US EditionWhy Is PayPal Stock Falling Thursday? - PayPal Holdings (NASDAQ:PYPL)
PayPal works with bankers to prepare for activist investor campaigns amid Stripe's reported interest in acquiring PayPal and Venmo, sources told Semafor and Bloomberg.
- On February 26, 2026, Bloomberg reported that Stripe expressed interest in buying some or all of PayPal Holdings, including Venmo, while Stripe declined to comment on the reports.
- Bankers inside PayPal reported they worked with Alex Chriss, PayPal's now-ousted CEO, while PayPal's incoming CEO starts next week and talks require the interregnum to end.
- Deal mechanics complicate a bid because privately held buyers like Stripe cannot pay with their own shares and need strong debt backing; rare deals use workarounds like the tracking-stock workaround.
- Unnamed sources told Semafor that PayPal has been working with bankers to prepare for a possible activist investor campaign or hostile takeover, though Semafor posted on February 26, 2026 that PayPal may not be pursuing an acquisition.
- Historic deals suggest large transactions need the target's support and deep pockets, as Mars showed buying Kellanova last year, while Dell used tracking stock in its 2016 EMC purchase.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Exclusive: Paypal, Stripe not currently in talks
The ScoopPayPal isn’t currently in talks to sell itself — to Stripe or anyone else — and has been working for months with bankers to prepare for a potential activist campaign or unwanted takeover bid, according to people familiar with the matter. The process followed a steep decline in PayPal shares that executives worried could leave the company vulnerable, the people said. Bankers began working with PayPal under former CEO Alex Chriss, who was…
Why Is PayPal Stock Falling Thursday? - PayPal Holdings (NASDAQ:PYPL)
PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL) shares fell Thursday as takeover chatter swirled again. The Venmo parent has reportedly not opened sale negotiations with Stripe, or any other suitor, Semafor reports, citing people familiar with the matter. PayPal has worked for months with bankers on preparations for an activist campaign or unwanted takeover bid. Executives grew concerned after the stock's steep slide, the report adds. The banker outreach be…
Zero Hedge
Nemos News NetworkPayPal Slides After Report Says Stripe Not In Takeover Talks
ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero
PayPal stock steadies in premarket as report cools Stripe takeover chatter
PayPal shares rose 1.2% to $46.08 in Friday premarket trading after a volatile week driven by buyout speculation involving Stripe, which both firms declined to confirm. Semafor later reported no current sale talks are underway. Thursday’s session saw heavy trading and a 3.8% drop. PayPal is also promoting new embedded payment products and highlighted its ranking in the 2026 Evident AI Index for Payments. The post PayPal stock steadies in premark…
The PayPal payment service has expected a takeover interest and wants to defend itself, reports a US news page. Stripe is probably going out empty.
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