EBay forecasts first-quarter revenue above estimates | ReutersSkip to main content[Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionalsLearn more aboutRefinitiv]Ebay logo is seen in this illustration taken February 11, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration [Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab]- Companies[Depop Limited]Follow[eBay Inc]Follow[ETSY Inc]FollowFeb 18 (Reuters) - EBay Inc [(EBAY.O), opens new tab] forecast first-quarter revenue above Wall Street estimates on Wednesday, signa ...

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The conference call discusses the Internet sector in North America, focusing on key debates and investment opportunities for 2026, including advancements in LLM (Large Language Models), GenAI (Generative AI), hyperscaler growth, autonomous driving, and the impact of AI on various industries [1][2]. Core Themes and Arguments 1. **Thematic Debates for 2026**: - Key debates shaping the sector include LLM advances, GenAI productization, hyperscaler growth, the future of search, autonomous driving, and robotics [1][2]. - The market is expected to reward companies demonstrating positive ROIC (Return on Invested Capital) from GenAI or GPU-enabled technologies, while sectors facing disruption, such as rideshare and e-commerce, may trade at lower multiples [2]. 2. **Hyperscaler Growth**: - There is a bullish outlook on hyperscaler growth in 2026, particularly for AWS, GCP, and Azure, driven by increased AI tech adoption and diffusion across the economy [2]. 3. **Investment Opportunities**: - Key picks for 2026 include AMZN (Amazon), META (Meta Platforms), DASH (DoorDash), EBAY (eBay), and RBLX (Roblox) [1][2]. Company-Specific Insights 1. **Amazon (AMZN)**: - Target Price: $315, implying ~27% upside. - Expected to leverage both AWS and Retail to drive GenAI adoption, with a projected durable growth rate of over 20% for AWS in 2026 [3]. - Investments in AI-driven shopping assistants and logistics are expected to enhance retail growth and profitability [3]. 2. **Meta Platforms (META)**: - Target Price: $750, with ~15% upside. - Anticipated improvements in core engagement and monetization, with a focus on productizing new LLMs to drive revenue growth [7]. 3. **DoorDash (DASH)**: - Target Price: $300, indicating ~39% upside. - Investments in a unified tech infrastructure and autonomous delivery are expected to enhance ROIC and overall business performance [9]. 4. **eBay (EBAY)**: - Target Price: $112, suggesting a 23% upside. - Market skepticism about sustainability and profitability of growth is noted, but durable tailwinds in collectibles and new initiatives are expected to drive GMV growth [13]. 5. **Roblox (RBLX)**: - Target Price: $155, with ~100% upside. - Strong user-generated content platform performance is expected to drive bookings and engagement growth, despite short-term risks [14]. Additional Important Insights - **GenAI and AI Adoption**: - The call emphasizes the importance of demonstrating ROI from AI investments, particularly as companies face rising model training costs [40][41]. - The anticipated rollout of new AI models and tools is expected to enhance product monetization and engagement across platforms [49]. - **Agentic Commerce**: - The rise of agentic offerings is expected to impact e-commerce significantly, with personalized shopping experiences likely to drive consumer spending [67][69]. - **Autonomous Driving**: - 2026 is projected to be an inflection year for autonomous driving, with significant advancements expected in service availability and technology [78][90]. - **Physical AI**: - Companies are increasingly focusing on real-world data capture and physical AI, with Amazon's robotics-enabled warehouses expected to have a substantial impact on efficiency and cost savings [98][100]. This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the conference call, highlighting the strategic outlook for the Internet sector and specific companies within it for 2026.

Investment Rating - The industry view for the Internet sector in North America is rated as Attractive [4][36]. Core Insights - The report highlights potential upside surprises in earnings for several companies, including Bumble Inc., Chewy Inc., Match Group Inc., and Trade Desk Inc. [6][8]. - Conversely, companies like Alphabet Inc., Meta Platforms Inc., and Airbnb Inc. are expected to face downside surprises in their earnings [6][8]. - The report emphasizes the importance of visibility versus valuation in the current market environment, suggesting that investors should consider both factors when making investment decisions [1]. Summary by Company - **Airbnb Inc (ABNB.O)**: Rated Underweight, price at $112.64 [65]. - **Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL.O)**: Rated Overweight, price at $153.33 [65]. - **Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O)**: Rated Overweight, price at $174.33 [65]. - **Booking Holdings Inc (BKNG.O)**: Rated Equal-weight, price at $4,540.84 [65]. - **DoorDash Inc (DASH.O)**: Rated Overweight, price at $179.39 [65]. - **Expedia Inc. (EXPE.O)**: Rated Equal-weight, price at $152.57 [65]. - **Chewy Inc (CHWY.N)**: Rated Overweight, price at $34.76 [67]. - **Meta Platforms Inc (META.O)**: Rated Overweight, price at $502.31 [65]. - **Uber Technologies Inc (UBER.N)**: Rated Overweight, price at $73.06 [65]. - **Snap Inc. (SNAP.N)**: Rated Equal-weight, price at $7.74 [65]. - **Pinterest Inc (PINS.N)**: Rated Equal-weight, price at $25.45 [65]. - **Roblox Corporation (RBLX.N)**: Rated Overweight, price at $59.09 [67]. - **Yelp Inc (YELP.N)**: Rated Underweight, price at $33.55 [67].