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PayPal Holdings, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Non-GAAP EPS up 14% for the year: Non-GAAP EPS was $1.23 in the quarter, up 3%, and $5.31 for the year, up 14%. GAAP EPS was $1.53 in the quarter and $5.41 for the year. Source
  • Transaction margin dollars up 6% for year: TM$ rose 3% to $4.0 billion in the quarter and 6% to $15.5 billion for the year. TM$ excluding interest on customer balances rose 4% in the quarter and 6% for the year. Source
  • Payment volume up 9% in quarter: TPV rose 9%, or 6% currency-neutral, to $475.1 billion in the fourth quarter. Full-year TPV rose 7% to $1.79 trillion, or 6% currency-neutral. Source
  • Guidance assumes growth offset by lower rates: Management said 2026 guidance assumes ongoing, diversified growth across key initiatives, offset by lower interest rates and the near-term impact of investments. Source
  • Free cash flow fell 18% for the year: Free cash flow was $2.2 billion in the quarter, flat year over year, and $5.6 billion for the year, down 18%. Operating cash flow for the year was $6.4 billion. Source
  • Enrique Lores named next CEO: The Board appointed Enrique Lores as PayPal’s next President and CEO. The release gives no effective date for the appointment. Source

“In 2025, PayPal delivered solid performance across multiple areas of the business.”

Jamie Miller, Interim CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Non-GAAP adjustments to EPS Sourcethree months ending March 31, 2026approximately $35 millionNew
Non-GAAP adjustments to EPS Sourcefull year ending December 31, 2026approximately $135 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: First-quarter 2026 GAAP and non-GAAP EPS guidance appears in this release; the October release gave guidance only for 2025. Source
  • New guidance: Full-year 2026 GAAP and non-GAAP EPS guidance is given in this release for the first time. Source
  • New: The Board appointed Enrique Lores as next President and CEO; this release is issued with Jamie Miller as Interim CEO. Source

Fourth quarter and full-year results

  • Net revenues rose 4% in quarter: Net revenues were $8.7 billion, up 4% from the prior-year quarter, or 3% currency-neutral. Full-year net revenues rose 4% to $33.2 billion. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS up 14% for the year: Non-GAAP EPS was $1.23 in the quarter, up 3%, and $5.31 for the year, up 14%. GAAP EPS was $1.53 in the quarter and $5.41 for the year. Source
  • Operating income rose more than revenue: GAAP operating income rose 14% for the year to $6.1 billion; non-GAAP operating income rose 9% to $6.4 billion. Quarterly GAAP operating income rose 5% to $1.5 billion. Source
  • Transaction margin dollars up 6% for year: TM$ rose 3% to $4.0 billion in the quarter and 6% to $15.5 billion for the year. TM$ excluding interest on customer balances rose 4% in the quarter and 6% for the year. Source

Revenue by region and type

  • U.S. revenue grew 4%: U.S. net revenues were $4.9 billion, up 4% from a year earlier, and 57% of total net revenues in the quarter. Source
  • International revenue grew 3%: International net revenues were $3.7 billion, up 3% or 1% currency-neutral, and 43% of total net revenues in the quarter. Source
  • Other value added services grew 10%: Revenue from other value added services was $857 million, up 10% from a year earlier and 10% of total. Interest on customer balances is reported within this line. Source
  • Transaction revenues grew 3%: Transaction revenues were $7.8 billion, up 3% from the prior-year quarter, and 90% of total net revenues. Source

“We grew revenue, transaction margin dollars, and earnings per share, underscoring the strength of our increasingly diversified platform.”

Jamie Miller, Interim CEO

Payment volume and accounts

  • Payment volume up 9% in quarter: TPV rose 9%, or 6% currency-neutral, to $475.1 billion in the fourth quarter. Full-year TPV rose 7% to $1.79 trillion, or 6% currency-neutral. Source
  • Active accounts reached 439 million: Active accounts rose 1.1%, or 4.7 million, over the year. Sequentially they rose 0.3%, or 1.2 million, in the quarter. Source
  • Transactions rose excluding PSP: Payment transactions rose 2% to 6.8 billion in the quarter. Excluding PSP transactions they rose 6% to 4.3 billion; for the year, total transactions fell 4% and ex-PSP transactions rose 6%. Source
  • Transactions per account fell 5%: Trailing 12-month payment transactions per active account fell 5% to 57.7. The measure excluding PSP accounts rose 5%. Source

Costs, margins and tax rate

  • GAAP operating margin expanded 19 basis points: GAAP operating margin was 17.4%, up 19 basis points; non-GAAP operating margin was 17.9%, down 9 basis points. For the year, GAAP margin was 18.3% and non-GAAP 19.2%. Source
  • Transaction margin rate was 46.5%: Transaction margin was 46.5% in the fourth quarter, against 47.0% a year earlier and 46.0% in the third quarter. Source
  • Operating expenses rose 3%: Total operating expenses were $7.2 billion in the quarter, up from $6.9 billion. Restructuring and other charges were $80 million, against $50 million. Source
  • Credit losses fell in quarter, rose for year: Transaction and credit losses were $390 million in the quarter, down from $434 million. For the year they rose to $1.72 billion from $1.44 billion. Source
  • Interest on customer balances declined: Interest on customer balances was $293 million in the quarter, against $332 million. For the year it was $1.23 billion against $1.28 billion. Source
  • Effective tax rate moved in quarter: GAAP effective tax rate was 11.7% against 20.5%. The company says the quarter’s tax benefit came mainly from a non-recurring internal legal entity restructuring. Source

2026 guidance framing

  • Guidance assumes growth offset by lower rates: Management said 2026 guidance assumes ongoing, diversified growth across key initiatives, offset by lower interest rates and the near-term impact of investments. Source
  • 2025 GAAP EPS base includes investment gains: FY'25 GAAP EPS of $5.41 includes about $0.14 positive from the strategic investment portfolio and crypto assets, which forms the base for the 2026 comparison. Source
  • EPS guided on GAAP and non-GAAP bases: Management gave 2026 EPS guidance on both bases. The non-GAAP full-year estimate reflects adjustments of about $135 million, and the first-quarter estimate about $35 million. Source

Cash flow, balance sheet and capital returns

  • Free cash flow fell 18% for the year: Free cash flow was $2.2 billion in the quarter, flat year over year, and $5.6 billion for the year, down 18%. Operating cash flow for the year was $6.4 billion. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow excludes BNPL timing: Adjusted free cash flow was $2.1 billion in the quarter and $6.4 billion for the year. It excludes timing between originating BNPL receivables held for sale and their later sale. Source
  • Cash and debt at year end: Cash, cash equivalents and investments were $14.8 billion and debt was $11.6 billion at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Buybacks of $1.5 billion in quarter: The company repurchased about 23 million shares for $1.5 billion in the fourth quarter. Over the trailing 12 months it repurchased about 86 million shares for $6.0 billion. Source
  • Quarterly dividend policy continues: The company intends to pay its cash dividend quarterly going forward, subject to market conditions and Board approval in its sole discretion. Source

Leadership and strategy

  • Enrique Lores named next CEO: The Board appointed Enrique Lores as PayPal’s next President and CEO. The release gives no effective date for the appointment. Source
  • Prior release cited agentic partners: The October release, issued under Alex Chriss as President and CEO, cited partnerships with Google, OpenAI and Perplexity for an agentic future.
  • Management aligned on path forward: Jamie Miller, Interim CEO, said management is fully aligned on the path forward as the company enters its next chapter of growth. Source
  • Investing to strengthen foundation: The release headline pairs diversified, profitable growth in 2025 with investing to strengthen the foundation and accelerate growth initiatives. Source

Coming up, as management said on 3 February 2026

  • Dividend payment date set: The $0.14 per share dividend is payable March 25, 2026, to holders of record at the close of business on March 4, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total payment volume, fourth quarter 2025 Source$475.1 billion
Active accounts Source439 million
Payment transactions, fourth quarter 2025 Source6.8 billion
Payment transactions ex-PSP, fourth quarter 2025 Source4.3 billion
Payment transactions per active account, trailing 12 months Source57.7

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Management cites lower interest rates as an offset within 2026 guidance. Source
  • Operational: Management cites a near-term impact on results from investments intended to improve experience, presentment and consumer selection. Source
  • Operational: Management said execution has not reached the level it needs to, particularly in branded checkout. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The October release gave FY'25 non-GAAP EPS of $5.35 to $5.39. This release reports $5.31 for the year; no status is stated for the earlier range.
  • Not stated: The October release said the company was on pace for this range. This release reports 6% growth for the year on that measure, with no status stated.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.