Apr 24, 2019
eBay gains as strong outlook offsets analysts' doubt on volumes
Bloomberg News
,Shares of eBay Inc. (EBAY.O) gained in pre-market trading on Wednesday, after it reported strong first-quarter results and gave an upbeat outlook.
While analysts expressed some caution about the company’s gross merchandise volume (GMV) and Marketplaces business, the takeaway was broadly positive, with at least four firms raising their price targets.
The stock gained as much as 4.6 per cent to US$38.35 per share in pre-market trading in New York. Shares have added 31 per cent so far this year.
Here’s what analysts are saying about the results:
JPMorgan, Doug Anmuth
“We were surprised to see eBay drive revenue and EPS upside despite lower GMV.”
“Continue to be constructive on eBay’s focus on Promoted Listings & Payments, but we also recognize that these opportunities come with execution risks.”
Affirms neutral rating, price target raised to $39 from $36.
Deutsche Bank, Lloyd Walmsley
Company reported “significantly better than feared results” and it “appears to be on track to achieve its objective of US$1B in advertising revenue.”
Affirms buy rating and lifts price target to US$42 from US$39.
Citi, Mark May
“While GMV growth remains a concern, lower promotional spending and solid Promoted Listings growth continue to support take-rate/revenue growth.”
Affirms buy rating and US$40 price target.
Benchmark Co, Daniel Kurnos
“A reduction in contra revenue without any major negative visible consequences and strength in promoted listings underpins our view that there will continue to be cash flow outperformance.”
Affirms buy rating, price target raised to US$45 from US$42.
RBC Capital Markets, Mark Mahaney
Results were “much of the same” with “not much to celebrate.”
Sees full-year outlook implying “continued declines in its core U.S. GMV.”
Affirms sector perform rating, price target increased by US$1 to US$34.
Morgan Stanley, Brian Nowak
Marketplaces “fundamentals continue to deteriorate and now decline,” and there is a “still-existing need to invest to fix” the division.
Raises price target to $34.50 from $33, but drops sum-of-the-parts valuation to US$31 from US$33 “as we are shifting earnings power from a high multiple asset (StubHub) to a lower multiple asset (Marketplaces).” Affirms equal-weight rating.