<div id="readability-page-1"><div> <h2>Key Points</h2><ul><li>Teladoc's headwinds seem almost insurmountable right now.</li><li>PayPal has strengths and opportunities that could allow it to bounce back.</li><li>10 stocks we like better than PayPal ›</li></ul>Some stocks saw massive surges during the early pandemic years because their businesses were well-positioned to perform well in that environment. Many of them have given back those gains, and then some, since then. Two corporations that fit this description are Teladoc Health (NYSE: TDOC) and PayPal (NASDAQ: PYPL). Both companies are down by more than 80% over the past five years. If they can recover, Teladoc and PayPal may offer patient investors who purchase their shares at current levels outstanding returns over the long run, making them potential generational buying opportunities. However, their shares could continue sinking if they fail to address their challenges. Should investors take a chance on Teladoc, PayPal, or both?<img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://g.foolcdn.com/image//query-dXJsPWh0dHBzOi8vZy5mb29sY2RuLmNvbS9lZGl0b3JpYWwvaW1hZ2VzLzg2NzE3MC9wYXlwYWwtYW5kLXRlbGFkb2MtbG9nb3MucG5nJnc9NzAw?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="700" height="466" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://g.foolcdn.com/image//query-dXJsPWh0dHBzOi8vZy5mb29sY2RuLmNvbS9lZGl0b3JpYWwvaW1hZ2VzLzg2NzE3MC9wYXlwYWwtYW5kLXRlbGFkb2MtbG9nb3MucG5nJnc9NzAw"/>Image source: The Motley Fool.Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an &#34;Indispensable Monopoly&#34; providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue » <h2>1. Teladoc Health </h2>Teladoc is a telemedicine specialist. Patients can get basic consultations with doctors from the comfort of their homes through its platform, along with prescriptions and referrals. In some cases, that gets the job done without patients needing to see doctors in person, which saves everyone involved time and money. Teladoc has established itself as a notable player. The company's ecosystem featured more than 100 million members as of the end of 2025.Why, then, has Teladoc significantly lagged the market in recent years? Here are two reasons. First, the company encountered significant competition. Between other telehealth companies seeking to eat Teladoc's lunch, major corporations with deep existing ecosystems developing their own dedicated virtual conference platforms for telemedicine visits, and a shift back to in-person care, the company's total visits haven't grown much in recent years. Teladoc Health has faced particular challenges in the virtual therapy niche where it competes through BetterHelp. Once its most important growth drivers, BetterHelp's memberships and revenue have been declining. Second, Teladoc Health has remained unprofitable, partly due to high customer acquisition costs and the impact of acquisitions on its bottom line. Can Teladoc turn things around? The company has been expanding internationally while seeking third-party coverage for BetterHelp, which could help increase the service's appeal. However, Teladoc has had little success with that goal. Meanwhile, even though international revenue is growing at a good clip, investors should consider the possibility that Teladoc will, eventually, face the same challenges abroad. In my view, the stock is unlikely to recover anytime soon. It's best to stay away. <h2>2. PayPal </h2>The popularity of e-commerce -- which requires digital payment methods -- soared during the pandemic. That allowed PayPal to post some of its best quarters ever. However, once things cooled down, the company's active accounts growth stalled, as did revenue and earnings growth. That said, I remain bullish on PayPal's future. Here are three reasons why. First, the company has developed a brand name and remains a trusted player in its niche of the fintech industry. That could be particularly important as the market continues to grow. Second, PayPal has arguably built a strong competitive edge thanks to network effects. The company ended 2025 with 439 million active accounts (up 1.1% year over year in the fourth quarter), along with a massive total payment volume of $1.79 trillion for the year, up 7% from 2024.PayPal's large payment volume and significant adoption among both businesses and consumers attract more players on both sides of the commerce equation. Third, PayPal has attractive growth opportunities ahead. One of the most exciting is its push into digital advertising. PayPal has a massive amount of data on consumer shopping habits and preferences at its disposal to help companies craft highly targeted ads. This high-margin opportunity could help boost the company's revenue and earnings in the long run, even if it takes a little while for PayPal to scale this business. So, PayPal remains a top stock to buy and hold, especially at current levels. <h2>Should you buy stock in PayPal right now?</h2> Before you buy stock in PayPal, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and PayPal wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $498,522!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,276,807!* Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 983% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 200% for the S&amp;P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of April 27, 2026. Prosper Junior Bakiny has positions in PayPal. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends PayPal and Teladoc Health. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: short June 2026 $50 calls on PayPal. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc. </div></div>

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The article discusses the potential of Teladoc Health and PayPal as investment opportunities. Both companies have seen significant declines, with Teladoc facing competition and profitability issues, while PayPal's growth has stalled post-pandemic. Despite challenges, PayPal is viewed positively due to its brand strength and growth prospects in digital advertising. Investors are cautioned to consider alternatives, as PayPal was not included in a list of top recommended stocks. Overall, Teladoc is seen as a risky investment, while PayPal may offer long-term potential if it can capitalize on its strengths.

- Teladoc Health is facing significant competition and profitability challenges, leading to its stock performance lagging in recent years.  
- Conversely, PayPal has established a strong brand and network effects, with growth opportunities in digital advertising despite a slowdown in user growth.  
- While Teladoc is seen as a risky investment, PayPal is regarded as a potential buy due to its long-term growth prospects.

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