Is eBay actually sexy again as ecommerce’s old timer inventory surges to an all-time high?
eBay turned 30 this September and shows signs that the company is beginning to turn its clock back.
The auction giant’s stock jumped more than 19% on Thursday, surpassing analyst expectations and far more bleak outlook than it had been on the backdrop of an all-time high of $92 revenue growth and revenue.
That’s the good news about the top line.
However, the reality check is that eBay still accounts for less than 4% of the total US e-commerce market, compared to about 40%. Amazon6% Walmartand discounts from Temu or pressure from product-specific apps and market collections Live streaming commerce startup worth $5 billion.
So what will give? Where is it? eBay Is optimism anomaly and blips in this present moment, or, as internet analyst Mark Mahoney wrote in his research notes on Thursday, “something at the inflection point?”
As Mahaney wrote, eBay’s total volume and revenue growth rates both rose 4% year-on-year in the past quarter, excluding the impact of changes in the foreign exchange rate. These numbers sound slightly, but the commerce marketplace has grown in two years is the fastest.
The former e-commerce darlings are trying to lean towards historic strengths and “focus areas” (the category of places where you can win), and it seems to be rewarding. These categories increased 10% in the quarter compared to all other approximately 1%.
“Collectibles once again made the biggest contribution to growth as trading cards accelerated in the 10th quarter, with continued momentum in both collectible card games and sports trading cards.”
Collectable categories have been booming all around since the start of the pandemic, as nostalgia, coupled with new shopping experiences and sales tactics, has sparked renewed interest in trading and sports cards such as Pokemon. A startup is like a fanatic, a fanatic Courtyard selling $50 million cards and cartoons a monthplays a role. However, eBay remains the largest online player in the space, leveraging consumer interest.
That’s why the company is being pushed offensively into live streaming commerce on eBay Live. At eBay Live, fanatics and others have found success, and early signs are encouraging.
“We have already seen important evidence that live commerce can deepen engagement among eBay enthusiasts and unleash even greater speeds in our strongest industry, which examines our ongoing investment in this experience.”
(To be worth it, top live streaming card seller Rene Nezhoda, Storage Wars Fame said this about eBay Live when I interviewed him about his business. “You wouldn’t be surprised if eBay Live became a market leader because they have such a large user database.” He said luck June. )
eBay’s Iannone said his company also sees the benefits of both top line and bottom line from integrating Klarna Buy. Agent AI has experience in shopping marketplaces For both buyers or sellers, it is too early to tell them whether the latter will increase their business in the long term.
No, eBay is not affected by the US-China tariff war, but it should not be crippled by it. No, for giants like Amazon and Walmart, it’s not a threat to specialize in everyday new products. But while riding on a historically powerful product category, while catching up with table stakes in new industries like the popular payment types such as sellers and buyers Gen AI integration, Klarna, the future of the company 30 years ago looks brighter than it has long had. And it’s nothing.