Etsy shares swing on bold AI bet

Core Insights - Etsy is utilizing artificial intelligence to drive growth, which has led to significant fluctuations in its stock price [1] Group 1: Partnership and Innovations - OpenAI announced a partnership with Etsy, allowing U.S. ChatGPT users to shop directly with Etsy sellers through the chat interface [2] - The integration connects millions of ChatGPT users to 5.4 million active Etsy sellers, positioning Etsy within the emerging concept of "agentic commerce" [3] Group 2: Stock Performance and Analyst Sentiment - Following the AI announcement, Etsy's stock surged 12% to a 52-week high, but subsequently fell 10.7% after analysts expressed concerns about the sustainability of AI-driven commerce [3][4] - Morgan Stanley reiterated an Equal Weight rating with a price target of $54, suggesting that the initial enthusiasm may be overblown [4] - Conversely, BTIG raised its price target on Etsy to $81 from $72, maintaining a Buy rating, indicating a more optimistic outlook on the potential of ChatGPT and agentic innovation [5] Group 3: Financial Performance - Etsy's Gross Merchandise Sales (GMS) decreased by 4.8% year-over-year to $2.8 billion, while net income dropped 46% to $28.8 million, largely due to foreign exchange losses [6] - Revenue increased by 3.8% to $672.7 million, primarily driven by Etsy Ads and payment services [6] - Depop, acquired for $1.6 billion, showed strong performance with GMS rising 35% year-over-year to $250 million, and U.S. growth accelerating by 54% [7]