Motley Fool Money Who Pays for PayPal?
9 snips
Feb 25, 2026 
Rachel Warren, Motley Fool analyst who tracks consumer-facing businesses. Lou Whiteman, Motley Fool equity analyst focused on corporate strategy. They probe rumors about PayPal being a takeover target and which buyers could make sense. They debate Stripe’s fit and why a deal may be delayed. They also recap Axon’s strong quarter and Cava’s rapid restaurant expansion.
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PayPal Is Healthy Yet Undervalued
- PayPal is healthy but low growth, making it an attractive takeover target without being distressed.
- Lou Whiteman notes profitability, strong cash generation, and a 20% share-count decline over five years as reasons private equity could pursue it.
Who Could Buy PayPal And Why It’s Complicated
- Potential buyers include private equity like Silver Lake and strategic acquirers such as Adyen or Stripe, each with different synergies and complications.
- Lou and Rachel caution about antitrust, customer conflicts, and valuation gaps making deals complex.
Stripe Buying PayPal Has Strategic Upsides And Tradeoffs
- Stripe could gain a consumer brand and Venmo wallet if it acquired PayPal, but risks alienating merchant customers and facing regulatory scrutiny.
- Rachel notes Stripe's $159B private valuation versus PayPal's ~$43B market cap, creating a valuation mismatch.