In the fast-paced world of digital payments, PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL) has remained a formidable player, defying the growing competition from Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Stripe. Despite temporary setbacks, PayPal continues to thrive, boasting strong fundamentals, expanding transaction volume, increasing customer numbers, and rising profits. So, why should investors dismiss the fears and embrace PayPal’s potential?

PayPal’s long-standing trust, ease of use, and compatibility across all devices and platforms have solidified its dominant market share. While Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Stripe are perceived as threats, PayPal’s growth trajectory remains intact. In 2022 alone, PayPal processed a staggering $1.36 trillion in payment volume, rivaling industry stalwarts like Mastercard and Visa. Its versatility and widespread adoption by businesses and customers have allowed PayPal to outperform its competitors.

Despite claims that Apple Pay is a direct rival, the reality is different. Apple Pay operates within the Apple ecosystem, limiting its reach to the 24.1% global smartphone market share held by Apple. In contrast, PayPal works seamlessly on all devices and platforms, catering to a broader customer base. Moreover, PayPal’s strong merchant value proposition, with higher conversions and repeat buyers, ensures its continued relevance in the market.

Critics argue that emerging competitors or revolutionary technologies could threaten PayPal’s position. However, PayPal’s deep-rooted trust and extensive network make it difficult for customers to switch. Just as Gmail remains the preferred email provider due to its widespread usage and security, PayPal benefits from being the go-to payment processor for countless subscriptions and services. Additionally, PayPal’s recent integration of Apple Pay and other methods into its payment solutions further safeguards its dominance against competitors.

From an investment perspective, PayPal offers a promising outlook. Despite recent market fluctuations, PayPal’s downside is limited, with a worst-case scenario potentially resulting in a 29.64% decrease in stock price. However, this scenario also presents an opportunity for PayPal to leverage its strong free cash flow, potentially offering investors a 10% dividend yield or implementing significant buybacks to enhance shareholder value.

Considering PayPal’s solid performance, we believe the stock has the potential to generate an impressive 18.63% internal rate of return (IRR) over the next 10 years. This outlook surpasses the historical market average, making PayPal a compelling “Strong Buy” investment.

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