Stevens Capital Management LP Makes New Investment in PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL)

Key Points

• Stevens Capital Management LP has purchased a new stake in PayPal Holdings, acquiring 5,142 shares valued at approximately $336,000 during the first quarter.
• Insider trading activity was noted, with executives Diego Scotti and Suzan Kereere selling shares, each reducing their stake by 18.43% and 7.91%, respectively.
• Wall Street analysts maintain a consensus rating of “Hold” for PayPal, with an average target price of $83.13, reflecting a mix of buy, hold, and sell ratings from various firms.

Stevens Capital Management LP bought a new position in PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL - Free Report) during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm bought 5,142 shares of the credit services provider's stock, valued at approximately $336,000.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Security National Bank of SO Dak increased its position in PayPal by 1.1% in the fourth quarter. Security National Bank of SO Dak now owns 12,191 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $1,041,000 after buying an additional 137 shares during the period. Cohen & Steers Inc. increased its holdings in shares of PayPal by 5.1% during the fourth quarter. Cohen & Steers Inc. now owns 3,016 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $257,000 after purchasing an additional 145 shares during the period. Redwood Financial Network Corp increased its holdings in shares of PayPal by 4.8% during the fourth quarter. Redwood Financial Network Corp now owns 3,208 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $274,000 after purchasing an additional 147 shares during the period. DMC Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of PayPal by 2.0% during the first quarter. DMC Group LLC now owns 7,948 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $519,000 after purchasing an additional 155 shares during the period. Finally, Bryn Mawr Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of PayPal by 4.5% during the first quarter. Bryn Mawr Capital Management LLC now owns 3,590 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $234,000 after purchasing an additional 155 shares during the period. 68.32% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Diego Scotti sold 3,839 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $73.24, for a total transaction of $281,168.36. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 16,989 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,244,274.36. This trade represents a 18.43% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Suzan Kereere sold 4,162 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $73.24, for a total value of $304,824.88. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 48,483 shares of the company's stock, valued at $3,550,894.92. This trade represents a 7.91% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 11,796 shares of company stock worth $863,028. 0.08% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

PayPal Trading Up 0.2%

Shares of NASDAQ PYPL opened at $77.98 on Friday. PayPal Holdings, Inc. has a one year low of $55.85 and a one year high of $93.66. The firm has a market capitalization of $75.84 billion, a PE ratio of 17.45, a PEG ratio of 1.28 and a beta of 1.45. The company has a current ratio of 1.30, a quick ratio of 1.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $73.19 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $72.93.

PayPal (NASDAQ:PYPL - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 29th. The credit services provider reported $1.33 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.16 by $0.17. PayPal had a return on equity of 24.59% and a net margin of 14.26%. The firm had revenue of $7.79 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.84 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.08 EPS. The business's quarterly revenue was up 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts predict that PayPal Holdings, Inc. will post 5.03 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the company. Barclays raised their price target on PayPal from $80.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, July 18th. Citigroup lowered their price target on PayPal from $98.00 to $95.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, May 6th. Wall Street Zen raised PayPal from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, May 1st. Compass Point assumed coverage on PayPal in a report on Wednesday, April 23rd. They set a "sell" rating and a $56.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Evercore ISI assumed coverage on PayPal in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. They set an "in-line" rating and a $65.00 price target on the stock. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seventeen have issued a hold rating, eighteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, PayPal currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $83.13.

PayPal Profile

PayPal Holdings, Inc operates a technology platform that enables digital payments on behalf of merchants and consumers worldwide. It operates a two-sided network at scale that connects merchants and consumers that enables its customers to connect, transact, and send and receive payments through online and in person, as well as transfer and withdraw funds using various funding sources, such as bank accounts, PayPal or Venmo account balance, PayPal and Venmo branded credit products comprising its installment products, credit and debit cards, and cryptocurrencies, as well as other stored value products, including gift cards and eligible rewards.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest and most accurate reporting. This story was reviewed by MarketBeat's editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.