PayPal (PYPL) earnings report card
The latest results graded A to F: sales, earnings per share and profit margin against what analysts expected and against a year ago, with a plain-English take.
A weak quarter: profit per share came in 8% above forecasts, but sales missed forecasts by 3.4%.
- Profit per share came in 8% above forecasts.
- Sales missed forecasts by 3.4%.
- Operating margin narrowed 1.7 points: costs grew faster than sales.
👀 Next report: whether margins recover.
| Actual | Expected | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $8.58bn | $8.89bn | ▼ −3.4% miss |
| Earnings per share | $1.45 | $1.34 | ▲ +8% beat |
| Net profit margin | 16.4% | 14.6% | ▲ +1.8 pts |
| The quarter in detail | This quarter | A year ago | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating margin | 16.3% | 18.1% | ▼ −1.7 pts |
| Net margin | 12.5% | 14.8% | ▼ −2.3 pts |
| Revenue vs the quarter before | $8.58bn | $8.68bn (quarter before) | ▼ −1.1% |
How the grade is worked out
| Revenue vs forecast | 0 / 20 | −3.4%: +2.5% or more scores full marks, −2.5% or worse scores nothing |
|---|---|---|
| EPS vs forecast | 14.2 / 20 | +8%: +20% or more scores full marks, −20% or worse scores nothing |
| Margin vs forecast | 12 / 15 | +1.8 pts: 3 points or more above forecast scores full marks |
Score = points ÷ points available × 100, using whatever figures are known. A from 80, B from 65, C from 50, D from 35, F below; + and − mark the top and bottom of each band. The share price reaction is shown but doesn't count towards the grade.
Expected = analysts' average forecast before the results. Net margin vs forecast uses earnings per share × diluted shares; the quarter in detail uses the company's SEC filing once it's out. A grade of what was reported, not a recommendation.
Reported 27 Oct 2026 · Sources: Finnhub (results and analyst forecasts), SEC EDGAR (company filings)
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