2 Fintech Stocks to Buy After They Raised Their 2026 Forecasts in October

SoFi and PayPal both lifted their 2026 outlooks in October, and the valuation gap between the two names is wide: SOFI trades at a forward P/E of 19.6, while PYPL sits at 9.7x forward earnings.

SOFI carries the stronger growth case. The company added a record 1.2 million customers and raised its 2026 revenue forecast to $5 billion. It also set stronger 2027 earnings targets. The source pegs SOFI's upside potential at 25%.

PYPL took a different route. It raised its adjusted EPS outlook to $5.60, which at 9.7x forward earnings frames the stock as a value play. Upside potential is only 5%, and the source flags that PayPal still has to prove its turnaround initiatives can accelerate growth.

Interpretation: the market is paying a premium for SOFI's customer-driven expansion, and PYPL's low multiple suggests investors want evidence before rewarding the guidance raise. The 25% versus 5% upside gap reinforces that split between a growth bet and a cheaper, slower-moving name.