Core Insights - eBay is transitioning from a traditional marketplace to a high-margin advertising platform, indicating a shift in its business model and market perception [1][7] - The upcoming quarterly results are expected to show earnings per share of approximately $1.35 and revenue around $2.87 billion, reflecting continued growth despite economic challenges [2][3] Financial Performance - In the most recent quarter, eBay's revenue increased by about 9% year over year, while gross merchandise volume (GMV) rose by 8%, demonstrating resilience in its marketplace operations [3] - Advertising revenue reached $525 million in the third quarter, accounting for 2.6% of GMV, highlighting the rapid growth of eBay's advertising business [5] Business Model Evolution - eBay's advertising segment is growing faster than its core business, which enhances the quality of its earnings as it does not rely on inventory or shipping [5][7] - The company is evolving into a monetization platform that leverages AI-driven tools and promoted listings to maximize transaction value [7] Investment Considerations - The stock is viewed as a long-term investment opportunity rather than a short-term trade, with consistent share buybacks and dividends contributing to its appeal as a cash-generating platform [8] - Potential investors are advised to consider buying eBay only if they are prepared to hold for years, focusing on the long-term impact of its advertising and platform shift [10]

The fourth quarter earnings season is entering the final stretch. As of Feb. 13, 74% of S&P 500 (^GSPC) companies have reported results, according to FactSet data, and blended earnings growth — meaning a combination of reported results from companies and projected profits from analysts — stands at 13.2%. If that growth rate holds, it would represent the 10th consecutive quarter of annual earnings growth for the index and the fifth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth. Heading into the reporting p ...

Core Insights - Lindsell Train Ltd reported an equity portfolio valued at approximately $4.1–4.2 billion, maintaining a focus on a limited number of dominant consumer, media, and financial franchises [1][10] - The portfolio is highly concentrated, with the top 10 holdings accounting for over 90% of total assets, reflecting a belief in long-term brand power and cash generation [2][10] Portfolio Overview - Total Portfolio Value: ~$4.1–4.2 billion [2] - Top 10 Holdings: - TKO Group Holdings: ~$597 million (14.6%) - Alphabet (Class A): ~$543 million (13.3%) - Walt Disney: ~$427 million (10.5%) - Intuit: ~$418 million (10.3%) - Thermo Fisher Scientific: ~$397 million (9.7%) - Fair Isaac: ~$334 million (8.2%) - Mondelez International: ~$314 million (7.7%) - PepsiCo: ~$309 million (7.6%) - PayPal: ~$301 million (7.4%) - eBay: ~$223 million (5.5%) [2] Changes in Holdings - Notable Add: Alphabet (Class A) saw an increase of ~206,000 shares (+10.1% QoQ), reinforcing its role as a core long-term investment [3] - Major Trims: - TKO Group Holdings reduced by ~219,000 shares (-6.9% QoQ) - Walt Disney trimmed by ~361,000 shares (-8.8% QoQ) - Intuit reduced by ~54,000 shares (-8.1% QoQ) - Mondelez International trimmed by ~681,000 shares (-11.9% QoQ) - PepsiCo reduced by ~226,000 shares (-9.3% QoQ) - eBay reduced by ~830,000 shares (-25.3% QoQ) [8] Investment Strategy - The portfolio reflects a quality growth style focused on brand and intellectual property-led businesses, with a very long-term holding period and low turnover [9][10] - The strategy emphasizes disciplined capital allocation and patient ownership of high-return businesses, with modest rebalancing to enhance long-term compounding [11]

Core Insights - Retail marketplaces like Amazon and eBay are facing challenges from artificial intelligence shopping robots that are designed for human interaction [1][3] - The evolution of consumer shopping agents is expected to transition from product research to fully autonomous transactions, potentially disrupting traditional e-commerce models [2][3] Group 1: Market Dynamics - Merchants pay fees for access to large consumer bases and various services, including shipping and marketing [2] - The introduction of large language models (LLMs) in agentic commerce could lead to a scenario where consumers interact directly with these models, bypassing traditional marketplaces [3] Group 2: Company Responses - eBay has updated its user agreement to prohibit the use of agentic commerce tools without permission, aiming to maintain a predictable and safe interaction environment [4][5] - This update is intended to protect buyers and sellers while ensuring a reliable experience on the platform [5] Group 3: Risks and Concerns - The rise of agentic commerce presents a dual threat: potential erosion of customer relationships and increased fraud risk if payment decisions are outsourced to external systems [6][7] - Companies may lose brand exposure and customer loyalty when transactions occur within AI interfaces, impacting customer lifetime value [7]

Core Insights - eBay's stock has seen significant trading activity among institutional investors, with a notable increase in positions by several firms during the second quarter [1] - The company reported strong quarterly earnings, exceeding consensus estimates for both earnings per share and revenue, indicating a positive growth trajectory [2] - Insider trading activity shows a mix of selling by senior executives, which may reflect individual strategies rather than company performance [3] Institutional Investment - HB Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in eBay by 5.1%, acquiring 814 additional shares, bringing its total to 16,700 shares valued at $1.244 million [1] - Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. raised its position by 35.3%, now holding 139,739 shares worth $10.405 million after purchasing 36,481 shares [1] - Institutional investors and hedge funds collectively own 87.48% of eBay's stock, indicating strong institutional confidence in the company [1] Financial Performance - eBay reported earnings per share of $1.36 for the latest quarter, surpassing the consensus estimate of $1.33 by $0.03 [2] - The company's revenue for the quarter was $2.82 billion, up 9.5% year-over-year, compared to the previous year's revenue [2] - eBay's return on equity stood at 41.94%, with a net margin of 20.37%, reflecting strong profitability metrics [2] Stock Performance and Analyst Ratings - eBay's stock opened at $91.22, with a market capitalization of $41.23 billion and a P/E ratio of 19.83 [2] - Analysts have upgraded eBay's stock rating, with Barclays raising the price target from $92.00 to $105.00 and BMO Capital Markets increasing it from $102.00 to $107.00 [4] - The consensus rating for eBay is currently "Hold," with an average target price of $95.66 based on analyst evaluations [4] Insider Activity - Senior Vice President Jordan Douglas Bradle Sweetnam sold 35,305 shares at an average price of $81.54, resulting in a 92.50% decrease in his position [3] - Another senior vice president, Julie A. Loeger, sold 2,896 shares at an average price of $82.44, reflecting a 4.92% decrease in her ownership [3] - In total, insiders sold 53,675 shares valued at $4.388 million in the last quarter, indicating a trend of selling among company executives [3]

Core Viewpoint - eBay Inc. has transformed from a small auction site into a global commercial giant, currently valued at $43 billion, with a strong marketplace platform and mobile app suite [1] Financial Performance - eBay's stock has increased by 41.6% over the past 52 weeks and 9.3% year-to-date, outperforming the S&P 500 Index's 15% return and 1.9% increase in 2026 [2] - The company has also outperformed the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF, which rose by 5.2% over the past year and 2% this year [3] Business Growth and Strategy - eBay has seen a steady acceleration in Gross Merchandise Volume, indicating healthier marketplace activity, alongside meaningful improvements in revenue and earnings trends [4] - The company is focusing on categories where it has pricing power and loyal users, which has positively influenced investor sentiment [4] Strategic Acquisitions - The announcement of eBay's agreement to acquire Tise, a consumer-to-consumer social marketplace in Norway, has strengthened its global C2C presence and engagement with younger buyers [5] Earnings Outlook - For the fiscal year ending December 2025, analysts expect eBay to report a 12.5% year-over-year growth in adjusted EPS to $4.42, with a strong earnings surprise history [6] - eBay holds a consensus "Moderate Buy" rating from analysts, with a distribution of opinions including nine "Strong Buys," two "Moderate Buys," 21 "Holds," one "Moderate Sell," and one "Strong Sell" [6]

Core Viewpoint - eBay is implementing a ban on third-party "buy-for-me" agents and AI chatbots from interacting with its platform without consent, effective February 20, as part of an update to its terms of service [2][3]. Group 1: eBay's Policy Changes - The new terms explicitly prohibit the use of any automated means, including buy-for-me agents and AI-driven bots, to place orders without human review [2]. - This update follows a previous version of the agreement that did not specifically mention AI agents, indicating a shift in eBay's approach to automated interactions [3]. Group 2: Industry Context - The report highlights a broader trend in eCommerce where companies like Amazon are also blocking third-party AI shopping tools to protect their direct relationships with consumers and control over data [4]. - Amazon has taken legal action against AI agents that conduct purchases on behalf of users, emphasizing the competitive landscape regarding AI in retail [4]. Group 3: AI Investments - Both eBay and Amazon are investing significantly in their own AI technologies, with eBay introducing an AI assistant for messaging to enhance customer interactions [5]. - eBay described the previous year as "transformative" for its AI initiatives, deploying new tools aimed at improving the experience for both sellers and buyers [6].

Core Viewpoint - The comparison between TripAdvisor (TRIP) and eBay (EBAY) indicates that TRIP is currently more attractive to value investors due to its stronger earnings estimate revisions and more favorable valuation metrics [1][3][7]. Valuation Metrics - TripAdvisor has a forward P/E ratio of 7.68, significantly lower than eBay's forward P/E of 15.89, suggesting that TRIP is undervalued relative to EBAY [5]. - The PEG ratio for TRIP is 0.67, while eBay's PEG ratio is 1.77, indicating that TRIP has a better growth-to-price ratio [5]. - TripAdvisor's P/B ratio stands at 2.25, compared to eBay's P/B of 8.99, further highlighting TRIP's more attractive valuation [6]. Analyst Outlook - TripAdvisor holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), reflecting a more positive earnings estimate revision trend compared to eBay, which has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [3]. - The stronger estimate revision activity for TRIP suggests an improving analyst outlook, making it a more favorable option for value investors [7]. Value Grades - TripAdvisor has received a Value grade of A, while eBay has a Value grade of C, indicating that TRIP is perceived as a better value investment based on key fundamental metrics [6].

Core Viewpoint - eBay Inc. is a leading e-commerce platform with a market cap of approximately $41.5 billion, connecting millions of buyers and sellers through various sales formats [1]. Financial Performance - eBay is expected to report Q4 2025 earnings of $1.08 per share, a 5.9% increase from $1.02 per share in the same quarter last year [2]. - For fiscal 2025, analysts forecast an EPS of $4.42, reflecting a 12.5% increase from $3.93 in fiscal 2024, with further growth expected in fiscal 2026 to $4.78 per share, an 8.1% year-over-year increase [3]. Stock Performance - eBay's stock has surged 37% over the past 52 weeks, outperforming the S&P 500 Index's 13.3% gain and the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF's 3.9% rise during the same period [4]. Revenue and Growth Metrics - In Q3 ended September 30, eBay reported revenue of $2.8 billion, a 9% year-over-year increase, while GMV reached $20.1 billion, up around 10% year-over-year [7]. - Non-GAAP EPS for the same quarter was $1.36, representing a 14% rise compared to the previous year [7]. Analyst Sentiment - The consensus view on eBay is moderately optimistic, with a "Moderate Buy" rating. Out of 34 analysts, nine recommend a "Strong Buy," two suggest "Moderate Buy," 21 advise a "Hold," one gives a "Moderate Sell," and one "Strong Sell." The mean price target of $96 indicates an upside potential of 5.8% [8]. Strategic Initiatives - eBay's stock performance is attributed to better-than-expected earnings and revenue growth, driven by consistent GMV increases, enhanced AI-powered tools, improved seller experiences, and strategic partnerships [6].

Core Viewpoint - eBay Inc. is recognized as one of the best jewellery stocks to invest in currently [1] Group 1: Analyst Coverage - Morgan Stanley has raised its price target for eBay Inc. to $112 from $102, maintaining an Overweight rating [2] - The firm anticipates that the internet industry in 2026 will mirror the performance of 2025, with a focus on businesses leveraging GenAI or GPU technology for capital returns [2] - Specific sectors such as smaller advertising platforms, e-commerce, travel, and ridesharing are expected to experience valuation multiples influenced by autonomous vehicles [2] Group 2: Corporate Developments - eBay Inc. is expanding its Circular Fashion Fund in 2026 to include applications from Canada, Switzerland, and the European Union for the first time [3] - This expansion broadens the fund's reach beyond its existing markets, which include the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia, thereby extending the circular fashion concept to North America and Europe [3]