The Panic-Proof Portfolio (Stockchase Research)PayPal Holdings Inc.PYPLTOP PICKJan 02, 2024

He suffered on this one too, and shaved it when it bounced up to $60. Other opportunities out there with longer runways. Struggling with competition. Price target of $72, another 5% to go. Possibly sell calls in the high $60s.

It began as the only online payment system, but now there are many. The balance sheet is strong, though. The new CEO needs to increase revenues. Doesn't see a catalyst. He owns Mastercard instead.

He hasn't liked this stock until they got their new CEO, who did well at Intuit.

He's been bearish this all year until recently. Could be potential. It has 428 million active users, 35 millions merchants and annual payments are $1.5 trillion. Enormous. Bad news is there's a lot of competition: Apple Pay, Google Pay, Shopify. That's why shares have been down and trading half the PE of its peers. Is down 14% this year. There's a new CEO with a good track record; he will shrink the cost base and find more revenue.

Poor fundamentals. Don't sell until later this month after tax-loss selling is done.

He still owns a small position, less than 1%. Leader in transaction and payment processing. Venmo has taken off extremely well in Europe, not as much traction in NA. Reporting has been great, new CEO. Good runway.

It has a new CEO and its recent quarter was decent. It needs to sell off non-core assets and re-structure. Lots has to go well with this. There are four million actual users.

Shares have come down a lot to 11x forward PE. The payments space is risky, and PYPL has lost market share. They have Venmo, are on Amazon as payment system, generate free cash flow, and new managers are oriented to profitability. 

It is not used as much now. There have been senior management changes and lots of competition. Even though it has a lower multiple she prefers Visa.

More consumers are going with payment solutions embedded in phones. Merchants are using other online platforms. Competitive position could be under attack. Profitable, good free cashflow, low valuation. He prefers Visa.

Fine business, but an also-ran. Visa or MA are the two places to be. 

Seems to be basing. Trading below the falling 200-day MA, not a positive technically. New CEO could spark a catalyst. Reasonably valued at 11.5x forward PE, with 15% forecast growth rate. Could be value, but chart needs to improve before committing.