CEO Jamie Iannone’s Optimistic Outlook
During an interview, CEO Jamie Iannone expressed confidence in eBay’s performance, forecasting a free cash flow of nearly $2 billion for the year. The company aims to achieve $2 billion in stock repurchases in the same period.
Promising Growth and Innovation
eBay experienced a 5.4% surge in premarket trading the day after the report, reaching $46.80. Iannone highlighted that eBay not only met but exceeded expectations across all metrics for the quarter. The company saw continued success in “focus categories” such as sneakers, jewelry, and auto parts. Moreover, eBay introduced new AI software for sellers, enabling them to generate descriptions for sales listings simply by uploading a picture of an item.
Impressive Financial Performance
In terms of financials, eBay reported revenue of $2.6 billion, a 2% increase, surpassing both the company’s forecast range of $2.47 billion to $2.53 billion and the Street consensus of $2.5 billion by FactSet. The gross merchandise value (GMV) stood at $18.6 billion, another 2% increase, exceeding the Street’s prediction of $18.1 billion.
eBay Exceeds Expectations in Q4 Earnings Report
In the most recent quarter, eBay reported earnings of $1.07 per share, surpassing both the company’s guidance range and the Street’s consensus. According to generally accepted accounting principles, the company earned $1.40 per share. Looking at the full year of 2023, eBay saw revenue of $10.1 billion, a 3% increase, with GMV reaching $18.6 billion, up 2%. Non-GAAP profits for the year were reported at $4.24 per share.
Projections for Q1 2024 and Beyond
For the upcoming March quarter, eBay anticipates revenue in the range of $2.5 billion to $2.54 billion, showing a potential increase of 0% to 2%, aligning closely with the Street consensus. Adjusted profits for the quarter are expected to fall between $1.19 and $1.23 per share.
Looking toward the future, eBay forecasts gross merchandise value growth to become positive on a currency-neutral basis in either the third or fourth quarter. The company also expects revenue growth for the year to outpace GMV growth adjusted for currency by two points. Operating margin is projected to expand by 0.6 to 1.0 percentage points this year, with non-GAAP EPS growth ranging from 8% to 10%, equivalent to approximately $4.62 per share – exceeding the consensus estimate of $4.46 per share.
Restructuring Efforts
In a strategic move, eBay announced a restructuring plan in January that involved a reduction of 1,000 jobs, approximately 9% of its workforce, and a decrease in deployed contractors. The decision was driven by the company’s need to align headcount and expenses with business growth.