Earnings Results: EBay shares slump nearly 8% on weaker revenue, earnings guidance

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Shares of eBay Inc. plunged nearly 8% in extended trading Wednesday after the online marketplace reported fiscal fourth-quarter results in line with Wall Street analysts’ estimates but issued revenue and earnings guidance that rattled investors.

The sell-off underscored widespread concern over how the company will fare as consumers return to pre-pandemic shopping habits. EBay ended its fourth quarter with 147 million active buyers, down 9% from the same quarter a year ago. Meanwhile, gross merchandise volume, the value of all goods sold on the site, tumbled 10% to $20.73 billion.

The company
EBAY,
-1.02%

reported net income of $647 million, or $1.05 a share, compared with net income of $591 million, or 85 cents a share, in the year-ago quarter. Revenue improved 5% to $2.61 billion from $2.48 billion a year ago.

“During the quarter, we completed our multi-year payments transition, and generated growth in both our advertising business and focus categories. As we continue to accelerate our strategy, we are well-positioned for future growth,” eBay Chief Executive Jamie Iannone said in a statement announcing the earnings.

Analysts surveyed by FactSet had expected net income of $1 a share on revenue of $2.6 billion.

But first-quarter guidance for revenue and earnings fell short of analyst forecasts. Ebay said it expects between $2.43 billion and $2.48 billion in revenue, while FactSet estimates $2.61 billion. The company expects earnings of between $1.01 and $1.05 a share, compared with $1.08 a share from FactSet.

EBay’s stock has declined 18% so far this year, while the broader S&P 500 index
SPX,
-1.84%

is down 11%.