Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · May 26
PayPal Reorganizes Into 3 Divisions, Leans on AI as Branded Checkout Growth Slows to 2%
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · May 26

PayPal Reorganizes Into 3 Divisions, Leans on AI as Branded Checkout Growth Slows to 2%

1 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · May 26
  • Enrique Lores, installed as PayPal CEO in February, unveiled a cost-cutting overhaul that splits the company into three divisions and puts more emphasis on artificial intelligence.
  • The shake-up follows a sharp slowdown in PayPal’s core branded checkout business, which grew just 2% in the first quarter and triggered an almost 8% share drop.
  • Competition has intensified across payments: Apple Pay has overtaken PayPal in checkout, while Shopify, Klarna, Affirm, Cash App and Zelle have chipped away at its core franchise.
  • PayPal’s stock is down nearly 40% over 12 months and about 80% over five years, reflecting investor concern over growth more than profitability after the company warned 2026 profit would fall.
  • Lores told shareholders he would provide a broader turnaround update in a few months, as analysts debate whether assets such as Venmo or Braintree could eventually be spun off.
Can PayPal's bet on AI shopping agents reverse its decline against the simple dominance of Apple Pay?
With massive profits but a falling stock, is PayPal a dying giant or a misunderstood powerhouse planning its comeback?