Core Insights - PayPal Holdings (PYPL) is launching a 5% cash back incentive for U.S. customers using its Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) service for online purchases from October 6, 2025, through the end of the year, aiming to enhance holiday spending and support merchant growth [1][9] - The company is also introducing a "Pay Monthly" option for in-store purchases, which will provide the same 5% cash back and flexibility at checkout, with a rollout planned over the coming weeks [2][9] - Over 80% of consumers who have used or considered BNPL are open to using it for holiday shopping this year, indicating a strong opportunity for merchants to increase sales and customer loyalty through flexible payment options [3] Company Performance - PayPal is a leading provider of BNPL services globally, with its BNPL solution available in major markets, allowing shoppers to split purchases into manageable payments while earning cash back [4] - In Q2 2025, BNPL volume for PayPal grew over 20% year over year, and monthly active accounts increased by 18%, demonstrating strong consumer engagement [5] - PayPal shares have declined 16.4% year to date, underperforming the broader industry and the S&P 500 Index [8] Valuation and Estimates - PayPal shares are currently trading at a discount, with a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 12.59X compared to the Zacks Financial Transaction Services industry's 20.21X [11] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for full-year 2025 EPS has been revised upward, suggesting a 12.5% growth year over year [13] - PayPal holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating a positive outlook for the stock [17]

Core Insights - Visa Inc. is adapting to changing consumer spending habits by forming partnerships with Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) companies, positioning itself strategically within the transaction ecosystem rather than viewing BNPL as competition [1][4][11] Group 1: Partnerships and Strategy - Visa is collaborating with BNPL providers like Klarna, Afterpay, and FIS, allowing these companies to utilize Visa's payment infrastructure, which in turn increases transaction volumes for Visa and enhances the credibility of BNPL offerings [2][11] - The introduction of Visa Installments is part of Visa's strategy to offer flexible payment options to issuers and merchants, further solidifying its role in the evolving payments landscape [2][11] Group 2: Financial Performance - In fiscal 2023 and 2024, Visa's payment volume increased by 6.4% and 6.7% respectively, with an 8% year-over-year growth in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 [3][11] - Processed transactions grew by 9% year-over-year in the same quarter, indicating strong operational performance [3][11] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Competitors in the BNPL space include Mastercard, which has launched Mastercard Installments, and PayPal, which offers Pay in 4 and Pay Monthly options, leveraging their extensive user bases [5][6][7] - Visa's strategic partnerships with BNPL companies are seen as proactive measures to maintain relevance in a market that may shift away from traditional credit cards [4][11] Group 4: Valuation and Earnings Estimates - Visa's shares have increased by 13.5% year-to-date, outperforming the industry growth of 6.3% [8] - The forward price-to-earnings ratio for Visa is 28.88, above the industry average of 23.06, indicating a premium valuation [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Visa's fiscal 2025 earnings suggests a 12.9% increase from the previous year, with recent upward revisions in earnings estimates [13][14]