GameStop's Acquisition of eBay Seen as Unlikely
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 14 2026
0mins
Source: seekingalpha
- Low Market Expectations: Traders on Kalshi and Polymarket express skepticism regarding GameStop's potential acquisition of eBay, with Kalshi assigning a mere 20% probability and Polymarket at 17%, indicating a lack of confidence in the deal.
- CEO Critiques Management: GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen sharply criticized eBay's management during an interview with investor Anthony Pompliano, describing the company as 'obese' due to poor expense management, which sparked renewed speculation among retail traders about a possible acquisition.
- No Public Negotiations: Despite Cohen's comments fueling discussions about a potential acquisition, neither GameStop nor eBay has publicly indicated that acquisition talks are underway, suggesting that the deal remains speculative.
- Role of Prediction Markets: The betting activity highlights how prediction markets are increasingly utilized for speculating on corporate events, alongside political and macroeconomic developments, reflecting ongoing retail interest in Cohen's ambitions to revitalize GameStop.
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Analyst Views on GME
About GME
GameStop Corp. offers games and entertainment products through its stores and ecommerce platforms. The Company operates in four geographic segments: United States, Canada, Australia and Europe. Each segment consists primarily of retail operations, with the significant majority focused on games, entertainment products and technology. The Company has a total of approximately 3,203 stores across all of its segments: 2,325 in the United States, 193 in Canada, 374 in Australia, and 311 in Europe. Its stores and ecommerce sites operate primarily under the names GameStop, EB Games and Micromania. Its Australia and Europe segments also include 38 pop culture-themed stores selling collectibles, apparel, gadgets, electronics, toys and other retail products for technology enthusiasts and general consumers in international markets operating under the Zing Pop Culture brand. Its retail stores are generally located in strip centers, shopping malls and pedestrian areas.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Increased Ownership: GameStop has raised its stake in eBay to 7.8%, up from 6.6% on May 20, demonstrating its commitment to the acquisition despite eBay's board rejecting its $55.5 billion buyout offer as unrealistic.
- Funding Strategy: GameStop plans to leverage its $9.4 billion cash and liquid investments, along with a financing letter from TD Securities for up to $20 billion in debt, to support this massive e-commerce acquisition, reflecting strong confidence in the deal.
- Cost Reduction Potential: CEO Ryan Cohen asserts that a merger could eliminate $2 billion in annual operational costs within 12 months post-closing, enhancing the strategic rationale behind the acquisition.
- Market Reaction: While eBay's shares hover near multi-year highs at $115.62, giving it a market cap of $49.79 billion, GameStop's stock trades flat around $21.71, with a significantly smaller market cap of $9.73 billion, highlighting the stark contrast between the two companies.
See More
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- Increased Economic Exposure: GameStop's latest Schedule 13D filing reveals direct ownership of 25,000 eBay shares and derivative exposure to an additional 34.5 million shares, raising its total economic exposure to 7.78%, indicating a strong intent to pursue eBay acquisition.
- Derivative Contract Details: The derivatives have strike prices ranging from $84.74 to $118.28 per share, and these contracts could convert into actual shares pending federal clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, showcasing the company's potential future control over eBay.
- Acquisition Proposal Rejected: Despite GameStop's $56 billion acquisition proposal, eBay has firmly rejected it, labeling the offer as “neither credible nor attractive,” reflecting skepticism in the market regarding GameStop's acquisition capabilities, especially given its market value of only about $10 billion.
- Management Criticism and Market Reaction: CEO Cohen has criticized eBay's operational style, calling for nearly $2 billion in annual expense reductions, while GME stock has gained nearly 8% this year, contrasting with EBAY's over 28% rise, highlighting differing market perceptions of the two companies' futures.
See More
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- Acquisition Proposal Rejected: GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen's unsolicited $56 billion bid to acquire eBay at $125 per share was dismissed by eBay's board as 'neither credible nor attractive,' presenting significant hurdles for Cohen.
- Complex Financing Plan: Cohen aims to leverage GameStop's $9.4 billion cash reserves and a $20 billion debt financing commitment from TD Securities to support the acquisition, yet analysts question the feasibility of securing investment-grade credit ratings for financing.
- Special Meeting Possibility: Cohen may consider calling a special meeting to elect new directors more favorable to his acquisition proposal, but GameStop currently holds only about 0.006% of eBay's shares, far below the typical 20% threshold required.
- Public Pressure Strategy: Cohen has begun publicly pressuring eBay's board, stating the company 'needs to lose weight,' although analysts highlight that eBay achieved a 31% operating profit margin last year, significantly higher than GameStop's 10%.
See More
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- GameStop Profitability: GameStop generated $3.6 billion in revenue during its 2025 fiscal year, a 5.1% decline from the previous year, yet reported a net income of $418.4 million with a net margin of approximately 11.5%, showcasing improved profitability in its traditional retail market.
- Risks and Challenges: Roblox faces regulatory pressures from the U.K. Online Safety Act and relies heavily on third-party platforms, making its revenue vulnerable to policy changes, while GameStop struggles with the shift towards digital game downloads, threatening its core business.
- Valuation Comparison: GameStop's forward P/E ratio stands at 40.4x with a P/S ratio of 2.7x, compared to Roblox's 20.2x P/E and 6.8x P/S, indicating a more conservative valuation for GameStop, appealing to risk-averse investors.
See More
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- User Base Growth: Roblox boasts over 111 million daily active users, driving revenue growth of up to 35.8%, although it faces risks from reliance on revenue from Apple and Google, highlighting its strong appeal in the digital gaming market.
- Profitability Improvement: GameStop achieved $3.6 billion in revenue for fiscal 2025, a 5.1% decline from the previous year, yet reported a net income of $418.4 million with a net margin of 11.5%, indicating significant progress in cost optimization and profitability enhancement.
- Financial Health: GameStop's debt-to-equity ratio stands at 0.8, reflecting solid financial health, whereas Roblox's ratio is a concerning 4.1, suggesting greater financial risk that could impact its future investment attractiveness.
- Market Competition Pressure: Roblox faces challenges from regulatory scrutiny and platform dependency, while GameStop struggles with the shift towards digital downloads; despite their differing market positions, both must navigate pressures from industry changes.
See More
