TLDR
- PayPal has been named the official P2P payments partner of the NFL, covering fan payments globally.
- PYPL stock climbed above $51 following the announcement, after an initial dip of over 1.5%.
- Bank of America raised its price target on PYPL to $55, implying ~8% upside.
- BMO Capital initiated coverage with a Market Perform rating and a $52 target.
- Cantor Fitzgerald raised its target to $54, while Mizuho downgraded PYPL and cut its target to $50.
PayPal has struck a deal with the NFL to become the league’s official peer-to-peer payments partner. The agreement puts PayPal at the center of fan transactions, covering tickets, group payments, and game-day spending.
However your group chat does football, we’re ready to support your money moves this season. PayPal is proud to be the Official Peer-to-Peer Payments Partner of the @nfl. pic.twitter.com/CQ14QR5oJs
— PayPal (@PayPal) April 21, 2026
The platform’s 430 million users, including over 100 million Venmo users in the U.S., will be able to send, split, and pool money directly through the app. The NFL’s reach across 110 countries makes this a cross-border play too.
PYPL stock initially dropped more than 1.5% as the news spread, though analysts suggest that move was more about the stock’s existing weakness than any reaction to the deal itself. It then reversed course, climbing past $51.
The updated PayPal app is expected to roll out faster payment tools, including phone number search and PayPal links. These features let users send money via text, email, and messaging platforms.
Group payment flows are also being simplified, with quicker options to split and settle costs. Security features include encryption on all transactions and instant access to received funds.
PayPal also plans to give away up to $1 million in rewards during key NFL events. Fan perks like sweepstakes, ticket access, and exclusive experiences are part of the package too.
Analyst Targets Move After NFL Announcement
Bank of America raised its PYPL price target to $55 following the deal, implying roughly 8% upside from current levels. Despite the upgrade in target, the bank kept its Hold rating on the stock.
BMO Capital initiated coverage on PYPL the same week with a Market Perform rating and a $52 price target. The firm called out PayPal’s scale as a key strength but flagged ongoing competition from Apple Pay, Shopify, and Stripe.
BMO also noted that PayPal is now on its third leadership team in as many years. The firm cited elevated risk around strategy and execution as factors weighing on the company’s turnaround potential.
The stock currently trades at a P/E ratio of 9.45 with a PEG ratio of 0.25, which BMO views as fairly valued. PYPL is down around 27% over the past six months.
Cantor Fitzgerald also raised its target to $54, maintaining a Neutral rating. The firm pointed to a solid consumer backdrop as a potential support for future results.
Mizuho Cuts Target as Competition Weighs
Not everyone is bullish. Mizuho downgraded PYPL from Outperform to Neutral and cut its price target to $50. The firm cited rising competition and lower growth expectations for both Venmo and PayPal’s branded checkout.
Loop Capital initiated coverage with a Hold rating and a $46 target, the most cautious of the bunch. It flagged market share concerns and the ongoing transition under a new CEO.
On the product side, PayPal recently integrated its Payment Links feature into Canva, letting users accept payments directly from their designs. Transactions can flow through PayPal, Venmo, and PayPal Pay Later without a separate website.
Michael Burry has also recently disclosed an interest in PayPal, suggesting the broader decline in software stocks was driven by technical factors rather than weak fundamentals.
BMO’s $52 target reflects a view that PYPL is fairly valued at current levels, with the analyst pointing to low expectations and planned share buybacks as factors supporting that assessment.
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