MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Deluxe (NYSE: DLX), a trusted Payments and Data company, today announced its collaboration with Visa to implement Visa Direct. This collaboration introduces dlxFastFunds, a funding solution that leverages Visa's trusted payment network to help businesses take control of their cash flow by skipping the typical one- to two-day settlement delay. "As more businesses embrace digital payments, the ability to send funds efficiently and with confidence becomes a competitive advantage,† ...

Core Insights - The global ecommerce market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.2%, reaching approximately US$9.21 trillion by 2029, up from an estimated US$7.25 trillion in 2025 [3][13]. Market Growth and Trends - The ecommerce market has experienced a robust growth rate of 9.5% from 2020 to 2024, with expectations of continued growth at a CAGR of 6.2% from 2025 to 2029 [3]. - Digital payments are becoming more localized, with countries like India and Brazil seeing rapid adoption of local payment methods integrated into ecommerce platforms [4]. - Social commerce is reshaping online purchasing pathways, with platforms like Douyin and TikTok Shop driving engagement and sales through content [5][9]. Competitive Landscape - Competitive intensity is expected to increase as cross-border discount platforms scale globally and social-commerce ecosystems deepen their integration with traditional commerce [2]. - Major players such as Amazon, Alibaba, Walmart, JD.com, and Mercado Libre are scaling logistics networks and financial services as key differentiators [11]. - New entrants like Temu are expanding their presence in the U.S. and Europe, intensifying competition in the ecommerce space [11]. Cross-Border Commerce - Cross-border ecommerce is gaining momentum as consumers seek imports and price advantages, with platforms like Temu and Shein attracting customers through competitively priced international goods [6][9]. - Improved international logistics and favorable government trade policies are facilitating cross-border flows, although regulatory scrutiny may impact certain models [9][10]. Omni-Channel Integration - Retailers are increasingly integrating ecommerce with physical store formats to enhance fulfillment and inventory management, leveraging existing store networks for improved last-mile efficiency [7][10]. - The trend towards omni-channel retail integration is expected to strengthen as retailers seek margin stability and adapt to consumer expectations for flexible delivery options [7][10]. Recent Developments - Strategic partnerships and mergers have been prominent, such as Shopify and TikTok's collaboration for cross-border merchant onboarding and Amazon's investment in Deliveroo for grocery fulfillment [12].

Key Points Both credit card companies have been growing at double-digit rates. Mastercard is the faster-growing company of the two. Visa and Mastercard are aggressively buying back their own stocks. 10 stocks we like better than Mastercard › As payment networks, both Visa (NYSE: V) and Mastercard (NYSE: MA) occupy a sweet spot as more commerce shifts from cash to digital.But which of these two leading payment networks makes for a better investment?At a high level, the two companies share the same ...

PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL) is among the 7 Best Digital Payments Stocks to Invest In Now. Morgan Stanley Reduces Price Target On PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL) On December 18, 2025, theFly reported that Morgan Stanley reduced its price objective to $51 from $74 and lowered PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL) from Equal Weight to Underweight. According to the firm, making upgrades to PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL)’s branded checkout integrations will be difficult and time-consuming. Morgan Sta ...

Core Insights - The fintech industry is highly competitive, with PayPal and StoneCo as notable players, each representing different market strategies and growth potentials [1][2]. PayPal Overview - PayPal is focusing on four strategic growth pillars: enhancing checkout, scaling omni-channel services, growing Venmo, and improving profitability for payment service providers (PSPs) [3]. - Venmo's revenue increased over 20% quarter-over-quarter in Q3 2025, with total payment volume (TPV) rising 14% [3]. - Branded checkout is a significant growth driver, with over 60% of branded volume in the U.S. processed through PayPal's enhanced platform [4]. - PayPal is investing in AI-driven e-commerce through partnerships with companies like OpenAI and Google Cloud to enhance shopping experiences [5]. - The company operates a stablecoin, PYUSD, and allows U.S. customers to use cryptocurrency for payments, ending Q3 2025 with $9 billion in cash and equivalents [6]. - Despite a 6% increase in TPV, payment transactions fell 5% year-over-year in Q3 2025, indicating challenges in user engagement [7]. StoneCo Overview - StoneCo reported an 18% year-over-year growth in adjusted net income for Q3 2025, achieving a consolidated return on equity (ROE) of 24% [8]. - The company is divesting non-core assets to focus on financial services, targeting a total addressable market of BRL 100 billion [9]. - StoneCo's MSMB client base grew 17.6% year-over-year to 4.7 million, with total payment volume increasing by 11% [11]. - Active banking clients rose 22% to 3.5 million, with client deposits increasing by 32%, providing a stable funding source [12]. - StoneCo's disciplined approach to pricing and credit provisioning has resulted in a 33% ROE in financial services, indicating strong profitability [13]. Comparative Analysis - StoneCo shows greater upside potential compared to PayPal, benefiting from growth in MSMB clients and the adoption of PIX transactions [10]. - PayPal's growth is driven by Venmo and branded checkout, but it faces declining transaction engagement [10]. - Earnings estimates for PayPal indicate year-over-year increases of 14.8% and 9.7% for 2025 and 2026, respectively [14]. - In contrast, StoneCo's earnings are expected to grow by 25.9% and 15.5% for the same years [17]. - Valuation metrics show PayPal trading at a forward P/E of 10.25X and StoneCo at 7.56X, both below their one-year medians [20]. Conclusion - Both PayPal and StoneCo are pursuing strategies to enhance their long-term prospects, with PayPal focusing on global scale and innovation, while StoneCo capitalizes on Brazil's MSMB segment and demonstrates strong growth potential [25][26].

Key Takeaways Mastercard expects 2025 net revenue growth in the low teens, driven by digital trends and global expansion.Block's revenue streams span Square, Afterpay, and Cash App, but 2025 EPS is forecast to drop 28.2%.MA trades near its 3-year median P/E, while XYZ's multiple is well below its historical average of 44.2.As interest rates, travel demand, trade tensions, and consumer spending patterns reshape the financial environment, payment stocks are once again drawing investor interest as reliable lon ...

Visa Inc. ( V ) and Mastercard Incorporated ( MA ) share an extraordinarily durable duopoly built on scale, network effects, and secular digital payment growth. Even though Mastercard is growing faster and tends to innovate more, II focus on producing objective, data-driven research, mostly about small- to mid-cap companies, as these tend to be overlooked by many investors. From time to time, though, I also look at large-cap names, just to give a fuller sense of the broader equity markets.Analyst’s Disclosu ...

Core Insights - The UPI Autopay feature has seen a significant growth, with transactions increasing by 100% year-over-year, reflecting the rising popularity of UPI as a payment method in India [4]. Group 1: Transaction Growth - In November 2025, approximately 926 million transactions were processed via UPI Autopay, a substantial increase from 530.5 million in November 2024 [4]. - State Bank of India (SBI) processed 290 million recurring payments in November 2025, while Airtel Payments Bank handled 89.7 million, up from 25.6 million a year prior [4]. Group 2: Enhanced Features - The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has introduced a new portal, upihelp.npci.org.in, allowing customers to track repayment history and manage existing mandates [2]. - An enhanced limit for recurring payments was implemented in December, allowing transfers up to ₹1 lakh without second factor authentication for specific categories like mutual fund payments, credit card bills, and insurance premiums [3]. Group 3: Market Position - UPI currently processes around 20 billion transactions per month, surpassing all other payment methods in India [4]. - Other payment modes such as IMPS, Fastag, and RuPay debit cards have either seen a decline or remained flat, with all incremental usage shifting towards UPI [4].

Core Insights - PayPal's stock has experienced significant volatility, with a year-to-date loss exceeding 30% and a decline of over 78% from its all-time high in July 2021, although it has seen a nearly 5% increase since its 52-week low in April [1][4]. Financial Performance - In Q3 2023, PayPal reported earnings per share (EPS) of $1.34, surpassing expectations of $1.19, and revenue of $8.42 billion, exceeding the forecast of $8.25 billion, marking year-over-year increases of 11.7% and 7.3% respectively [2]. - Since 2015, PayPal's total annual revenue has grown by over 222%, reaching $29.614 billion in 2023, while net income has also shown consistent growth [8]. Market Position and Industry Growth - PayPal, founded in 1998, has established itself as a pioneer in online payments, with a market cap that peaked at $356.75 billion in July 2021 but has since decreased to $64.54 billion [3][4]. - The global fintech service market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.5% from 2023 to 2030, presenting significant growth opportunities for PayPal [4]. Key Growth Drivers - The demand for digital payments is surging, with the market expanding from $6.25 trillion in 2017 to $15.46 trillion in 2023, and expected to reach $36.75 trillion by 2029 [10]. - PayPal has consistently posted strong earnings, beating expectations in 16 out of the last 19 quarters, and has seen free cash flow grow from $3.37 billion in 2019 to $6.71 billion currently [11]. - The expansion of PayPal's services, including credit offerings and "Buy Now, Pay Later" options, is expected to enhance revenue growth, with the latter projected to grow at a CAGR of 24.3% from 2023 to 2030 [12]. Stock Predictions - The median one-year price target for PayPal is $76.39, indicating a potential upside of 27.72% from its current share price, with a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" among analysts [13]. - By the end of 2025, the forecasted share price is $81.15, representing a 35.67% increase, with further projections estimating the stock could reach $141.00 by 2030, a potential increase of 135.74% [14][16].

This story was originally published on Payments Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Payments Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: The Federal Reserve Board on Friday voted to seek public comment on what would be a new, limited-use bank payment account that could be used by eligible banks and credit unions, according to a press release from the central bank that day. The vote in favor was 6-1, with a dissenting vote from Federal Reserve Gov. Michael Barr, who said in a separate ...