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PayPal Holdings, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 28 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 1 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net revenue up 5%, 3% currency-neutral: Net revenues were $8,682 million, up 5% from $8,288 million a year earlier, or 3% currency-neutral. First-quarter net revenue growth was 7%. Source
  • Operating income fell 5%, non-GAAP 8%: GAAP operating income was $1,427 million, down 5%. Non-GAAP operating income was $1,507 million, down 8%, from $1,644 million a year earlier. Source
  • Transaction margin fell to 44.9%: Transaction margin dollars were $3,900 million, up 1%. Excluding interest on customer balances, they rose 3% to $3,619 million. Transaction margin was 44.9%, against 46.4% a year earlier. Source
  • Operating margin down 171 basis points: GAAP operating margin was 16.4%, down 171 basis points. Non-GAAP operating margin was 17.4%, down 248 basis points from 19.8%. Source
  • Total payment volume up 10%: Total payment volume reached $486.4 billion, up 10% and 9% currency-neutral. First-quarter TPV growth was 11%. Source
  • Operating cash flow more than doubled: Net cash from operating activities was $1,983 million, up 121%. Free cash flow was $1,775 million, up 157%. Adjusted free cash flow, which excludes BNPL held-for-sale timing, was $1,832 million. Source
  • Transformation plan sharpened, roadmap set: The release headline describes the transformation as having a clear strategy and roadmap. Management said it moved to sharpen the transformation plan. Source

“We moved with urgency to sharpen our transformation plan and advance our growth strategies across our three businesses.”

Enrique Lores President and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Non-GAAP EPS SourceFull year 2026~$5.38Raised from Low-single digit decline to slightly positive
Non-GAAP adjustments SourceThird quarter 2026approximately $35 millionNew
Non-GAAP adjustments SourceFull year 2026approximately $350 millionRaised from approximately $225 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year non-GAAP transaction margin dollars and non-GAAP EPS guidance were raised. Full-year non-GAAP adjustments rose to about $350 million from about $225 million. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year GAAP EPS guidance was kept at a mid-single digit decline. Source
  • New guidance: Third-quarter GAAP and non-GAAP EPS guidance was given, each as a low-single digit decline from prior-year levels of $1.30 and $1.34. Source
  • New: Management said it moved to sharpen the transformation plan and advance growth strategies across three businesses. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net revenue up 5%, 3% currency-neutral: Net revenues were $8,682 million, up 5% from $8,288 million a year earlier, or 3% currency-neutral. First-quarter net revenue growth was 7%. Source
  • Operating income fell 5%, non-GAAP 8%: GAAP operating income was $1,427 million, down 5%. Non-GAAP operating income was $1,507 million, down 8%, from $1,644 million a year earlier. Source
  • EPS down slightly; investment losses weighed: GAAP diluted EPS was $1.25, down 3%. Non-GAAP EPS was $1.38, down 1%. GAAP EPS included about $0.07 of negative impact from strategic investments and crypto assets. Source
  • Transaction revenue up 5%: Transaction revenues were $7,832 million, up 5% and 90% of net revenues. Other value added services revenue was $850 million, flat year on year. Source

Segments and regions

  • U.S. revenue up 7%: U.S. net revenues were $5,048 million, up 7% and 58% of the total. U.S. growth was 9% in the first quarter. Source
  • International up 2%, down 3% FXN: International net revenues were $3,634 million, up 2% reported and down 3% currency-neutral. International was 42% of net revenues. First-quarter reported growth was 4%. Source
  • Venmo, Braintree and financial services cited: Management cited momentum in Venmo and Braintree, stabilization in branded checkout, and diversification of the business model through financial services. Source
  • Interest on customer balances fell $37 million: Interest on customer balances was $281 million, down from $318 million. Management said it is primarily driven by interest rates and balance levels. Source

“Based on the strength of our execution and confidence in the trajectory of the business, we're raising our full-year non-GAAP guidance.”

Enrique Lores President and CEO

Customers and engagement

  • Active accounts up 0.3% to 439M: Active accounts reached 439 million, up 0.3% year on year. Sequentially, active accounts fell by 0.2 million, or 0.04%. Source
  • Transactions per account up 3%: Payment transactions per active account on a trailing 12-month basis were 60.0, up 3%. Excluding PSP, the measure rose 7%. The first-quarter figure was 58.7. Source
  • Ex-PSP transactions rose 7%: Payment transactions excluding payment service provider transactions rose 7%. The exclusion removes unbranded card processing transactions and accounts. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Transaction expense rate edged up: Transaction expense was $4,385 million, up from $3,968 million. It was 0.90% of TPV, against 0.89% a year earlier. Source
  • Credit losses down on lower loss rate: Transaction and credit losses were $397 million, down from $476 million. The loss rate was 0.08% of TPV, against 0.11% a year earlier. Source
  • Transaction margin fell to 44.9%: Transaction margin dollars were $3,900 million, up 1%. Excluding interest on customer balances, they rose 3% to $3,619 million. Transaction margin was 44.9%, against 46.4% a year earlier. Source
  • Operating margin down 171 basis points: GAAP operating margin was 16.4%, down 171 basis points. Non-GAAP operating margin was 17.4%, down 248 basis points from 19.8%. Source
  • Other expense rose on investment losses: Other income and expense was a net expense of $117 million, against $25 million of income a year earlier. Non-GAAP adjustments included $81 million of net losses on strategic investments and crypto assets. Source

“Our transformation is well underway, and we're executing with discipline on our priorities to deliver durable, profitable growth over the long term.”

Enrique Lores President and CEO

Volumes and demand

  • Total payment volume up 10%: Total payment volume reached $486.4 billion, up 10% and 9% currency-neutral. First-quarter TPV growth was 11%. Source
  • Payment transactions up 8% to 6.8 billion: Payment transactions were 6,750 million, up 8% from 6,226 million a year earlier. First-quarter transaction growth was 7%. Source
  • TPV up 5% on first quarter: TPV rose 5% from $464.0 billion in the first quarter, which had itself fallen 2% from the prior quarter. Source

Cash, balance sheet and capital returns

  • Operating cash flow more than doubled: Net cash from operating activities was $1,983 million, up 121%. Free cash flow was $1,775 million, up 157%. Adjusted free cash flow, which excludes BNPL held-for-sale timing, was $1,832 million. Source
  • Share repurchases of $1.5 billion: The company returned $1.5 billion by repurchasing about 33 million shares in the quarter. Over the trailing 12 months, repurchases totaled $6.0 billion, about 111 million shares. Source
  • Cash and investments and debt both rose: Cash, cash equivalents and investments totaled $15.3 billion at June 30, up from $13.5 billion at March 31. Debt totaled $13.4 billion, up from $11.6 billion. Source

Strategy and transformation

  • Transformation plan sharpened, roadmap set: The release headline describes the transformation as having a clear strategy and roadmap. Management said it moved to sharpen the transformation plan. Source
  • Restructuring charges $113 million: Restructuring and other charges were $113 million, against $116 million a year earlier. Non-GAAP results excluded $46 million of restructuring charges. Source
  • Technology spend rose to $849M: Technology and development expense was $849 million, up from $767 million a year earlier. Sales and marketing expense fell to $546 million from $583 million. Source

Coming up, as management said on 28 July 2026

  • Dividend payment and record date: The Board declared a $0.14 per share dividend, payable September 25, 2026, to holders of record at the close of business on September 4, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total payment volume Source$486.4 billion
Number of payment transactions Source6.8 billion
Active accounts Source439 million
Payment transactions per active account (trailing 12 months) Source60.0

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Gains and losses on strategic investments and crypto assets held for investment affect GAAP results. Management said they are tied to portfolio performance and market sentiment. Source
  • External: Interest on customer balances fell year on year. Management said it is primarily driven by interest rates and the level of account balances, which it does not control. Source
  • Operational: Full-year non-GAAP figures exclude potential second-half 2026 transformation-related charges, which could be recorded in GAAP results. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management reaffirmed the full-year GAAP EPS guidance while raising non-GAAP guidance. Source
  • Not stated: Management described the transformation as well underway and said it is executing on its priorities. Source

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.