KPLT vs SHOP vs PYPL vs WIX vs FOUR

For growth investors, Shopify Inc.

(SHOP) is the stronger pick with 30. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 3% for PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL). PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL) offers the better valuation at 8. 5x trailing P/E (8. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Shopify Inc. (SHOP) a "Buy" — based on 63 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, PayPal Holdings, Inc.

(PYPL) is the cheapest at 8. 5x versus Shopify Inc. at 118. 9x. On forward P/E, Shift4 Payments, Inc. is actually cheaper at 8. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: PayPal Holdings, Inc. wins at 0. 98x versus Shopify Inc. 's 2. 08x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Shopify Inc.

(SHOP) delivered a total return of +0. 8%, compared to -97. 7% for Katapult Holdings, Inc. (KPLT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SHOP returned +41. 2% versus KPLT's -97. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Katapult Holdings, Inc.

(KPLT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 04β versus Shopify Inc. 's 2. 64β — meaning SHOP is approximately 7081% more volatile than KPLT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Shopify Inc. (SHOP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 2% for Shift4 Payments, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Shopify Inc.

(SHOP) is pulling ahead at 30. 1% versus 4. 3% for PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Katapult Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 98. 2% year-over-year, compared to -64. 4% for Shift4 Payments, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, FOUR leads at 28. 0% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

PayPal Holdings, Inc.

(PYPL) is the more profitable company, earning 15. 8% net margin versus 0. 5% for Katapult Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 15. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PYPL leads at 18. 3% versus 0. 1% for WIX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — WIX leads at 68. 1%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 98x versus Shopify Inc. 's 2. 08x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Shift4 Payments, Inc. (FOUR) trades at 8. 4x forward P/E versus 60. 9x for Shopify Inc. — 52. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WIX: 69. 2% to $135. 92.

In this comparison, FOUR (0.

7% yield), PYPL (0. 3% yield) pay a dividend. KPLT, SHOP, WIX do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Katapult Holdings, Inc.

(KPLT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 04)). Shopify Inc. (SHOP) carries a higher beta of 2. 64 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (KPLT: -97. 2%, SHOP: +41. 2%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (KPLT (Technology) and SHOP (Technology) and PYPL (Financial Services) and WIX (Technology) and FOUR (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: KPLT is a small-cap high-growth stock; SHOP is a mid-cap high-growth stock; PYPL is a mid-cap deep-value stock; WIX is a small-cap quality compounder stock; FOUR is a small-cap high-growth stock. FOUR pays a dividend while KPLT, SHOP, PYPL, WIX do not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.