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RELY vs PYPL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Financial - Credit Services
RELY vs PYPL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Software - Infrastructure | Financial - Credit Services |
| Market Cap | $4.97B | $42.76B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.54B | $33.17B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $21M | $5.06B |
| Gross Margin | 59.5% | 46.6% |
| Operating Margin | 2.3% | 18.3% |
| Forward P/E | 45.9x | 8.8x |
| Total Debt | $192M | $9.99B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $542M | $8.05B |
RELY vs PYPL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Sep 21 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remitly Global, Inc. (RELY) | 100 | 64.7 | -35.3% |
| PayPal Holdings, In… (PYPL) | 100 | 17.9 | -82.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: RELY vs PYPL
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
RELY is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and growth exposure.
- beta 1.19
- Rev growth 29.4%, EPS growth 263.2%, 3Y rev CAGR 35.8%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.19, Low D/E 22.1%, current ratio 3.30x
PYPL carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for long-term compounding.
- 20.1% 10Y total return vs RELY's -51.0%
- Lower P/E (8.8x vs 45.9x)
- 15.8% margin vs RELY's 1.4%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 29.4% revenue growth vs PYPL's 4.3% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (8.8x vs 45.9x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 15.8% margin vs RELY's 1.4% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.19 vs PYPL's 1.39, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 0.3% yield; 1-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +13.1% vs PYPL's -31.8% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 6.3% ROA vs RELY's 1.7%, ROIC 15.0% vs 14.0% |
RELY vs PYPL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
RELY vs PYPL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PYPL leads this category, winning 3 of 4 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PYPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $33.2B annually — 21.5x RELY's $1.5B. PYPL is the more profitable business, keeping 15.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to RELY's 1.4%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.5B | $33.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $63M | $6.7B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $21M | $5.1B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $193M | $5.5B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +59.5% | +46.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +2.3% | +18.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +1.4% | +15.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +12.5% | +16.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +24.7% | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | -6.2% |
Valuation Metrics
PYPL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 8.6x trailing earnings, PYPL trades at a 89% valuation discount to RELY's 76.6x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, PYPL's 6.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than RELY's 45.1x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $5.0B | $42.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $4.6B | $44.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 76.61x | 8.59x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 45.91x | 8.75x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.97x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 45.09x | 6.36x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.04x | 1.29x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 5.95x | 2.22x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 16.82x | 7.69x |
Profitability & Efficiency
PYPL leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
PYPL delivers a 25.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $25 in annual profit, vs $3 for RELY. RELY carries lower financial leverage with a 0.22x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to PYPL's 0.49x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), PYPL scores 8/9 vs RELY's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +2.6% | +25.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.7% | +6.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +14.0% | +15.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +8.9% | +18.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.22x | 0.49x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$350M | $1.9B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $542M | $8.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $192M | $10.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 6.03x | 19.28x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
RELY leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in RELY five years ago would be worth $4,902 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $1,890 for PYPL. Over the past 12 months, RELY leads with a +13.1% total return vs PYPL's -31.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors RELY at 9.1% vs PYPL's -14.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +79.7% | -19.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +13.1% | -31.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +29.9% | -37.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -51.0% | -81.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -51.0% | +20.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +9.1% | -14.6% |
Risk & Volatility
RELY leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
RELY is the less volatile stock with a 1.19 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than PYPL's 1.39 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. RELY currently trades 96.1% from its 52-week high vs PYPL's 58.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.19x | 1.39x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $24.71 | $79.50 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $12.08 | $38.46 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +96.1% | +58.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 86.1 | 58.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.2M | 16.8M |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates RELY as "Buy" and PYPL as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 11.2% upside for PYPL (target: $52) vs -11.6% for RELY (target: $21). PYPL is the only dividend payer here at 0.29% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $21.00 | $51.67 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 13 | 70 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.13 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.5% | +14.2% |
PYPL leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). RELY leads in 2 (Total Returns, Risk & Volatility).
RELY vs PYPL: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is RELY or PYPL a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Remitly Global, Inc.
(RELY) is the stronger pick with 29. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 3% for PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL). PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL) offers the better valuation at 8. 6x trailing P/E (8. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Remitly Global, Inc. (RELY) a "Buy" — based on 13 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 — RELY or PYPL?
On trailing P/E, PayPal Holdings, Inc.
(PYPL) is the cheapest at 8. 6x versus Remitly Global, Inc. at 76. 6x. On forward P/E, PayPal Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 8. 8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — RELY or PYPL?
Over the past 5 years, Remitly Global, Inc.
(RELY) delivered a total return of -51. 0%, compared to -81. 1% for PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PYPL returned +20. 1% versus RELY's -51. 0%. 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 — RELY or PYPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Remitly Global, Inc.
(RELY) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 19β versus PayPal Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 39β — meaning PYPL is approximately 18% more volatile than RELY relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Remitly Global, Inc. (RELY) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 22% versus 49% for PayPal Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — RELY or PYPL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Remitly Global, Inc.
(RELY) is pulling ahead at 29. 4% versus 4. 3% for PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Remitly Global, Inc. grew EPS 263. 2% year-over-year, compared to 35. 6% for PayPal Holdings, Inc.. 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 — RELY or PYPL?
PayPal Holdings, Inc.
(PYPL) is the more profitable company, earning 15. 8% net margin versus 4. 2% for Remitly Global, 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 4. 7% for RELY. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — RELY leads at 59. 5%, 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 RELY or PYPL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, PayPal Holdings, Inc.
(PYPL) trades at 8. 8x forward P/E versus 45. 9x for Remitly Global, Inc. — 37. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PYPL: 11. 2% to $51. 67.
08Which pays a better dividend — RELY or PYPL?
In this comparison, PYPL (0.
3% yield) pays a dividend. RELY does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is RELY or PYPL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Remitly Global, Inc.
(RELY) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 19)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (RELY: -51. 0%, PYPL: +20. 1%), 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 RELY and PYPL?
These companies operate in different sectors (RELY (Technology) and PYPL (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
In terms of investment character: RELY is a small-cap high-growth stock; PYPL is a mid-cap deep-value stock. 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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