EBay Boosts Outlook on Pandemic; Investors Ask If It Will Last
- Company reports 182 million active buyers, missing projections
- Online marketplace sees revenue jump 18% with consumer surge
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EBay Inc. raised its profit and sales forecasts for the year, but the new outlook disappointed investors who hoped the digital marketplace would take greater advantage of the surge in consumer spending during the pandemic. Shares declined as much as 6% in extended trading.
The market reaction suggested investors are worried the spending bump on EBay could be fleeting as economies reopen and people return to work. A drop in federal stimulus money, which could trigger a pullback in consumer spending, is another concern, analysts said. Spending among EBay’s U.S. customers grew 35% in the second quarter, while international spending increased 22%.