4. Paypal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 126
Payments giant PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL) is playing an increasingly important role in the blockchain industry. The company has been investing heavily in blockchain technology to expand its existing capabilities and provide customers with an even better experience. The company allowed support for cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, and Litecoin, back in October 2020. Paypal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL) is well-positioned to capitalize on the growth of the global blockchain industry and adoption of cryptocurrencies and is ranked among the best blockchain stocks to buy now.
This November, DA Davidson analyst Christopher Brendler updated his price target on PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL) to $110 from $120 and maintained a Buy rating on the shares. On December 7, PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL) announced that the company is expanding its cryptocurrency offerings to Luxembourg.
At the close of Q3 2022, 126 hedge funds were long Paypal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL). The total stakes of these hedge funds amounted to $6.79 billion, up from $5.20 billion in the previous quarter with 97 positions. The hedge fund sentiment for the stock is positive. As of September 30, Fisher Asset Management is the largest shareholder in the company and has a position worth $1.52 billion.
Here is what RiverPark Funds had to say about PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL) in its third-quarter 2022 investor letter:
“PayPal, announced better-than-expected 2Q results, positive guidance (including more than $1.3 billion of 2023 cost savings leading to operating margin expansion), a $15 billion stock repurchase program, and the appointment of Blake Jorgensen as CFO, who was previously the well-regarded CFO at Electronic Arts. The company reported 9% revenue growth, in-line with guidance, and $0.93 EPS, exceeding guidance due to robust operating leverage. Management narrowed its 2022 revenue guidance from 11%-13% growth to about 11% growth due to the macro environment but raised its EPS guidance due to greater operating margin leverage and share buybacks. The stock also reacted to the news that activist investor Elliott Management had taken a stake in the company. PYPL operates at significantly lower margins than its payment competitors Visa and Mastercard, and sources suggest that Elliott intends, among other things, to push for the company to improve its margins and drive higher cash flow growth in the near term.
PayPal provides direct exposure to the secular growth in ecommerce-driven digital payments as it is the most accepted digital wallet on-line. More than 3/4 of the 1,500 largest online retailers across North America and Europe accept PayPal, which is almost triple the acceptance of Apple Pay, the number two digital wallet. PayPal is also a key beneficiary of the current dramatic shift in consumer buying habits brought on by the pandemic, as well as the relatively newer consumer-to-consumer payment trends through its Venmo peer-to-peer (P2P) payment service. With a 2Q non-GAAP operating margin of 19%, PYPL also has significant margin expansion potential given that competitors Adyen, Visa and Mastercard have 50%-65% operating margins. We believe the combination of the secular growth of eCommerce and P2P payments, along with expanding operating leverage and the strategic use of the company’s significant and growing cash balance should fuel a mid-20% earnings growth rate over the next five years. This, to us, presents an excellent risk/reward profile given that PYPL trades at a modest premium to the market multiple and a 6% 2023 FCF yield.”
