STNE vs PAGS vs GPN

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. 7x trailing P/E (1. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate StoneCo Ltd. (STNE) a "Buy" — based on 21 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, StoneCo Ltd.

(STNE) is the cheapest at 6. 7x versus Global Payments Inc. at 11. 9x. On forward P/E, StoneCo Ltd. is actually cheaper at 1. 1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: StoneCo Ltd. wins at 0. 05x versus Global Payments Inc. 's 0. 21x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Global Payments Inc.

(GPN) delivered a total return of -62. 9%, compared to -77. 3% for StoneCo Ltd. (STNE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GPN returned +4. 1% 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.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Global Payments Inc.

(GPN) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 37β versus PagSeguro Digital Ltd. 's 1. 70β — meaning PAGS is approximately 23% more volatile than GPN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Global Payments Inc. (GPN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 92% versus 2% for PagSeguro Digital Ltd. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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. 4% for Global Payments Inc.. 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.

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 — GPN leads at 72. 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.

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. 05x versus Global Payments Inc. 's 0. 21x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, StoneCo Ltd. (STNE) trades at 1. 1x forward P/E versus 5. 1x for Global Payments Inc. — 4. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for STNE: 67. 1% to $19. 00.

In this comparison, PAGS (4.

0% yield), GPN (1. 4% yield) pay a dividend. STNE does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Global Payments Inc.

(GPN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1. 4% 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 (GPN: +4. 1%, STNE: -55. 7%), 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 (STNE (Technology) and PAGS (Technology) and GPN (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

PAGS, GPN pay 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.