PayPal

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PayPal

PayPal is an online service that allows users to make payments and transfer money over the Internet. Founded in 1998, the company was formerly known as X.com.

Introduced: PayPal held its initial public offering on Feb. 14, 2002.
Immediate stock impact: By May 30, PayPal shares had risen from $13 to almost $30.
Long-term performance: After less than eight months as a public company, PayPal was bought by eBay (EBAY) for $1.5 billion. The shares had risen 56% in that time.