PAGS
PagSeguro Digital Ltd.
Software - Infrastructure
Market Cap$1.69B
5Y Perf.-68.8%
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Stock Comparison
PAGS vs STNE
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
STNE
StoneCo Ltd.
Software - Infrastructure
Market Cap$2.72B
5Y Perf.-65.0%
PAGS vs STNE — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | PAGS | STNE |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Software - Infrastructure | Software - Infrastructure |
| Market Cap | $1.69B | $2.72B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $19.82B | $10.82B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $2.13B | $2.29B |
| Gross Margin | 50.8% | 68.4% |
| Operating Margin | 37.5% | 38.6% |
| Forward P/E | 1.1x | 1.0x |
| Total Debt | $34.86B | $17.57B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $1.86B | $4.82B |
PAGS vs STNE — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
PAGS
STNE
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| PagSeguro Digital L… (PAGS) | 100 | 31.2 | -68.8% |
| StoneCo Ltd. (STNE) | 100 | 35.0 | -65.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: PAGS vs STNE
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: STNE leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. PagSeguro Digital Ltd. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
PAGS
PagSeguro Digital Ltd.
The Growth Play
PAGS is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth 5.6%, EPS growth 5.1%, 3Y rev CAGR 8.5%
- 5.6% revenue growth vs STNE's -74.0%
- 4.1% yield; 2-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend
Best for: growth exposure
STNE
StoneCo Ltd.
The Income Pick
STNE carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- beta 1.67
- -56.6% 10Y total return vs PAGS's -63.5%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.67, current ratio 1.30x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | PAGS | 5.6% revenue growth vs STNE's -74.0% |
| Value | STNE | Lower P/E (1.0x vs 1.1x), PEG 0.04 vs 0.09 |
| Quality / Margins | STNE | 21.1% margin vs PAGS's 10.7% |
| Stability / Safety | STNE | Beta 1.67 vs PAGS's 1.70, lower leverage |
| Dividends | PAGS | 4.1% yield; 2-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | PAGS | +11.4% vs STNE's +2.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | STNE | 4.0% ROA vs PAGS's 3.0%, ROIC -10.4% vs 10.7% |
PAGS vs STNE — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLSTNELAGGINGPAGS
PAGSPagSeguro Digital Ltd.
0leads
STNEStoneCo Ltd.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs PAGSMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
STNE4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
STNE3/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
STNE6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
Tied
—
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
STNE 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 — 1.8x STNE's $10.8B. STNE is the more profitable business, keeping 21.1% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to PAGS's 10.7%. On growth, PAGS holds the edge at +6.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | PAGSPagSeguro Digital… | STNEStoneCo Ltd. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $19.8B | $10.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $8.8B | $5.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2.1B | $2.3B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $708M | -$241M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +50.8% | +68.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +37.5% | +38.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +10.7% | +21.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +3.6% | -2.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +6.0% | -77.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -8.4% | +119.7% |
STNE leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
STNE leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 6.6x trailing earnings, STNE trades at a 6% valuation discount to PAGS's 7.1x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), STNE offers better value at 0.28x vs PAGS's 0.58x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | PAGSPagSeguro Digital… | STNEStoneCo Ltd. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.7B | $2.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $8.3B | $5.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 7.11x | 6.64x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 1.12x | 1.04x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.58x | 0.28x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 5.70x | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.44x | 4.10x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.01x | 1.37x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 5.43x | — |
STNE leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
STNE leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
STNE delivers a 19.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $20 in annual profit, vs $14 for PAGS. STNE carries lower financial leverage with a 1.59x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to PAGS's 2.38x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), PAGS scores 7/9 vs STNE's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | PAGSPagSeguro Digital… | STNEStoneCo Ltd. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +14.4% | +19.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.0% | +4.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +10.7% | -10.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +25.6% | -13.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 2.38x | 1.59x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $33.0B | $12.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.9B | $4.8B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $34.9B | $17.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.50x | 1.59x |
STNE leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — PAGS and STNE each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in PAGS five years ago would be worth $2,475 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,183 for STNE. Over the past 12 months, PAGS leads with a +11.4% total return vs STNE's +2.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors STNE at 0.0% vs PAGS's -0.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | PAGSPagSeguro Digital… | STNEStoneCo Ltd. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +6.3% | -7.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +11.4% | +2.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -1.0% | +0.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -75.2% | -78.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -63.5% | -56.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -0.3% | +0.0% |
Evenly matched — PAGS and STNE each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — PAGS and STNE each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
STNE is the less volatile stock with a 1.67 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 80.4% from its 52-week high vs STNE's 55.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | PAGSPagSeguro Digital… | STNEStoneCo Ltd. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.70x | 1.67x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $12.32 | $19.95 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $7.74 | $10.74 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +80.4% | +55.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 38.4 | 26.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.7M | 5.3M |
Evenly matched — PAGS and STNE each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates PAGS as "Buy" and STNE as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 71.5% upside for STNE (target: $19) vs 23.0% for PAGS (target: $12). PAGS is the only dividend payer here at 4.11% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | PAGSPagSeguro Digital… | STNEStoneCo Ltd. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $12.18 | $19.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 24 | 21 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +4.1% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.03 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +21.6% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
STNE leads in 3 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Valuation Metrics. 2 categories are tied.
Best OverallStoneCo Ltd. (STNE)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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PAGS vs STNE: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PAGS or STNE a better buy right now?
For growth investors, PagSeguro Digital Ltd.
(PAGS) is the stronger pick with 5. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -74. 0% for StoneCo Ltd. (STNE). StoneCo Ltd. (STNE) offers the better valuation at 6. 6x trailing P/E (1. 0x 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 STNE?
On trailing P/E, StoneCo Ltd.
(STNE) is the cheapest at 6. 6x versus PagSeguro Digital Ltd. at 7. 1x. On forward P/E, StoneCo Ltd. is actually cheaper at 1. 0x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: StoneCo Ltd. wins at 0. 04x versus PagSeguro Digital Ltd. 's 0. 09x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — PAGS or STNE?
Over the past 5 years, PagSeguro Digital Ltd.
(PAGS) delivered a total return of -75. 2%, compared to -78. 2% for StoneCo Ltd. (STNE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: STNE returned -56. 6% versus PAGS's -63. 5%. 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 STNE?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), StoneCo Ltd.
(STNE) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 67β versus PagSeguro Digital Ltd. 's 1. 70β — meaning PAGS is approximately 2% more volatile than STNE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, StoneCo Ltd. (STNE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 159% versus 2% for PagSeguro Digital Ltd. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — PAGS or STNE?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), PagSeguro Digital Ltd.
(PAGS) is pulling ahead at 5. 6% versus -74. 0% for StoneCo Ltd. (STNE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: StoneCo Ltd. grew EPS 265. 9% year-over-year, compared to 5. 1% for PagSeguro Digital Ltd.. Over a 3-year CAGR, PAGS leads at 8. 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 STNE?
StoneCo Ltd.
(STNE) is the more profitable company, earning 68. 6% net margin versus 10. 7% for PagSeguro Digital Ltd. — meaning it keeps 68. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PAGS leads at 37. 5% versus -90. 2% for STNE. 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 STNE more undervalued right now?
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, StoneCo Ltd. (STNE) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 04x versus PagSeguro Digital Ltd. 's 0. 09x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, StoneCo Ltd. (STNE) trades at 1. 0x forward P/E versus 1. 1x for PagSeguro Digital Ltd. — 0. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for STNE: 71. 5% to $19. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — PAGS or STNE?
In this comparison, PAGS (4.
1% yield) pays a dividend. STNE does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is PAGS or STNE 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. 1% yield). StoneCo Ltd. (STNE) carries a higher beta of 1. 67 — 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: -63. 5%, STNE: -56. 6%), 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 STNE?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
PAGS pays a dividend while STNE 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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Revenue Growth>
%
(PAGS: 6.0% · STNE: -77.4%)Net Margin>
%
(PAGS: 10.7% · STNE: 21.1%)P/E Ratio<
x
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