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PAGS vs FOUR
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Software - Infrastructure
PAGS vs FOUR — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Software - Infrastructure | Software - Infrastructure |
| Market Cap | $1.78B | $3.93B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $19.82B | $3.88B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $2.13B | $195M |
| Gross Margin | 50.8% | 32.6% |
| Operating Margin | 37.5% | 8.0% |
| Forward P/E | 1.2x | 7.7x |
| Total Debt | $34.86B | $2.88B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $1.86B | $1.21B |
PAGS vs FOUR — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Jun 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| PagSeguro Digital L… (PAGS) | 100 | 29.5 | -70.5% |
| Shift4 Payments, In… (FOUR) | 100 | 120.8 | +20.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: PAGS vs FOUR
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
PAGS carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 1.70, yield 4.0%
- Lower P/E (1.2x vs 7.7x)
- 10.7% margin vs FOUR's 5.0%
FOUR is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 29.9%, EPS growth 111.9%, 3Y rev CAGR 34.5%
- 27.9% 10Y total return vs PAGS's -61.7%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.51, current ratio 1.38x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 29.9% revenue growth vs PAGS's 5.6% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (1.2x vs 7.7x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 10.7% margin vs FOUR's 5.0% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.51 vs PAGS's 1.70 | |
| Dividends | 4.0% yield; 2-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +15.0% vs FOUR's -48.3% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 3.0% ROA vs FOUR's 2.2%, ROIC 10.7% vs 7.6% |
PAGS vs FOUR — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
PAGS vs FOUR — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PAGS leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PAGS is the larger business by revenue, generating $19.8B annually — 5.1x FOUR's $3.9B. PAGS is the more profitable business, keeping 10.7% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to FOUR's 5.0%. On growth, FOUR holds the edge at +29.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $19.8B | $3.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $8.8B | $691M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2.1B | $195M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $708M | $499M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +50.8% | +32.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +37.5% | +8.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +10.7% | +5.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +3.6% | +12.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +6.0% | +29.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -8.4% | -76.7% |
Valuation Metrics
PAGS leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 7.4x trailing earnings, PAGS trades at a 48% valuation discount to FOUR's 14.2x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, PAGS's 5.7x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than FOUR's 10.3x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.8B | $3.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $8.5B | $5.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 7.39x | 14.16x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 1.18x | 7.70x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.61x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 5.75x | 10.29x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.45x | 1.18x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.05x | 3.86x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 5.64x | 12.64x |
Profitability & Efficiency
PAGS leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
PAGS delivers a 14.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $14 in annual profit, vs $9 for FOUR. PAGS carries lower financial leverage with a 2.38x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to FOUR's 2.83x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), PAGS scores 7/9 vs FOUR's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +14.4% | +8.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.0% | +2.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +10.7% | +7.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +25.6% | +7.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 2.38x | 2.83x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $33.0B | $1.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.9B | $1.2B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $34.9B | $2.9B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.50x | 2.82x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
PAGS leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in FOUR five years ago would be worth $5,098 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,658 for PAGS. Over the past 12 months, PAGS leads with a +15.0% total return vs FOUR's -48.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors PAGS at -0.4% vs FOUR's -11.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +11.6% | -31.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +15.0% | -48.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -1.3% | -30.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -73.4% | -49.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -61.7% | +27.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -0.4% | -11.4% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — PAGS and FOUR each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
FOUR is the less volatile stock with a 1.51 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than PAGS's 1.70 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. PAGS currently trades 84.5% from its 52-week high vs FOUR's 39.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.70x | 1.51x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $12.32 | $108.50 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $7.74 | $39.91 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +84.5% | +39.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 41.8 | 37.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.7M | 2.2M |
Analyst Outlook
PAGS leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates PAGS as "Buy" and FOUR as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 71.0% upside for FOUR (target: $73) vs 17.0% for PAGS (target: $12). PAGS is the only dividend payer here at 3.95% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $12.18 | $73.36 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 24 | 29 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +4.0% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.03 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +3.7% |
PAGS leads in 5 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Valuation Metrics. 1 category is tied.
PAGS vs FOUR: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PAGS or FOUR a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Shift4 Payments, Inc.
(FOUR) is the stronger pick with 29. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 6% for PagSeguro Digital Ltd. (PAGS). PagSeguro Digital Ltd. (PAGS) offers the better valuation at 7. 4x trailing P/E (1. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate PagSeguro Digital Ltd. (PAGS) a "Buy" — based on 24 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.
02Which has the better valuation — PAGS or FOUR?
On trailing P/E, PagSeguro Digital Ltd.
(PAGS) is the cheapest at 7. 4x versus Shift4 Payments, Inc. at 14. 2x. On forward P/E, PagSeguro Digital Ltd. is actually cheaper at 1. 2x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — PAGS or FOUR?
Over the past 5 years, Shift4 Payments, Inc.
(FOUR) delivered a total return of -49. 0%, compared to -73. 4% for PagSeguro Digital Ltd. (PAGS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: FOUR returned +27. 9% versus PAGS's -61. 7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — PAGS or FOUR?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Shift4 Payments, Inc.
(FOUR) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 51β versus PagSeguro Digital Ltd. 's 1. 70β — meaning PAGS is approximately 13% more volatile than FOUR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, PagSeguro Digital Ltd. (PAGS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 3% for Shift4 Payments, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — PAGS or FOUR?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Shift4 Payments, Inc.
(FOUR) is pulling ahead at 29. 9% versus 5. 6% for PagSeguro Digital Ltd. (PAGS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Shift4 Payments, Inc. grew EPS 111. 9% year-over-year, compared to 5. 1% for PagSeguro Digital Ltd.. Over a 3-year CAGR, FOUR leads at 34. 5% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — PAGS or FOUR?
PagSeguro Digital Ltd.
(PAGS) is the more profitable company, earning 10. 7% net margin versus 6. 9% for Shift4 Payments, Inc. — meaning it keeps 10. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PAGS leads at 37. 5% versus 7. 4% for FOUR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PAGS leads at 50. 6%, 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.
07Is PAGS or FOUR more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, PagSeguro Digital Ltd.
(PAGS) trades at 1. 2x forward P/E versus 7. 7x for Shift4 Payments, Inc. — 6. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FOUR: 71. 0% to $73. 36.
08Which pays a better dividend — PAGS or FOUR?
In this comparison, PAGS (4.
0% yield) pays a dividend. FOUR does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is PAGS or FOUR better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, PagSeguro Digital Ltd.
(PAGS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (4. 0% yield). Shift4 Payments, Inc. (FOUR) carries a higher beta of 1. 51 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (PAGS: -61. 7%, FOUR: +27. 9%), 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.
10What are the main differences between PAGS and FOUR?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: PAGS is a small-cap deep-value stock; FOUR is a small-cap high-growth stock. PAGS pays a dividend while FOUR does 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.
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