Back to top

Image: Bigstock

Why Is eBay (EBAY) Down 3.9% Since Last Earnings Report?

Read MoreHide Full Article

A month has gone by since the last earnings report for eBay (EBAY - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 3.9% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.

Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is eBay due for a breakout? Well, first let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent drivers for eBay Inc. before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.

EBAY Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates on Higher GMV and Ad Growth

eBay reported second-quarter 2026 non-GAAP earnings of $1.6 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.51 by 5.96%. The bottom line increased 16.8% year over year.

Net revenues of $3.13 billion increased 14.8% year over year and beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.85%. Growth was driven by continued strength in Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV) and advertising revenues. Total GMV rose 14.8% year over year to $22.4 billion, reflecting healthy marketplace activity.

EBAY's Advertising Business Drives Revenue Growth

eBay's first-party advertising products generated revenues of $570 million in the second quarter, up 25% year over year on an as-reported basis and 24% on an FX-neutral basis.

Total advertising offerings generated revenues of $596 million, representing 2.7% of Gross Merchandise Volume. The continued expansion of advertising remains an important contributor to the company's marketplace monetization strategy.

eBay Reports Higher GMV and Buyer Activity

Gross Merchandise Volume reached $22.4 billion, up 15% year over year on an as-reported basis and up 14% on an FX-neutral basis, reflecting sustained buyer demand across the marketplace.

The total GMV comprised U.S. GMV of $11.69 billion, which accounted for 52.2% of total GMV and increased 24% year over year. International GMV was $10.71 billion, accounting for 47.8% of total GMV, up 6% year over year.

Active buyers totaled 136 million at the end of the second quarter, increasing 2% year over year. Active buyers excluding the Tise acquisition also stood at 136 million.

EBAY Margins Improve Despite Higher Expenses

Operating expenses increased 8.3% year over year to $1.63 billion. As a percentage of net revenues, operating expenses improved to 51.9% from 55% in the year-ago quarter.

The non-GAAP operating margin expanded 20 basis points year over year to 28.5%, reflecting disciplined cost management alongside revenue growth. GAAP operating margin improved to 21.6% from 17.6% a year ago.

eBay Strengthens Balance Sheet and Returns Capital

As of June 30, 2026, cash and cash equivalents and non-equity investments totaled $4.9 billion, down sequentially from $5.1 billion as of March 31, 2026.

Long-term debt declined sequentially to $5.14 billion at the end of the second quarter from $5.99 billion in the prior quarter, following the repayment of $750 million in senior notes.

Cash flow from operating activities was $549 million in the second quarter, down sequentially from $970 million in the previous quarter. Free cash flow was $326 million, down sequentially from $898 million in the previous quarter.

During the quarter, eBay repurchased $310 million of shares, down sequentially from $500 million in the previous quarter, and paid cash dividends of $138 million compared with $139 million in the prior quarter. Approximately $2 billion remained under its share repurchase authorization as of June 30, 2026.

eBay Expands Strategic Initiatives and Raises Outlook

During the quarter, eBay completed the acquisition of Depop, strengthening its position in the consumer-to-consumer fashion marketplace. The company also expanded Authenticity Guarantee across fashion and collectibles, broadened AI-powered listing capabilities and continued scaling eBay Live, where GMV increased roughly eightfold year over year across seven markets.

For the third quarter of 2026, eBay expects revenues between $3.07 billion and $3.12 billion. On an FX-neutral basis, revenue growth is projected to be 8-10%.

Gross Merchandise Volume is expected to be in the range of $22 billion to $22.4 billion, with FX-neutral GMV growth of 10%-12%.

Non-GAAP earnings are projected between $1.36 and $1.42 per share, while GAAP earnings per share are expected in the range of 94-99 cents. The company also declared a third-quarter cash dividend of 31 cents per share.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?

Since the earnings release, investors have witnessed a downward trend in fresh estimates.

VGM Scores

At this time, eBay has a strong Growth Score of A, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with an F. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock has a grade of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for value investors.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of D. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

Outlook

Estimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. Interestingly, eBay has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.

Published in