Should You Buy, Sell, or Hold PayPal Stock?

PayPal remains a payments powerhouse with 439 million active accounts and $464 billion in total payment volume in Q1, yet the stock has fallen 24% in 2026 as of May 21. After reporting results on May 5, shares declined further, with online branded checkout growth at just 2% for Q1 and overall margins under pressure, delivering an adjusted operating margin of 18.4% and a $1.5 billion adjusted operating income, down from a year earlier. The stock trades at a forward P/E of 8.4 versus the S&P 500 at 22.2, underscoring its cheap valuation. The Motley Fool notes 10 stocks to buy, but PayPal is viewed as a hold rather than a buy, given slower growth and intensified competition.