollars (TM$) were reported at $4.03 billion, also up 3% year-over-year, with growth attributed to credit and omni initiatives, improved Payment Service Provider (PSP) profitability, and Venmo monetization efforts [3][8] Transaction Take Rate - The transaction take rate decreased by 9 basis points to 1.65% in Q4 2025, with a decline of about 7 basis points when excluding foreign exchange hedges [4] Peer Performance Comparison - Block's transaction revenues in Q3 2025 were $1.87 billion, up 9.4% year-over-year, representing 30.6% of its net revenues [5] - Payoneer Global's Q3 2025 total revenues were $270.9 million, up 9% year-over-year, with transaction revenue growth driven by increased transaction volume and improved SMB customer take rates [6] Valuation and Estimates - PayPal shares have declined 31% year-to-date, underperforming the broader industry and the S&P 500 Index [7] - The stock is trading at a forward 12-month P/E of 7.40X, significantly lower than the Zacks Financial Transaction Services industry's average of 18.15X, indicating a cheap valuation [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for full-year 2026 EPS has been revised downward, suggesting a growth of only 1.3% year-over-year [10]