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Relative Intelligence · Payment Processing

How PayPal (PYPL) compares with the whole market and its popular alternatives

Built by QuantCommons' quantitative engine, this page is about relative opportunity, not data on PYPL alone. It places PYPL (PayPal Holdings, Inc.) against 20+ popular alternatives, its neighboring categories and the entire market of over 10,000 U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs, and surfaces what has done better on consistent outperformance, return for the risk taken, behavior in real market crashes and diversification. The result is a clearer view of where PYPL stands in the market, and of the alternatives worth a closer look.

Period covered: PYPL's full trading record, from July 2015 through September 2026. The crash tests reach back to 2000 using older funds and the S&P 500. All returns include reinvested dividends. Data as of October 20, 2026.

Data as of October 20, 2026. Full tables and charts read best on a larger screen.

Rank the market against PYPL →Chart PYPL vs. 23 alternatives →
On this page12 sections

Key findings

How much would $10,000 in PYPL have grown?

This chart tracks a hypothetical $10,000 investment in PYPL over the past 11 years, with dividends reinvested, alongside the same amount in the S&P 500, investments that ended ahead of PYPL over the same span and PYPL's popular alternatives, among those that traded for the entire period. A second view covers the past 5 years, the period the better options further down the page are judged on. It shows not only where each investment ended up but also how smooth or uneven the path was.

Note: PYPL began trading on July 6, 2015, so the chart cannot reach back to the dot-com bust, the 2008 financial crisis or two other sell-offs. It covers the most recent 11 years of PYPL's record, starting at the end of September 2015.

Choose a period

From the end of September 2015 to the end of September 2026. The scale is logarithmic, so equal steps up the chart are equal percentage gains. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 1,905 of the 2,591 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of PYPL; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.

$10,000$20,000$50,000$100,000$200,000201520172019202120232025$10,000$20,000$50,000$100,000$200,0002015201820212024
  • SHOP$421,312+4,113% total · +40.5% a year
  • AMZN$97,360+874% total · +23.0% a year
  • MA$65,410+554% total · +18.6% a year
  • V$55,752+458% total · +16.9% a year
  • EBAY$49,212+392% total · +15.6% a year
  • SPY (S&P 500)$47,605+376% total · +15.2% a year
  • WEX$19,426+94.3% total · +6.2% a year
  • PYPL$17,110+71.1% total · +5.0% a year
  • GPN$15,121+51.2% total · +3.8% a year
  • WU$6,178−38.2% total · −4.3% a year
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From the end of September 2021 to the end of September 2026. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 3,531 of the 3,628 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of PYPL; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.

$0$5,000$10,000$15,000$20,000202120222023202420252026$0$5,000$10,000$15,000$20,000202120222023202420252026
  • SPY (S&P 500)$19,000+90.0% total · +13.7% a year
  • V$16,755+67.5% total · +10.9% a year
  • EBAY$16,622+66.2% total · +10.7% a year
  • MA$16,338+63.4% total · +10.3% a year
  • AMZN$15,169+51.7% total · +8.7% a year
  • PAY$12,435+24.4% total · +4.5% a year
  • SHOP$10,938+9.4% total · +1.8% a year
  • WEX$9,578−4.2% total · −0.9% a year
  • PYPL$2,041−79.6% total · −27.2% a year
  • PAGS$1,916−80.8% total · −28.1% a year
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PYPL at a glance

This section summarizes the key facts about the stock, its returns over periods from one to ten years and the risk it has carried, with dividends reinvested throughout. These figures serve as the baseline for every comparison that follows.

Note: PYPL began trading on July 6, 2015, so every figure here, including its worst decline, covers only the time since then. None of them reflect the dot-com bust, the 2008 financial crisis or two other sell-offs.

The company

Market value
$49B
Industry
Financial - Credit Services
Price history from
July 2015

Returns

Past 1 year
−16.5%total return
Past 3 years
+8.2%+2.7% a year
Past 5 years
−77.6%−25.9% a year
Past 10 years
+44.1%+3.7% a year
Best calendar year
+117%2020
Worst calendar year
−62.2%2022
Losing years
4 of 10full calendar years

Risk

Volatility
43.3%typical yearly swing, 5 years
Sharpe ratio
-0.47return per unit of risk, 5 years
Worst decline ever
−87.3%Jul 2021 to Feb 2026
From its all-time high
−81.3%below the peak

PYPL against the whole market

Where PYPL ranks among every stock and fund, and what across the market has done better.

How does PYPL rank among all stocks?

This section ranks PYPL on return, volatility, risk-adjusted return and worst decline against every stock worth at least $300 million with enough history. Where the comparisons with its popular alternatives show how PYPL stacks up against its peers, these rankings show where it stands in the market as a whole.

Ranked against U.S.-listed stocks worth at least $300M that have enough history for each measure, so the count changes from row to row; smaller stocks are left out. Lower volatility and smaller declines rank higher.

MeasurePYPLRankStanding
1-year return−16.5%2,548 of 3,287bottom 23%
3-year return+8.2%2,189 of 3,017bottom 28%
5-year return−77.6%2,714 of 2,893bottom 7%
10-year return+44.1%1,609 of 2,202bottom 28%
Volatility, 5 years43.3%1,623 of 2,893bottom 45%
Sharpe ratio, 5 years-0.472,860 of 2,893bottom 2%
Worst decline, past 10 years−87.3%1,861 of 2,187bottom 16%

What has beaten PYPL on both return and risk?

Each dot is an investment, placed by how much it earned a year over the past 5 years (higher is better) and how much its price swung, its volatility (further left is calmer). PYPL sits where the dashed lines cross. Anything in the green box above and to the left earned more than PYPL with smaller swings, a better trade-off over this period on both counts. Past results are no promise, but a name in the box is worth a closer look.

Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested, and volatility the annualized swing in daily prices, both over 5 years. Labeled dots are the strongest picks from the table below and the names called out above, colored by how close they sit to PYPL; faint dots are 91 more of the 2,419 in the green region (the strongest, one per fund family). 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million were screened. Hover over a dot for its figures.

0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%−40.0%−20.0%0.0%20.0%40.0%60.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsMore return, less volatility than PYPLNEM: +18.6% a year, volatility 39.1%VZ: +2.7% a year, volatility 22.9%MPC: +51.2% a year, volatility 33.4%PBR-A: +51.8% a year, volatility 37.5%UL: +5.5% a year, volatility 21.5%GSK: +9.5% a year, volatility 24.5%PFE: −1.7% a year, volatility 25.4%CL: +7.2% a year, volatility 19.2%DHR: −3.8% a year, volatility 29.1%CHT: +7.7% a year, volatility 13.3%KR: +12.3% a year, volatility 27.3%MPLX: +23.5% a year, volatility 18.8%AMT: −4.8% a year, volatility 27.3%WAT: +4.5% a year, volatility 33.9%TSM: +31.5% a year, volatility 38.5%VTI: +11.5% a year, volatility 17.5%CHD: +6.1% a year, volatility 21.1%VOO: +12.8% a year, volatility 16.9%XLP: +7.2% a year, volatility 13.8%WMT: +20.8% a year, volatility 22.6%BRK-B: +13.4% a year, volatility 17.1%XOM: +27.1% a year, volatility 26.5%ABBV: +26.1% a year, volatility 23.4%EFAV: +7.6% a year, volatility 11.9%JNJ: +12.7% a year, volatility 17.9%FTGC: +12.9% a year, volatility 15.6%DXJ: +26.6% a year, volatility 19.1%LVHI: +17.0% a year, volatility 11.1%FTLS: +10.2% a year, volatility 10.4%PTLC: +9.5% a year, volatility 11.8%KO: +14.7% a year, volatility 16.8%CVX: +19.5% a year, volatility 25.2%COST: +17.4% a year, volatility 22.9%QQQ: +14.5% a year, volatility 23.0%MUFG: +33.2% a year, volatility 29.4%PM: +21.0% a year, volatility 23.4%AOA: +8.6% a year, volatility 13.1%CSCO: +16.8% a year, volatility 26.1%ACWV: +6.3% a year, volatility 10.3%PBR: +50.3% a year, volatility 37.5%SHEL: +21.0% a year, volatility 24.8%MCK: +38.7% a year, volatility 25.0%NVS: +17.1% a year, volatility 20.7%APH: +33.8% a year, volatility 32.2%VTV: +12.1% a year, volatility 13.7%GLTR: +14.9% a year, volatility 24.6%WELL: +26.0% a year, volatility 23.8%BALT: +6.3% a year, volatility 3.3%CHCO: +15.9% a year, volatility 22.8%AMGN: +19.6% a year, volatility 24.9%BBVA: +38.7% a year, volatility 33.3%GILD: +22.8% a year, volatility 24.9%VLO: +44.2% a year, volatility 36.9%TD: +15.8% a year, volatility 20.0%MFG: +33.6% a year, volatility 30.6%SCCO: +32.0% a year, volatility 40.7%TTE: +18.0% a year, volatility 25.8%IBM: +16.6% a year, volatility 30.5%PSX: +33.2% a year, volatility 32.9%VGT: +18.4% a year, volatility 26.0%LQDH: +5.3% a year, volatility 4.4%SMFG: +33.7% a year, volatility 29.4%BHP: +16.6% a year, volatility 31.4%ADI: +19.5% a year, volatility 34.1%PTNQ: +9.7% a year, volatility 14.1%PGR: +21.3% a year, volatility 25.6%FTQI: +11.5% a year, volatility 14.8%COP: +18.2% a year, volatility 32.6%CB: +15.7% a year, volatility 20.4%TXN: +9.9% a year, volatility 33.7%VRTX: +22.6% a year, volatility 29.1%MO: +17.8% a year, volatility 21.4%UNH: +1.1% a year, volatility 32.1%SU: +33.1% a year, volatility 32.5%CNQ: +26.5% a year, volatility 32.5%SAFT: +10.6% a year, volatility 28.5%VO: +6.8% a year, volatility 17.6%NPK: +16.3% a year, volatility 27.3%DE: +14.4% a year, volatility 29.9%VIG: +10.4% a year, volatility 14.1%IDHQ: +10.0% a year, volatility 17.9%ITUB: +26.3% a year, volatility 33.8%TRV: +22.4% a year, volatility 22.3%EXPO: −7.0% a year, volatility 30.4%MAR: +22.0% a year, volatility 28.6%E: +23.0% a year, volatility 25.6%QEFA: +8.5% a year, volatility 14.8%AEM: +29.5% a year, volatility 38.4%ING: +24.7% a year, volatility 31.1%IMO: +34.3% a year, volatility 32.0%BP: +16.0% a year, volatility 28.7%PYPL: −25.9% a year, volatility 43.3%SPY (S&P 500): +12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%AMZN: +9.0% a year, volatility 36.6%V: +12.8% a year, volatility 22.9%MA: +12.4% a year, volatility 23.8%EBAY: +11.7% a year, volatility 32.9%WEX: −0.8% a year, volatility 37.2%GPN: −11.2% a year, volatility 36.9%AAPL: +18.5% a year, volatility 28.0%MSFT: +12.5% a year, volatility 28.2%SAP: +11.5% a year, volatility 30.0%CRM: −3.2% a year, volatility 39.4%FFIV: +17.1% a year, volatility 30.8%PANW: +31.9% a year, volatility 43.4%LLY: +40.7% a year, volatility 32.8%MRK: +16.3% a year, volatility 24.8%GLD: +17.7% a year, volatility 18.9%PG: +5.1% a year, volatility 18.3%AZN: +8.7% a year, volatility 35.7%TM: +5.0% a year, volatility 27.0%XLV: +8.4% a year, volatility 15.3%META: +15.5% a year, volatility 45.4%CAH: +42.1% a year, volatility 24.7%INSW: +56.5% a year, volatility 40.5%PYPLSPY (S&P 500)AMZNMAEBAYWEXGPNAAPLMSFTCRMFFIVPANWLLYMRKGLDPGTMXLVMETACAHINSW0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%−40.0%−20.0%0.0%20.0%40.0%60.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsMore return, less volatility than PYPLNEM: +18.6% a year, volatility 39.1%VZ: +2.7% a year, volatility 22.9%MPC: +51.2% a year, volatility 33.4%PBR-A: +51.8% a year, volatility 37.5%UL: +5.5% a year, volatility 21.5%GSK: +9.5% a year, volatility 24.5%PFE: −1.7% a year, volatility 25.4%CL: +7.2% a year, volatility 19.2%DHR: −3.8% a year, volatility 29.1%CHT: +7.7% a year, volatility 13.3%KR: +12.3% a year, volatility 27.3%MPLX: +23.5% a year, volatility 18.8%AMT: −4.8% a year, volatility 27.3%WAT: +4.5% a year, volatility 33.9%TSM: +31.5% a year, volatility 38.5%VTI: +11.5% a year, volatility 17.5%CHD: +6.1% a year, volatility 21.1%VOO: +12.8% a year, volatility 16.9%XLP: +7.2% a year, volatility 13.8%WMT: +20.8% a year, volatility 22.6%BRK-B: +13.4% a year, volatility 17.1%XOM: +27.1% a year, volatility 26.5%ABBV: +26.1% a year, volatility 23.4%EFAV: +7.6% a year, volatility 11.9%JNJ: +12.7% a year, volatility 17.9%FTGC: +12.9% a year, volatility 15.6%DXJ: +26.6% a year, volatility 19.1%LVHI: +17.0% a year, volatility 11.1%FTLS: +10.2% a year, volatility 10.4%PTLC: +9.5% a year, volatility 11.8%KO: +14.7% a year, volatility 16.8%CVX: +19.5% a year, volatility 25.2%COST: +17.4% a year, volatility 22.9%QQQ: +14.5% a year, volatility 23.0%MUFG: +33.2% a year, volatility 29.4%PM: +21.0% a year, volatility 23.4%AOA: +8.6% a year, volatility 13.1%CSCO: +16.8% a year, volatility 26.1%ACWV: +6.3% a year, volatility 10.3%PBR: +50.3% a year, volatility 37.5%SHEL: +21.0% a year, volatility 24.8%MCK: +38.7% a year, volatility 25.0%NVS: +17.1% a year, volatility 20.7%APH: +33.8% a year, volatility 32.2%VTV: +12.1% a year, volatility 13.7%GLTR: +14.9% a year, volatility 24.6%WELL: +26.0% a year, volatility 23.8%BALT: +6.3% a year, volatility 3.3%CHCO: +15.9% a year, volatility 22.8%AMGN: +19.6% a year, volatility 24.9%BBVA: +38.7% a year, volatility 33.3%GILD: +22.8% a year, volatility 24.9%VLO: +44.2% a year, volatility 36.9%TD: +15.8% a year, volatility 20.0%MFG: +33.6% a year, volatility 30.6%SCCO: +32.0% a year, volatility 40.7%TTE: +18.0% a year, volatility 25.8%IBM: +16.6% a year, volatility 30.5%PSX: +33.2% a year, volatility 32.9%VGT: +18.4% a year, volatility 26.0%LQDH: +5.3% a year, volatility 4.4%SMFG: +33.7% a year, volatility 29.4%BHP: +16.6% a year, volatility 31.4%ADI: +19.5% a year, volatility 34.1%PTNQ: +9.7% a year, volatility 14.1%PGR: +21.3% a year, volatility 25.6%FTQI: +11.5% a year, volatility 14.8%COP: +18.2% a year, volatility 32.6%CB: +15.7% a year, volatility 20.4%TXN: +9.9% a year, volatility 33.7%VRTX: +22.6% a year, volatility 29.1%MO: +17.8% a year, volatility 21.4%UNH: +1.1% a year, volatility 32.1%SU: +33.1% a year, volatility 32.5%CNQ: +26.5% a year, volatility 32.5%SAFT: +10.6% a year, volatility 28.5%VO: +6.8% a year, volatility 17.6%NPK: +16.3% a year, volatility 27.3%DE: +14.4% a year, volatility 29.9%VIG: +10.4% a year, volatility 14.1%IDHQ: +10.0% a year, volatility 17.9%ITUB: +26.3% a year, volatility 33.8%TRV: +22.4% a year, volatility 22.3%EXPO: −7.0% a year, volatility 30.4%MAR: +22.0% a year, volatility 28.6%E: +23.0% a year, volatility 25.6%QEFA: +8.5% a year, volatility 14.8%AEM: +29.5% a year, volatility 38.4%ING: +24.7% a year, volatility 31.1%IMO: +34.3% a year, volatility 32.0%BP: +16.0% a year, volatility 28.7%PYPL: −25.9% a year, volatility 43.3%SPY (S&P 500): +12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%AMZN: +9.0% a year, volatility 36.6%V: +12.8% a year, volatility 22.9%MA: +12.4% a year, volatility 23.8%EBAY: +11.7% a year, volatility 32.9%WEX: −0.8% a year, volatility 37.2%GPN: −11.2% a year, volatility 36.9%AAPL: +18.5% a year, volatility 28.0%MSFT: +12.5% a year, volatility 28.2%SAP: +11.5% a year, volatility 30.0%CRM: −3.2% a year, volatility 39.4%FFIV: +17.1% a year, volatility 30.8%PANW: +31.9% a year, volatility 43.4%LLY: +40.7% a year, volatility 32.8%MRK: +16.3% a year, volatility 24.8%GLD: +17.7% a year, volatility 18.9%PG: +5.1% a year, volatility 18.3%AZN: +8.7% a year, volatility 35.7%TM: +5.0% a year, volatility 27.0%XLV: +8.4% a year, volatility 15.3%META: +15.5% a year, volatility 45.4%CAH: +42.1% a year, volatility 24.7%INSW: +56.5% a year, volatility 40.5%PYPLSPY (S&P 500)AMZNWEXGPNAAPLCRMPANWLLYGLDPGTMXLVMETACAHINSW
  • Popular alternatives
  • Same and neighboring categories, and shared themes
  • The whole market
  • Others in the green region

Is there a better investment than PYPL?

Investments that beat PYPL over the past 5 years on return, volatility, drawdowns, consistency, crash losses or fees, from its popular alternatives out to the whole market.

How this works

The table below lists investments that beat PYPL over the past 5 years on at least one of these measures: a higher annual return with lower volatility, a higher annual return at similar volatility, a similar return with lower volatility, a higher Sharpe ratio with a smaller worst decline, a higher total return in most periods from 3 months to 10 years, or smaller losses in recent market crashes. It checks PYPL's popular alternatives first, then the rest of its own and neighboring categories, then every stock and fund worth at least $500 million, and shows the strongest few in each group. The full list of those with a higher return and lower volatility than PYPL follows the table.

Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested. Annual return, volatility and the Sharpe ratio cover 5 years; the worst decline covers the past 10 years. Green marks a better figure than PYPL's. "On the frontier" means no other option shown or tested earned more with less volatility. Funds that hold the same thing are shown once. Beyond the popular alternatives, nothing with more than 1.5× PYPL's volatility counts as better.

These figures cover the past 5 years. Green marks a better figure than PYPL's.

Screen the whole market against PYPL for any period in BetterThanSPYOpen these 21 in EasyCompare
InvestmentWhy it is betterPast 5 yearsDownsideLong runFit
Annual return?higher is betterVolatility?lower is calmerSharpe?return per unit of riskWorst decline?past 10 years10Y returntotalCorr. with PYPL?lower diversifies moreExpenseper year
PYPLPayPal Holdings, Inc. · this page
−25.9%43.3%-0.47−87.3%+44.1%1.00—
SPYState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF · S&P 500
+12.7%17.1%0.79−33.7%+321%0.500.09%
Popular alternativesbest 6 shownThe investments people most often weigh against PYPL. 16 of 23 passed at least one test.
AMZNAmazon.com, Inc. · E-Commerce
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+9.0%36.6%0.42−56.1%+548%0.51—
VVisa Inc. · Payment Processing
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+12.8%22.9%0.64−36.4%+429%0.46—
MAMastercard Incorporated · Payment Processing
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+12.4%23.8%0.61−41.0%+541%0.48—
EBAYeBay Inc. · E-Commerce
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+11.7%32.9%0.50−53.6%+374%0.46—
WEXWEX Inc. · Payment Processing
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods−0.8%37.2%0.17−64.6%+74.9%0.44—
GPNGlobal Payments Inc. · Payment Processing
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline−11.2%36.9%-0.14−70.2%+22.4%0.52—
Same and neighboring categories, and shared themesbest 6 shownEverything else in Payment Processing and the categories next to it (Application Software, Software, Consumer Finance, Financial Technology), plus PYPL's specific themes. 81 of 94 passed at least one test.
AAPLApple Inc. · Computer Hardware · Digital Payments theme
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+18.5%28.0%0.75−38.5%+1,168%0.34—
MSFTMicrosoft Corporation · Software
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+12.5%28.2%0.56−37.1%+946%0.37—
SAPSAP SE · Enterprise Software
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+11.5%30.0%0.52−52.5%+205%0.41—
CRMSalesforce, Inc. · Enterprise Software
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods−3.2%39.4%0.12−58.7%+240%0.36—
FFIVF5, Inc. · Cybersecurity
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+17.1%30.8%0.67−54.6%+287%0.26—
PANWPalo Alto Networks, Inc. · Cybersecurity
Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+31.9%43.4%0.86−48.0%+1,274%0.03—
The whole marketbest 8 shownEvery other stock and fund worth at least $500 million. 2,943 of 3,516 passed at least one test.
LLYEli Lilly and Company · Pharmaceuticals
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+40.7%32.8%1.21−34.5%+1,807%-0.19—
MRKMerck & Co., Inc. · Pharmaceuticals
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+16.3%24.8%0.74−43.4%+241%-0.11—
GLDSPDR Gold Shares · Gold
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+17.7%18.9%0.96−26.4%+213%-0.010.40%
PGThe Procter & Gamble Company · Household & Personal Products
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+5.1%18.3%0.37−23.8%+145%0.06—
AZNAstraZeneca PLC · Pharmaceuticals
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+8.7%35.7%0.41−28.7%+257%-0.03—
TMToyota Motor Corporation · Automobiles
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+5.0%27.0%0.32−36.8%+129%0.26—
XLVState Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF · Health Care Equity
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+8.4%15.3%0.60−28.4%+202%0.230.08%
METAMeta Platforms, Inc. · Internet Services
Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+15.5%45.4%0.55−76.7%+439%0.35—
What these numbers mean for PYPL
Annual return
PYPL lost 25.9% a year over the past 5 years with dividends reinvested, against 12.7% a year for the S&P 500. At that pace, $10,000 became about $2,240. Annual return is the steady yearly rate that would produce the same total result, so investments held over the same span compare fairly. Guide: What is performance and return? →
Volatility
PYPL's volatility over the past 5 years was 43.2%, 2.5 times the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, PYPL's return lands within 43.2% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump. Guide: Understanding and measuring risk (volatility) →
Sharpe ratio
PYPL's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was -0.47, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so PYPL earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings. Guide: Balancing reward with risk (Sharpe ratio) →
Worst decline
PYPL's worst fall from a peak to a low over the past 10 years was 87.3%, against 33.7% for the S&P 500. Losses and gains are not symmetric: climbing back from a 87.3% fall takes a 688% gain. Guide: Market crash risk and tail risk →
Correlation
Over the past 5 years, PYPL's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.50 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They often move together: some diversification next to an index fund, but not a cushion. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against PYPL instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a PYPL holding. Guide: Correlation and diversification →
Show all 2,419 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that earned more than PYPL with less volatility

Out of 3,633 tested over 5 years. The strongest 100 are listed, best first, with funds that hold the same thing listed once.

#InvestmentFound inAnnual returnVolatilitySharpeWorst decline10Y returnCorr. with PYPLExpense
1
LLYEli Lilly and Company · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market+40.7%32.8%1.21−34.5%+1,807%-0.19—
2
MRKMerck & Co., Inc. · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market+16.3%24.8%0.74−43.4%+241%-0.11—
3
GLDSPDR Gold Shares · Gold
Whole market+17.7%18.9%0.96−26.4%+213%-0.010.40%
4
PGThe Procter & Gamble Company · Household & Personal Products
Whole market+5.1%18.3%0.37−23.8%+145%0.06—
5
AZNAstraZeneca PLC · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market+8.7%35.7%0.41−28.7%+257%-0.03—
6
TMToyota Motor Corporation · Automobiles
Whole market+5.0%27.0%0.32−36.8%+129%0.26—
7
NEMNewmont Corporation · Gold Mining
Whole market+18.6%39.1%0.63−62.4%+304%0.05—
8
VZVerizon Communications Inc. · Integrated Telecommunications
Whole market+2.7%22.9%0.23−41.2%+55.8%0.06—
9
MPCMarathon Petroleum Corporation · Oil & Gas
Whole market+51.2%33.4%1.41−79.7%+1,387%0.31—
10
PBR-APetróleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+51.8%37.5%1.31−71.7%+768%0.30—
11
ULUnilever PLC · Household & Personal Products
Whole market+5.5%21.5%0.36−30.1%+89.8%0.28—
12
GSKGSK plc · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market+9.5%24.5%0.49−37.6%+95.1%-0.06—
13
PFEPfizer Inc. · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market−1.7%25.4%0.06−58.9%+55.0%-0.03—
14
CLColgate-Palmolive Company · Household & Personal Products
Whole market+7.2%19.2%0.46−29.0%+68.8%0.04—
15
DHRDanaher Corporation · Life Sciences Tools
Whole market−3.8%29.1%0.01−43.8%+232%0.38—
16
CAHCardinal Health, Inc. · Health Care Distribution
Whole market+42.1%24.7%1.55−46.1%+349%0.20—
17
XLVState Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF · Health Care Equity
Whole market+8.4%15.3%0.60−28.4%+202%0.230.08%
18
CHTChunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd. · Integrated Telecommunications
Whole market+7.7%13.3%0.63−23.8%+101%0.09—
19
KRThe Kroger Co. · Grocery Stores
Whole market+12.3%27.3%0.56−43.8%+151%0.23—
20
MPLXMPLX Lp · Oil & Gas Midstream
Whole market+23.5%18.8%1.22−75.2%+350%0.26—
21
AMTAmerican Tower Corporation · Specialty REITs
Whole market−4.8%27.3%-0.04−45.4%+107%0.29—
22
WATWaters Corporation · Life Sciences Tools
Whole market+4.5%33.9%0.30−44.3%+182%0.32—
23
TSMTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited · Semiconductors
Whole market+31.5%38.5%0.91−56.6%+1,505%0.19—
24
VTIVanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF · US Total Market
Whole market+11.5%17.5%0.71−35.0%+302%0.510.03%
25
CHDChurch & Dwight Co., Inc. · Household & Personal Products
Whole market+6.1%21.1%0.39−31.7%+154%0.04—
26
VOOVanguard S&P 500 ETF · US Large-Cap Equity
Whole market+12.8%16.9%0.80−34.0%+324%0.500.03%
27
XLPState Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF · Consumer Staples
Whole market+7.2%13.8%0.57−24.5%+121%0.230.08%
28
WMTWalmart Inc. · Discount Retail
Whole market+20.8%22.6%0.96−25.7%+508%0.26—
29
BRK-BBerkshire Hathaway Inc. · Insurance
Whole market+13.4%17.1%0.82−29.6%+274%0.24—
30
XOMExxonmobil Holdings Corporation · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+27.1%26.5%1.04−61.0%+214%0.14—
31
ABBVAbbVie Inc. · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market+26.1%23.4%1.11−45.1%+603%-0.09—
32
EFAViShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF · International Equity
Whole market+7.6%11.9%0.68−27.6%+97.7%0.420.20%
33
JNJJohnson & Johnson · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market+12.7%17.9%0.76−27.4%+196%-0.01—
34
FTGCFirst Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund · Alternatives
Whole market+12.9%15.6%0.86−35.9%+139%0.170.98%
35
DXJWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund · International Equity
Whole market+26.6%19.1%1.34−39.1%+428%0.170.48%
36
LVHIFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF · International Equity
Whole market+17.0%11.1%1.48−32.4%+194%0.380.40%
37
FTLSFirst Trust Long/Short Equity ETF · Broad Market
Whole market+10.2%10.4%0.99−20.6%+158%0.450.95%
38
PTLCPacer Trendpilot US Large Cap ETF · Broad Market
Whole market+9.5%11.8%0.83−26.6%+188%0.340.60%
39
KOThe Coca-Cola Company · Food & Beverages
Whole market+14.7%16.8%0.91−37.0%+204%0.11—
40
CVXChevron Corporation · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+19.5%25.2%0.84−55.8%+238%0.19—
41
COSTCostco Wholesale Corporation · Discount Retail
Whole market+17.4%22.9%0.82−31.4%+685%0.23—
42
QQQInvesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 · US Large-Cap Growth
Whole market+14.5%23.0%0.71−35.1%+553%0.380.18%
43
MUFGMitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. · Banks
Whole market+33.2%29.4%1.13−54.9%+483%0.20—
44
PMPhilip Morris International Inc. · Tobacco
Whole market+21.0%23.4%0.94−42.9%+242%0.15—
45
AOAiShares Core 80/20 Aggressive Allocation ETF · Multi-Asset
Whole market+8.6%13.1%0.69−28.4%+165%0.490.19%
46
CSCOCisco Systems, Inc. · Communications Equipment
Whole market+16.8%26.1%0.73−42.0%+374%0.17—
47
ACWViShares MSCI Global Min Vol Factor ETF · International
Whole market+6.3%10.3%0.65−28.8%+116%0.450.20%
48
PBRPetróleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+50.3%37.5%1.28−75.3%+674%0.28—
49
SHELShell plc · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+21.0%24.8%0.90−67.2%+233%0.23—
50
MCKMcKesson Corporation · Health Care Distribution
Whole market+38.7%25.0%1.44−38.1%+586%0.02—
51
NVSNovartis AG · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market+17.1%20.7%0.87−26.8%+226%0.11—
52
INSWInternational Seaways, Inc. · Oil & Gas
Whole market+56.5%40.5%1.31−57.4%—0.08—
53
APHAmphenol Corporation · Electronic Components
Whole market+33.8%32.2%1.07−37.5%+965%0.34—
54
VTVVanguard Morningstar Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value
Whole market+12.1%13.7%0.90−36.8%+235%0.430.03%
55
GLTRabrdn Physical Precious Metals Basket Shares ETF · Alternatives
Whole market+14.9%24.6%0.69−37.9%+191%-0.020.60%
56
WELLWelltower Inc. · Healthcare REITs
Whole market+26.0%23.8%1.09−63.3%+379%0.26—
57
BALTInnovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF · Crypto
Whole market+6.3%3.3%1.85−4.9%—0.440.69%
58
CHCOCity Holding Company · Banks - Regional
Whole market+15.9%22.8%0.77−32.3%+286%0.44—
59
AMGNAmgen Inc. · Biotechnology
Whole market+19.6%24.9%0.85−24.9%+266%0.04—
60
BBVABanco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. · Banks
Whole market+38.7%33.3%1.16−69.6%+542%0.36—
61
GILDGilead Sciences, Inc. · Biotechnology
Whole market+22.8%24.9%0.95−30.5%+200%0.06—
62
VLOValero Energy Corporation · Oil & Gas
Whole market+44.2%36.9%1.18−71.9%+1,061%0.28—
63
TDThe Toronto-Dominion Bank · Banks
Whole market+15.8%20.0%0.84−42.0%+310%0.34—
64
MFGMizuho Financial Group, Inc. · Banks
Whole market+33.6%30.6%1.10−45.7%+345%0.31—
65
SCCOSouthern Copper Corporation · Metals & Mining
Whole market+32.0%40.7%0.89−55.3%+1,017%0.21—
66
TTETotalEnergies SE · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+18.0%25.8%0.78−59.6%+234%0.22—
67
IBMInternational Business Machines Corporation · IT Services
Whole market+16.6%30.5%0.66−41.1%+151%0.04—
68
PSXPhillips 66 · Oil & Gas
Whole market+33.2%32.9%1.04−64.2%+430%0.27—
69
VGTVanguard Information Technology ETF · Technology Equity
Whole market+18.4%26.0%0.78−35.1%+779%0.340.09%
70
LQDHiShares Interest Rate Hedged Corporate Bond ETF · Bonds
Whole market+5.3%4.4%1.21−24.6%+55.5%0.530.44%
71
SMFGSumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. · Banks
Whole market+33.7%29.4%1.14−47.6%+474%0.17—
72
BHPBHP Group Limited · Metals & Mining
Whole market+16.6%31.4%0.65−44.3%+398%0.09—
73
ADIAnalog Devices, Inc. · Semiconductors
Whole market+19.5%34.1%0.69−33.6%+652%0.20—
74
PTNQPacer Trendpilot 100 ETF · Technology
Whole market+9.7%14.1%0.73−28.1%+305%0.180.65%
75
PGRThe Progressive Corporation · Property & Casualty Insurance
Whole market+21.3%25.6%0.89−30.3%+816%0.06—
76
FTQIFirst Trust Nasdaq BuyWrite Income ETF · Dividend & Income
Whole market+11.5%14.8%0.82−19.4%+121%0.450.75%
77
COPConocoPhillips · Exploration & Production
Whole market+18.2%32.6%0.68−70.7%+379%0.19—
78
CBChubb Limited · Property & Casualty Insurance
Whole market+15.7%20.4%0.82−42.6%+248%0.14—
79
TXNTexas Instruments Incorporated · Semiconductors
Whole market+9.9%33.7%0.45−33.4%+424%0.28—
80
VRTXVertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated · Biotechnology
Whole market+22.6%29.1%0.85−41.6%+521%-0.01—
81
MOAltria Group, Inc. · Tobacco
Whole market+17.8%21.4%0.88−53.7%+140%0.14—
82
UNHUnitedHealth Group Incorporated · Managed Health Care
Whole market+1.1%32.1%0.20−61.4%+241%0.15—
83
SUSuncor Energy Inc. · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+33.1%32.5%1.05−73.5%+295%0.14—
84
CNQCanadian Natural Resources Limited · Oil & Gas
Whole market+26.5%32.5%0.89−77.5%+433%0.21—
85
SAFTSafety Insurance Group, Inc. · Insurance - Property & Casualty
Whole market+10.6%28.5%0.49−32.8%+138%0.32—
86
VOVanguard Morningstar Mid-Cap ETF · US Mid-Cap Equity
Whole market+6.8%17.6%0.47−39.4%+198%0.520.03%
87
NPKNational Presto Industries, Inc. · Aerospace & Defense
Whole market+16.3%27.3%0.69−45.5%+181%0.13—
88
DEDeere & Company · Industrial Machinery
Whole market+14.4%29.9%0.60−37.9%+755%0.29—
89
VIGVanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF · US Dividend Equity
Whole market+10.4%14.1%0.78−31.7%+258%0.460.04%
90
IDHQInvesco S&P International Developed Quality ETF · International
Whole market+10.0%17.9%0.63−33.6%+183%0.350.29%
91
ITUBItaú Unibanco Holding S.A. · Banks
Whole market+26.3%33.8%0.86−62.1%+190%0.31—
92
TRVThe Travelers Companies, Inc. · Property & Casualty Insurance
Whole market+22.4%22.3%1.02−46.3%+347%0.29—
93
EXPOExponent, Inc. · Engineering & Construction
Whole market−7.0%30.4%-0.09−54.8%+199%0.39—
94
MARMarriott International, Inc. · Hotels & Resorts
Whole market+22.0%28.6%0.84−61.3%+544%0.38—
95
EEni S.p.A. · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+23.0%25.6%0.94−61.4%+278%0.27—
96
QEFAState Street SPDR MSCI EAFE StrategicFactors ETF · International
Whole market+8.5%14.8%0.63−30.8%+140%0.430.30%
97
AEMAgnico Eagle Mines Limited · Gold Mining
Whole market+29.5%38.4%0.87−54.2%+352%0.08—
98
INGING Groep N.V. · Banks
Whole market+24.7%31.1%0.87−74.4%+339%0.32—
99
IMOImperial Oil Limited · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+34.3%32.0%1.09−77.1%+430%0.21—
100
BPBP p.l.c. · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+16.0%28.7%0.66−63.9%+141%0.30—

PYPL against its popular alternatives

The investments people most often weigh against PYPL, compared period by period and year by year.

How do PYPL's risk and return compare with its alternatives?

This map plots each investment's annual return over the past 5 years against its volatility, the size of its typical price swings. Investments toward the upper left earned more for a smoother ride, and those toward the lower right earned less for a rougher one. The dashed lines cross at PYPL, which divides the map into what did better or worse on each measure.

Green points earned more than PYPL with less volatility; red points earned less with more. Hover over a point for its figures. Total returns with dividends reinvested, annualized.

10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%60.0%70.0%80.0%90.0%100.0%−30.0%−25.0%−20.0%−15.0%−10.0%−5.0%0.0%5.0%10.0%15.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsHigher return, lower volatilityLower return, higher volatilityPYPL: −25.9% a year, volatility 43.3%SPY (S&P 500): 12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%MA: 12.4% a year, volatility 23.8%V: 12.8% a year, volatility 22.9%EBAY: 11.7% a year, volatility 32.9%AMZN: 9.0% a year, volatility 36.6%WEX: −0.8% a year, volatility 37.2%GPN: −11.2% a year, volatility 36.9%WU: −13.7% a year, volatility 30.7%FISV: −15.2% a year, volatility 36.7%EEFT: −12.9% a year, volatility 35.7%FIS: −19.7% a year, volatility 33.9%SHOP: 3.1% a year, volatility 66.9%PAGS: −19.8% a year, volatility 60.6%PAY: 6.2% a year, volatility 64.4%PAYO: −2.9% a year, volatility 55.1%TOST: −8.5% a year, volatility 59.9%XYZ: −21.1% a year, volatility 59.9%AFRM: −12.9% a year, volatility 91.6%STNE: −18.0% a year, volatility 65.1%COIN: −11.5% a year, volatility 86.9%RELY: −6.6% a year, volatility 57.8%DLO: −21.1% a year, volatility 70.3%FLYW: −17.0% a year, volatility 56.4%FOUR: −12.1% a year, volatility 58.2%PYPLSPY (S&P 500)EBAYAMZNWEXGPNWUFISVEEFTFISSHOPPAGSPAYPAYOTOSTXYZAFRMSTNECOINRELYDLOFLYWFOUR0.0%20.0%40.0%60.0%80.0%100%−30.0%−20.0%−10.0%0.0%10.0%20.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsHigher return, lower volatilityLower return, higher volatilityPYPL: −25.9% a year, volatility 43.3%SPY (S&P 500): 12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%MA: 12.4% a year, volatility 23.8%V: 12.8% a year, volatility 22.9%EBAY: 11.7% a year, volatility 32.9%AMZN: 9.0% a year, volatility 36.6%WEX: −0.8% a year, volatility 37.2%GPN: −11.2% a year, volatility 36.9%WU: −13.7% a year, volatility 30.7%FISV: −15.2% a year, volatility 36.7%EEFT: −12.9% a year, volatility 35.7%FIS: −19.7% a year, volatility 33.9%SHOP: 3.1% a year, volatility 66.9%PAGS: −19.8% a year, volatility 60.6%PAY: 6.2% a year, volatility 64.4%PAYO: −2.9% a year, volatility 55.1%TOST: −8.5% a year, volatility 59.9%XYZ: −21.1% a year, volatility 59.9%AFRM: −12.9% a year, volatility 91.6%STNE: −18.0% a year, volatility 65.1%COIN: −11.5% a year, volatility 86.9%RELY: −6.6% a year, volatility 57.8%DLO: −21.1% a year, volatility 70.3%FLYW: −17.0% a year, volatility 56.4%FOUR: −12.1% a year, volatility 58.2%PYPLSPY (S&P 500)AMZNWEXGPNWUFISVFISSHOPPAGSPAYPAYOTOSTXYZAFRMSTNECOINRELYDLOFOUR
All figures
InvestmentAnnual returnVolatility
V Visa Inc.+12.8%22.9%
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF+12.7%17.1%
MA Mastercard Incorporated+12.4%23.8%
EBAY eBay Inc.+11.7%32.9%
AMZN Amazon.com, Inc.+9.0%36.6%
PAY Paymentus Holdings, Inc.+6.2%64.4%
SHOP Shopify Inc.+3.1%66.9%
WEX WEX Inc.−0.8%37.2%
PAYO Payoneer Global Inc.−2.9%55.1%
RELY Remitly Global, Inc.−6.6%57.8%
TOST Toast, Inc.−8.5%59.9%
GPN Global Payments Inc.−11.2%36.9%
COIN Coinbase Global, Inc.−11.5%86.9%
FOUR Shift4 Payments, Inc.−12.1%58.2%
EEFT Euronet Worldwide, Inc.−12.9%35.7%
AFRM Affirm Holdings, Inc.−12.9%91.6%
WU The Western Union Company−13.7%30.7%
FISV Fiserv, Inc.−15.2%36.7%
FLYW Flywire Corp−17.0%56.4%
STNE StoneCo Ltd.−18.0%65.1%
FIS Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.−19.7%33.9%
PAGS PagSeguro Digital Ltd.−19.8%60.6%
DLO Dlocal Limited−21.1%70.3%
XYZ Block, Inc.−21.1%59.9%
PYPL This pagePayPal Holdings, Inc.−25.9%43.3%
Open these 25 in EasyCompare

Has PYPL consistently beaten its popular alternatives?

This section compares PYPL with the investments people most often weigh against it, checking each one over eight periods from one month to ten years. Counting how often an alternative earned more than PYPL helps separate lasting outperformance from a single strong stretch.

A green cell means the alternative earned more than PYPL over that period. "Qualified" marks those that did so in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods.

InvestmentPeriods outperformed Short termLong termRisk · 5 yearsFund
1M3M6MYTD1Y3Y5Y10YVolatilitylower is calmerSharpehigher is betterWorst declinepast 10 yearsExpenseAssetsOverlapsame sectors
PYPL PayPal Holdings, Inc. (this page)—+8.6%+0.8%+11.7%−0.9%−16.5%+8.2%−77.6%+44.1%43.3%-0.47−87.3%—$49B—
SHOP QualifiedShopify Inc.5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather+25.8%+39.4%+28.4%+10.4%+5.3%+239%+16.6%+3,916%66.9%0.38−84.8%—$225B—
MA QualifiedMastercard Incorporated5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather+9.5%+13.5%+20.5%+10.9%+10.3%+64.3%+79.2%+541%23.8%0.61−41.0%—$543B—
V QualifiedVisa Inc.5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather+9.9%+13.0%+30.0%+18.0%+19.0%+78.2%+82.5%+429%22.9%0.64−36.4%—$759B—
EBAY QualifiedeBay Inc.5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather+11.9%+6.5%+13.8%+40.5%+28.3%+213%+74.2%+374%32.9%0.50−53.6%—$54B—
AMZN QualifiedAmazon.com, Inc.3/5 short3/3 long+1.6%+5.1%+5.8%+16.0%+21.3%+110%+53.8%+548%36.6%0.42−56.1%—$2.8T—
PAGS QualifiedPagSeguro Digital Ltd.4/5 short2/3 long+23.8%+29.9%+9.2%+29.2%+38.4%+73.1%−66.9%—60.6%-0.07−90.0%—$3.2B—
PAY QualifiedPaymentus Holdings, Inc.4/5 short2/3 long−4.5%+11.1%+13.8%+15.8%+12.0%+122%+35.0%—64.4%0.41−80.8%—$4.2B—
WEX QualifiedWEX Inc.3/5 short2/3 long−1.2%+13.2%+4.5%+24.8%+21.1%−1.4%−3.9%+74.9%37.2%0.17−64.6%—$6.3B—
PAYO QualifiedPayoneer Global Inc.3/5 short2/3 long+0.3%0.0%+37.1%+31.1%+19.6%+23.6%−13.5%—55.1%0.22−76.0%—$2.4B—
TOST QualifiedToast, Inc.3/5 short2/3 long+9.6%+5.8%+11.9%−4.0%−13.3%+85.7%−35.9%—59.9%0.15−80.6%—$17B—
XYZ Software - InfrastructureBlock, Inc.2/5 short3/3 long+0.3%−1.5%+5.7%+19.9%+2.1%+77.6%−69.4%+598%59.9%-0.10−86.1%—$47B—
AFRM Financial - Credit ServicesAffirm Holdings, Inc.2/5 short2/3 long+3.9%−2.0%+10.1%−0.2%+2.5%+305%−50.0%—91.6%0.30−94.7%—$22B—
STNE Software - InfrastructureStoneCo Ltd.2/5 short2/3 long+24.3%+8.5%−5.1%−0.6%−21.7%+46.8%−63.0%—65.1%0.02−92.3%—$2.8B—
COIN Financial - Data & Stock ExchangesCoinbase Global, Inc.1/5 short2/3 long−15.0%+6.5%−19.3%−27.8%−50.3%+129%−45.7%—86.9%0.29−90.9%—$45B—
RELY Software - InfrastructureRemitly Global, Inc.5/5 short1/3 long+13.5%+2.7%+18.8%+85.4%+52.9%−6.6%−28.9%—57.8%0.17−85.8%—$5.2B—
GPN Financial - Credit ServicesGlobal Payments Inc.4/5 short1/3 long−0.6%+3.3%+17.2%+13.4%−1.3%−21.1%−44.7%+22.4%36.9%-0.14−70.2%—$22B—
DLO Software - InfrastructureDlocal Limited4/5 short1/3 long+6.1%+3.2%+14.1%+9.7%+2.5%−10.3%−69.4%—70.3%0.04−90.0%—$4.5B—
FLYW Specialty Business ServicesFlywire Corp4/5 short1/3 long+8.8%+3.4%+35.5%+34.1%+41.0%−33.1%−60.7%—56.4%-0.04−84.4%—$2.3B—
WU Financial - Credit ServicesThe Western Union Company1/5 short1/3 long+0.2%−25.7%−30.2%−26.2%−13.8%−36.8%−52.2%−42.3%30.7%-0.33−65.5%—$1.9B—
FISV Information Technology ServicesFiserv, Inc.0/5 short1/3 long+3.8%−6.6%−24.8%−26.4%−61.1%−56.3%−56.2%−2.7%36.7%-0.24−81.3%—$26B—
EEFT Software - InfrastructureEuronet Worldwide, Inc.0/5 short1/3 long+0.1%−18.7%−12.1%−10.7%−24.3%−21.1%−49.9%−19.7%35.7%-0.21−63.3%—$2.5B—
FIS Information Technology ServicesFidelity National Information Services, Inc.0/5 short1/3 long+3.5%−12.8%−22.9%−42.7%−44.3%−21.6%−66.6%−41.3%33.9%-0.47−76.0%—$19B—
FOUR Software - InfrastructureShift4 Payments, Inc.0/5 short1/3 long+2.8%−20.5%−18.0%−35.4%−46.7%−20.1%−47.4%—58.2%0.07−71.7%—$4.2B—
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How did PYPL do year by year?

This table shows each investment's total return in every full calendar year since 2016, along with where PYPL ranked among its popular alternatives each year. Annual results reveal how consistently each one kept pace with PYPL and how far its good and bad years diverged, detail that multiyear averages tend to smooth over.

Note: PYPL began trading on July 6, 2015, so the table starts with 2016, its first full calendar year, and cannot show how it fared during the dot-com bust, the 2008 financial crisis or two other sell-offs.

Newest year first. Green marks a year in which the fund came out ahead of PYPL; gray means the two finished within a fraction of a point. The rank row places PYPL among the alternatives that traded the full year; dark green is the top quarter and red the bottom quarter.

InvestmentYears ahead of PYPL2025202420232022202120202019201820172016
PYPL This pagePayPal Holdings, Inc.—−31.4%+39.0%−13.8%−62.2%−19.5%+117%+28.6%+14.2%+86.5%+9.0%
Rank among alternativesTop quarter in 2 of 1020 of 249 of 2424 of 2419 of 249 of 173 of 1513 of 157 of 133 of 137 of 13
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF6 of 10+17.7%+24.9%+26.2%−18.2%+28.7%+18.3%+31.2%−4.6%+21.7%+12.0%
SHOP Shopify Inc.8 of 10+51.4%+36.5%+124%−74.8%+21.7%+185%+187%+37.1%+135%+66.3%
MA Mastercard Incorporated6 of 10+9.0%+24.2%+23.4%−2.7%+1.2%+20.2%+59.2%+25.3%+47.7%+6.9%
V Visa Inc.6 of 10+11.8%+22.3%+26.3%−3.4%−0.3%+17.1%+43.3%+16.5%+47.2%+1.4%
EBAY eBay Inc.6 of 10+42.7%+44.8%+7.7%−36.5%+33.8%+41.2%+30.6%−25.6%+27.1%+8.1%
AMZN Amazon.com, Inc.7 of 10+5.2%+44.4%+80.9%−49.6%+2.4%+76.3%+23.0%+28.4%+56.0%+10.9%
PAGS PagSeguro Digital Ltd.3 of 7+61.0%−49.8%+42.7%−66.7%−53.9%+66.5%+82.3%———
PAY Paymentus Holdings, Inc.3 of 4−3.3%+82.8%+123%−77.1%——————
WEX WEX Inc.5 of 10−15.0%−9.9%+18.9%+16.6%−31.0%−2.8%+49.5%−0.8%+26.6%+26.2%
PAYO Payoneer Global Inc.3 of 5−44.0%+92.7%−4.8%−25.6%−28.6%—————
TOST Toast, Inc.4 of 4−2.6%+99.6%+1.3%−48.0%——————
XYZ Block, Inc.5 of 10−23.4%+9.9%+23.1%−61.1%−25.8%+248%+11.5%+61.8%+154%+4.1%
AFRM Affirm Holdings, Inc.2 of 4+22.2%+23.9%+408%−90.4%——————
STNE StoneCo Ltd.4 of 7+85.7%−55.8%+90.9%−44.0%−79.9%+110%+116%———
COIN Coinbase Global, Inc.3 of 4−8.9%+42.8%+391%−86.0%——————
RELY Remitly Global, Inc.2 of 4−38.9%+16.2%+69.6%−44.5%——————
GPN Global Payments Inc.4 of 10−30.1%−11.0%+29.0%−25.9%−36.9%+18.5%+77.3%+2.9%+44.5%+7.6%
DLO Dlocal Limited3 of 4+31.5%−36.3%+13.6%−56.4%——————
FLYW Flywire Corp2 of 4−31.3%−10.9%−5.4%−35.7%——————
WU The Western Union Company6 of 10−2.4%−3.8%−6.1%−17.9%−15.1%−14.7%+62.6%−6.7%−9.3%+25.1%
FISV Fiserv, Inc.6 of 10−67.3%+54.6%+31.4%−2.6%−8.8%−1.5%+57.3%+12.1%+23.9%+17.2%
EEFT Euronet Worldwide, Inc.6 of 10−26.0%+1.3%+7.5%−20.8%−17.8%−8.0%+53.9%+21.5%+16.4%0.0%
FIS Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.5 of 10−15.8%+37.0%−8.2%−36.5%−21.9%+2.7%+37.2%+10.3%+26.1%+26.6%
FOUR Shift4 Payments, Inc.2 of 5−39.3%+39.6%+32.9%−3.5%−23.2%—————
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Risk and diversification

How PYPL has fallen, how it held up in crashes beside the S&P 500 and its popular alternatives, and what moves independently of it.

What were PYPL's worst declines?

A drawdown is the decline from a peak to the lowest point before a new high. This section presents PYPL's five deepest drawdowns since it began trading in 2015, alongside the S&P 500's return over the same dates, and how long each took to recover. Together, these figures show how much an investor could have lost and how long it took to get back to even.

Note: PYPL began trading on July 6, 2015, so this list cannot include the dot-com bust, the 2008 financial crisis or two other sell-offs. The crash tests on this page show how older funds and the S&P 500 fared through those years.

Green means PYPL fell less than the S&P 500 over the same dates. Based on daily closing prices with dividends reinvested.

DuringPYPL fellS&P 500, same datesPeakLowTime to the lowBack at the peakTime to recover
2022 bear market−87.3%+64.8%Jul 2021Feb 20264.6 yearsNot yet—
Covid crash−31.2%−33.7%Feb 2020Mar 20201 monthMay 20202 months
No named crash−25.8%−2.7%Feb 2021Mar 20211 monthJul 20214 months
2015 China and oil sell-off−24.3%−11.1%Jul 2015Sep 20152 monthsMar 20166 months
No named crash−20.3%−0.1%Jul 2019Oct 20193 monthsFeb 20204 months

How did PYPL do in stock market crashes?

This section measures how far PYPL, the S&P 500 and each alternative fell from peak to trough during every major market crash since 2000. A smaller decline means an investment held up better, and comparing results across crashes shows whether that resilience was consistent or a one-off.

Note: PYPL began trading on July 6, 2015, so its row reads "Not yet trading" for the dot-com bust, the 2008 financial crisis or two other sell-offs. The older alternatives and the S&P 500 show how those crashes played out.

Newest crash first. Each figure is the fund's deepest fall within the crash window; green means a smaller fall than PYPL.

InvestmentHeld up better2023 regional bank crisisMar 20232022 bear marketJan 2022Covid crashFeb 2020Late-2018 sell-offSep 2018February 2018 volatility shockFeb 20182015 China and oil sell-offAug 20152011 euro debt crisisJul 20112010 flash crashMay 20102008 financial crisisOct 2007Dot-com bustMar 2000
PYPL This pagePayPal Holdings, Inc.—−4.4%−63.8%−31.2%−16.7%−5.6%−21.6%Not yet tradingNot yet tradingNot yet tradingNot yet trading
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF3 of 6−3.4%−24.5%−33.7%−19.3%−6.5%−12.8%−17.9%−1.5%−55.2%−47.5%
SHOP Shopify Inc.0 of 6−5.1%−79.0%−40.7%−27.6%−5.4%−49.2%————
MA Mastercard Incorporated2 of 6−4.0%−28.2%−41.0%−21.9%−5.8%−20.4%−13.8%−3.1%−62.7%—
V Visa Inc.3 of 6−3.5%−24.1%−36.4%−19.1%−5.8%−15.8%−11.5%−0.8%——
EBAY eBay Inc.1 of 6−6.6%−44.2%−31.6%−23.2%−7.4%−25.6%−21.8%−3.5%−74.7%−77.1%
AMZN Amazon.com, Inc.3 of 6−3.4%−39.6%−22.7%−33.2%−7.1%−30.6%−20.7%−2.9%−65.3%−91.8%
PAGS PagSeguro Digital Ltd.2 of 5−12.8%−60.9%−59.7%−44.9%−0.7%—————
PAY Paymentus Holdings, Inc.0 of 2−13.8%−69.6%————————
WEX WEX Inc.1 of 6−10.3%−30.4%−64.6%−34.6%−9.4%−42.9%−29.8%−2.3%−79.0%—
PAYO Payoneer Global Inc.1 of 2−14.7%−51.5%————————
TOST Toast, Inc.1 of 2−9.5%−58.9%————————
XYZ Block, Inc.0 of 5−10.9%−65.8%−55.5%−48.8%−9.4%—————
AFRM Affirm Holdings, Inc.0 of 2−14.8%−82.9%————————
STNE StoneCo Ltd.1 of 3−10.2%−59.0%−55.2%———————
COIN Coinbase Global, Inc.0 of 2−15.2%−81.2%————————
RELY Remitly Global, Inc.2 of 2−3.8%−62.9%————————
GPN Global Payments Inc.1 of 6−11.9%−29.2%−44.3%−25.4%−7.5%−27.8%−18.6%−5.7%−44.4%—
DLO Dlocal Limited1 of 2−8.8%−54.0%————————
FLYW Flywire Corp1 of 2−8.6%−57.8%————————
WU The Western Union Company4 of 6−10.3%−30.0%−29.9%−12.3%−7.2%−18.7%−26.3%−3.9%−63.1%—
FISV Fiserv, Inc.2 of 6−10.9%−19.3%−37.7%−16.2%−6.1%−11.3%−20.4%−1.4%−48.3%−51.5%
EEFT Euronet Worldwide, Inc.1 of 6−9.8%−49.5%−52.4%−19.8%−11.3%−29.4%−19.8%−2.1%−77.6%−79.1%
FIS Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.2 of 6−20.2%−38.5%−34.7%−13.1%−8.0%−23.4%−23.3%0.0%−46.4%—
FOUR Shift4 Payments, Inc.1 of 2−6.2%−53.5%————————
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How closely does PYPL move with the S&P 500?

Upside capture measures how much of the S&P 500's gains an investment kept in the months the market rose, and downside capture how much of its losses it took in the months the market fell. An investment that captures more of the gains than the losses has compounded ahead of the market over time. This section compares PYPL with its popular alternatives on both measures, and on beta (how strongly each has moved with the market), over the past 10 years.

Monthly total returns over the past 10 years, measured against SPY. 100% capture or a beta of 1.00 means moving in line with the S&P 500. Green marks a better figure than PYPL's: more upside, less downside or a higher capture ratio. Sorted by capture ratio.

InvestmentUpside captureDownside captureCapture ratioBeta
PYPL This pagePayPal Holdings, Inc.106%186%0.571.25
MA Mastercard Incorporated105%88%1.200.95
V Visa Inc.93%79%1.180.87
SHOP Shopify Inc.233%203%1.152.09
AMZN Amazon.com, Inc.134%139%0.961.31
EBAY eBay Inc.113%133%0.851.23
XYZ Block, Inc.212%273%0.782.52
WEX WEX Inc.114%190%0.601.37
GPN Global Payments Inc.76%139%0.540.98
FISV Fiserv, Inc.51%107%0.480.86
EEFT Euronet Worldwide, Inc.65%144%0.451.22
FIS Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.54%150%0.360.82
WU The Western Union Company44%130%0.340.75
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What diversifies PYPL?

Correlation measures how closely two investments move together, on a scale from 1 (in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to -1 (in opposite directions). This section lists large ETFs and stocks whose returns have had a low correlation with PYPL's. Because such investments tend not to fall at the same time, pairing PYPL with them can reduce a portfolio's overall swings.

Only ETFs with at least $1.0B in assets and stocks worth at least $10B, with a correlation below 0.5 over the past 5 years and a positive return, are included, ranked by Sharpe ratio; funds that hold the same thing are shown once. The year columns are the years in which PYPL lost money. The last two columns show a portfolio that is 80% PYPL and 20% the other investment, rebalanced monthly.

ETFs

InvestmentCorrelation5Y returnSharpe202520232022202180/20 mix volatility80/20 mix annual return
PYPL PayPal Holdings, Inc. (this page)1.00−77.6%-0.47−31.4%−13.8%−62.2%−19.5%40.3%−27.2%
LVHI InternationalFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF0.38+119%1.48+27.1%+17.4%+3.8%+17.8%33.0%−18.9%
DXJ InternationalWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund0.17+225%1.34+32.8%+42.0%+6.0%+18.0%32.7%−17.3%
EMLP Broad MarketFirst Trust North American Energy Infrastructure Fund0.37+101%1.04+9.7%+8.0%+10.4%+23.1%33.4%−19.1%
HDV Dividend & IncomeiShares Core High Dividend ETF0.31+83.3%1.00+11.9%+1.8%+7.1%+19.6%33.2%−19.5%
SMH TechnologyVanEck Semiconductor ETF0.18+323%0.97+49.2%+73.4%−33.5%+42.1%34.2%−15.6%
DBEF InternationalXtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF0.40+85.0%0.96+23.1%+20.1%−5.1%+19.6%33.2%−19.4%
GLD CommoditiesSPDR Gold Shares-0.01+126%0.96+63.7%+12.7%−0.8%−4.2%32.3%−18.3%
FFLC Broad MarketFidelity Fundamental Large Cap Core ETF0.45+107%0.95+17.7%+25.1%0.0%+24.5%33.8%−18.9%

Stocks

InvestmentCorrelation5Y returnSharpe202520232022202180/20 mix volatility80/20 mix annual return
PYPL PayPal Holdings, Inc. (this page)1.00−77.6%-0.47−31.4%−13.8%−62.2%−19.5%40.3%−27.2%
CAH Medical - DistributionCardinal Health, Inc.0.20+479%1.55+76.3%+34.1%+54.1%−0.4%33.7%−15.7%
CLS Hardware, Equipment & PartsCelestica Inc.0.31+3,143%1.47+220%+160%+1.3%+37.9%37.5%−7.0%
FIX Engineering & ConstructionComfort Systems USA, Inc.0.22+1,636%1.46+121%+79.6%+17.0%+89.0%35.3%−9.5%
MCK Medical - DistributionMcKesson Corporation0.02+413%1.44+44.5%+24.1%+51.8%+44.2%32.7%−15.9%
MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation0.31+690%1.41+19.2%+30.4%+86.6%+61.0%34.8%−14.4%
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Common questions

What was PYPL's worst drawdown?

PYPL's deepest decline since it began trading in 2015 was 87.3%, from July 2021 to February 2026. It has not yet climbed back to that peak. Because PYPL launched in July 2015, that record does not include the dot-com bust, the 2008 financial crisis or two other sell-offs.

What were PYPL's best and worst years?

Over ten full calendar years, PYPL's best year was 2020, when it returned 117%. Its worst was 2022, with a return of -62.2%.

Is there a better investment than PYPL?

Among PYPL's popular alternatives, AMZN, V and MA earned more than PYPL with less volatility over the past 5 years. AMZN returned 9.0% a year at 36.6% volatility, against a loss of 25.9% a year at 43.2%. Looking beyond its popular alternatives, AAPL (digital payments theme) and MSFT (software) earned more than PYPL with less volatility over the past 5 years. AAPL returned 18.5% a year at 28.0% volatility, against a loss of 25.9% a year at 43.2%.

Is PYPL more volatile than the S&P 500?

Yes. PYPL's volatility over the past 5 years was 43.2%, 2.5 times the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, PYPL's return lands within 43.2% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump.

What is PYPL's Sharpe ratio?

PYPL's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was -0.47, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so PYPL earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings.

How correlated is PYPL with the S&P 500?

Over the past 5 years, PYPL's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.50 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They often move together: some diversification next to an index fund, but not a cushion. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against PYPL instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a PYPL holding.

What are the best alternatives to PYPL?

Of the 23 popular alternatives we compared, ten outperformed PYPL in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes, with dividends reinvested: SHOP, MA and V.

Did PYPL outperform the S&P 500?

PYPL finished ahead of the S&P 500 (SPY) in four of ten full calendar years. In 2025, it returned -31.4%, against +17.7% for the index.

How did PYPL do in stock market crashes?

PYPL fell less than the S&P 500 (SPY) in three of the six major crashes it has traded through, and further in three. The clearest case was the late-2018 sell-off, when PYPL fell 16.7% and the S&P 500 fell 19.3%.

What diversifies PYPL?

These had a low correlation with PYPL over the past 5 years and still earned a positive 5-year return: among large ETFs, LVHI (correlation 0.38), DXJ (correlation 0.17) and EMLP (correlation 0.37); among large stocks, CAH (correlation 0.20), CLS (correlation 0.31) and FIX (correlation 0.22). A correlation near zero means the two have moved largely independently.

How we measure

More research

Popular alternatives to PYPL

Other stocks and ETFs