New York, Feb 27, 2026, 14:39 EST — Regular session underway.
- PayPal edged up 0.3% to $45.65 during afternoon hours, clawing back a bit following Thursday’s 3.8% slide.
- Semafor reported that PayPal isn’t pursuing a sale and has instead been getting ready for potential activist scrutiny.
- All eyes on Enrique Lores, who steps in as CEO March 1, with investors waiting to hear if he has anything new to say.
PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL) edged up 0.3% to $45.65 on Friday, clawing back a bit after sliding 3.78% the previous day. A report indicated PayPal isn’t discussing a sale, shutting down the takeover buzz that sent the stock surging earlier this week. 1
PayPal is grabbing headlines these days. After February’s steep reset, the stock is still searching for stability. Each fresh rumor, or silence, about a potential deal keeps jostling the tape.
According to Semafor, PayPal “isn’t currently in talks to sell itself — to Stripe or anyone else.” Executives, concerned by the drop in shares, have spent months with bankers gearing up for the possibility of an activist push or an unsolicited takeover attempt. 2
Reuters, pointing to a Bloomberg News story, said earlier this week that Stripe is weighing a move to buy all or some of PayPal. The report put Stripe’s valuation at $159 billion. Stripe and PayPal would not comment. 3
Investors are caught between a pair of narratives here—a potential buyout is in the air, but the board’s posture seems more defensive than open to offers.
Analysts have pointed out that buying all of PayPal would be a stretch given its scale, so the focus may end up on parts of the business, not the entire company. According to Investors.com, some analysts flagged assets like Venmo as more realistic buyout candidates compared to a full take-private of PayPal. 4
During PayPal’s Feb. 3 earnings call, interim CEO Jamie Miller admitted, “our execution has not been what it needs to be,” adding that the company “not moved fast enough.” She informed investors as well that Enrique Lores will step in as the next president and CEO starting March 1.
Earlier this month, PayPal announced that HP Inc.’s president and CEO, Lores, would take over for Alex Chriss as CEO. The board cited disappointing progress on change and execution. PayPal’s adjusted quarterly earnings landed at $1.23 a share, with revenue totaling $8.68 billion—both figures came in below forecasts. The company also projected a weaker profit for the first quarter. 5
Traders looking for the next signal might want to skip the press releases and watch the filings. When activist investors take a significant position, SEC paperwork usually follows—sometimes with language hinting at a possible public push.
Deal chatter can vanish just as quickly as it appears. Any private buyer eyeing a big public company would have to lock in financing, and hurdles with payments could invite a closer look from regulators. Meanwhile, PayPal still faces pressure to prove it can reignite growth and hold its ground against well-funded competitors. Also, a law firm said a securities class action lawsuit has been filed, with investors given until April 20 to seek lead plaintiff status. 6
Next up: March 1. That’s when Lores steps in as CEO, and traders are looking for signals—will he lay out a sharper strategy, shuffle assets, or clarify the company’s position in the event of a takeover offer right out of the gate?
