📉 When Everyone Loved PayPal… That Was the Problem

Editorial illustration showing Wall Street analysts shifting sentiment on PayPal stock from bullish at its 2021 peak to bearish after its decline, highlighting market psychology and analyst herd behavior.

In mid-2021, PayPal was trading near $300, and Wall Street was basically holding hands and singing Kumbaya. Roughly 90% of analysts covering the stock rated it Buy or Strong Buy.
Zero sells. None. Zilch. 🚨

Goldman Sachs had targets north of $350, Morgan Stanley was Overweight, JPMorgan saw a “Super-App,” and Mizuho went full moonshot. The echo chamber was deafening.

Fast-forward to today: PayPal at ~$55, and suddenly the herd has flipped.
Latest move? Morgan Stanley cuts PYPL to $50 and keeps Underweight.
Consensus now: Hold… maybe… we’re nervous. 😬

Same company. More free cash flow. Very different mood.

📊 The FUNanc1al lesson:

  • When 90% of analysts agree, it’s usually time to check the exits.

  • When bullishness drops toward 40%, it may be time to check the entry.

In 2021, it was Pay-Pal.
In 2026, it’s Pain-Pal.

Crowds cheer at the top.
Crowds panic at the bottom.
Contrarians get curious in between. 🎯

📌 Receipts live on TipRanks, MarketBeat, and Nasdaq’s analyst history tabs.