GameStop CEO Reaffirms eBay Acquisition Plans Amid Challenges
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jun 25 2026
0mins
Source: CNBC
- Acquisition Update: GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen reiterated his commitment to acquiring eBay this week, although he did not clarify how he would finance the $56 billion bid, which was rejected by eBay's board, reflecting market skepticism about the deal's viability.
- Bonus Plan Withdrawal: GameStop's board agreed to withdraw a proposed bonus plan that could have paid Cohen up to $35 billion, indicating a desire for leadership to focus on operational performance and the acquisition strategy, despite unresolved funding gaps.
- Market Reaction: Following the announcement of the acquisition plan, GameStop's shares fell by 10%, highlighting investor concerns about the company's ability to acquire a $50 billion firm while its market cap stands at only $10 billion, posing significant challenges.
- External Analysis: Analysts noted that Cohen's acquisition proposal lacks substantial backing and has not effectively addressed eBay's board's concerns regarding financing uncertainties and operational risks, which could negatively impact GameStop's shareholders.
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About GME
GameStop Corp. offers games, collectibles, and entertainment products through its stores and e-commerce platforms. The Company operates in three geographic segments: United States, 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 2,206 stores across all of its segments: 1,598 in the United States, 308 in Europe, and 300 in Australia. Its stores and e-commerce sites operate primarily under the names GameStop, EB Games and Micromania. Its Australia and Europe segments also include 23 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.
GameStop Shareholders Approve All Proposals at 2026 Annual Meeting
- Shareholder Approval: At the 2026 Annual Meeting, 68.7% of votes supported increasing the number of authorized Class A common shares, providing GameStop with flexibility for strategic transactions, particularly its proposed acquisition of eBay.
- Board Re-election: Shareholders re-elected all five directors and approved executive compensation, demonstrating confidence in the management team, which is crucial for maintaining governance stability and ongoing development.
- Auditor Appointment: The appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm was ratified by shareholders, ensuring financial transparency and compliance, which is vital for boosting investor confidence.
- Market Reaction: Despite the positive outcomes from the shareholder meeting, GameStop's stock fell 2.46% to approximately $22.20, indicating market caution regarding the company's future strategies.
See More
GameStop Shareholders Approve Increase in Authorized Common Shares
- Approval of Share Increase: GameStop shareholders supported the increase in authorized Class A common shares with 68.7% of votes at the 2026 Annual Meeting, providing the company with greater flexibility for strategic transactions, particularly regarding the proposed acquisition of eBay.
- eBay Acquisition Proposal: GameStop made an unsolicited offer to acquire eBay for $125 per share, although the proposal was rejected by eBay's board, it underscores GameStop's strong intent to expand its business operations.
- Shareholder Voting Results: At the annual meeting, shareholders re-elected all five director nominees and approved the advisory vote on executive compensation, indicating ongoing shareholder engagement and support for corporate governance.
- Improved Market Sentiment: According to Stocktwits data, retail sentiment for GME shifted from 'neutral' to 'bullish', with message volume surging 1,418% over the past 30 days, reflecting investor optimism about the company's future prospects.
See More
GameStop Faces Challenges Amid Digital Shift
- Revenue Decline: GameStop's annual revenue has plummeted 61% compared to its peak 14 years ago, with sales contracting for four consecutive fiscal years, indicating severe challenges in a competitive market that necessitates a reevaluation of its business model.
- Digital Transition Pressure: Sony's announcement to cease physical game disc production starting in 2028 accelerates the industry's shift to digital distribution, posing a risk of declining foot traffic for GameStop, which heavily relies on sales of used discs for profitability.
- Improved Profitability: Despite declining sales, GameStop's profitability is on the rise, with a surprising 14% increase in net sales driven entirely by heightened interest in trading cards, apparel, and pop culture merchandise; however, excluding collectibles, net sales actually fell by 7%, raising concerns about the sustainability of its business model.
- Strong Cash Position: GameStop maintains a cash-rich balance sheet, which, while insufficient for acquiring eBay, provides potential for future acquisitions, although any forthcoming deals may need to target smaller companies given the decline in its stock price over the past year.
See More
Sony to Cease Physical Game Disc Production by 2028
- Decline of Physical Games: Sony's announcement to stop producing physical game discs for new PlayStation releases by 2028 accelerates the industry's shift to digital, likely leading to further declines in GameStop's store traffic and undermining its previously profitable used game market.
- Revenue Contraction: GameStop's annual revenue has plummeted 61% from its peak 14 years ago, and while sales in collectibles have surged, overall net sales still fell by 7% due to the decline in its used game business, indicating challenges to its business model sustainability.
- Strong Cash Position: Despite a 4% drop in stock price over the past year and a staggering 56% decline over five years, GameStop's cash-rich balance sheet provides potential for future acquisitions, although it may need to pursue smaller deals to adapt to the current market landscape.
- Increased Market Competition: With Sony's move, other console makers may follow suit, intensifying competitive pressures on GameStop; although profitability has improved amidst declining sales, the future market outlook remains uncertain.
See More
eBay Revives Growth Narrative Amid GameStop Bid
- Significant Revenue Growth: In Q1 2026, eBay reported a 19% year-over-year revenue increase and an 18% growth in Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV), indicating a resurgence in market share and sales, showcasing the potential for core business recovery.
- Strong Advertising Revenue: First-party advertising revenue surged by 33%, adding a high-margin lever to eBay's marketplace model, which enhances the company's profitability and competitive positioning in the market.
- Acquisition of Depop Expands Youth Market: The acquisition of Depop adds approximately 7 million active buyers, with nearly 90% under 35, providing eBay with a fresh growth angle in the resale market, particularly in fashion.
- Stock Support and Upside Potential: eBay's stock has built a solid base above the $105 support level, and a sustained move above the $112-$115 range could lead to a retest of recent highs and open the door to new 52-week highs.
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TPG RE Finance Trust Sees Surge in Options Trading Volume
- Surge in Options Volume: TPG RE Finance Trust (TRTX) recorded an options trading volume of 8,003 contracts today, equivalent to approximately 800,300 shares, which is about 108% of its average daily trading volume of 741,050 shares over the past month, indicating strong market interest in the stock.
- Strike Price Focus: Notably, the $9 strike call option expiring on October 16, 2026, saw a trading volume of 8,003 contracts today, suggesting investor optimism regarding TRTX's future performance, which could influence its stock price trajectory.
- NVIDIA Options Activity: Concurrently, NVIDIA (NVDA) experienced an options trading volume of 1.7 million contracts today, representing approximately 173.9 million shares, which is 106.8% of its average daily trading volume of 162.9 million shares over the past month, reflecting ongoing market interest in the stock.
- Strike Price Insights: Within NVIDIA, the $200 strike call option expiring on July 1, 2026, recorded a trading volume of 229,539 contracts today, equivalent to about 23 million shares, indicating strong investor confidence in its future growth prospects.
See More
GameStop Shareholders Approve All Proposals at 2026 Annual Meeting
- Shareholder Approval: At the 2026 Annual Meeting, 68.7% of votes supported increasing the number of authorized Class A common shares, providing GameStop with flexibility for strategic transactions, particularly its proposed acquisition of eBay.
- Board Re-election: Shareholders re-elected all five directors and approved executive compensation, demonstrating confidence in the management team, which is crucial for maintaining governance stability and ongoing development.
- Auditor Appointment: The appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm was ratified by shareholders, ensuring financial transparency and compliance, which is vital for boosting investor confidence.
- Market Reaction: Despite the positive outcomes from the shareholder meeting, GameStop's stock fell 2.46% to approximately $22.20, indicating market caution regarding the company's future strategies.
See More
GameStop Shareholders Approve Increase in Authorized Common Shares
- Approval of Share Increase: GameStop shareholders supported the increase in authorized Class A common shares with 68.7% of votes at the 2026 Annual Meeting, providing the company with greater flexibility for strategic transactions, particularly regarding the proposed acquisition of eBay.
- eBay Acquisition Proposal: GameStop made an unsolicited offer to acquire eBay for $125 per share, although the proposal was rejected by eBay's board, it underscores GameStop's strong intent to expand its business operations.
- Shareholder Voting Results: At the annual meeting, shareholders re-elected all five director nominees and approved the advisory vote on executive compensation, indicating ongoing shareholder engagement and support for corporate governance.
- Improved Market Sentiment: According to Stocktwits data, retail sentiment for GME shifted from 'neutral' to 'bullish', with message volume surging 1,418% over the past 30 days, reflecting investor optimism about the company's future prospects.
See More
GameStop Faces Challenges Amid Digital Shift
- Revenue Decline: GameStop's annual revenue has plummeted 61% compared to its peak 14 years ago, with sales contracting for four consecutive fiscal years, indicating severe challenges in a competitive market that necessitates a reevaluation of its business model.
- Digital Transition Pressure: Sony's announcement to cease physical game disc production starting in 2028 accelerates the industry's shift to digital distribution, posing a risk of declining foot traffic for GameStop, which heavily relies on sales of used discs for profitability.
- Improved Profitability: Despite declining sales, GameStop's profitability is on the rise, with a surprising 14% increase in net sales driven entirely by heightened interest in trading cards, apparel, and pop culture merchandise; however, excluding collectibles, net sales actually fell by 7%, raising concerns about the sustainability of its business model.
- Strong Cash Position: GameStop maintains a cash-rich balance sheet, which, while insufficient for acquiring eBay, provides potential for future acquisitions, although any forthcoming deals may need to target smaller companies given the decline in its stock price over the past year.
See More
Sony to Cease Physical Game Disc Production by 2028
- Decline of Physical Games: Sony's announcement to stop producing physical game discs for new PlayStation releases by 2028 accelerates the industry's shift to digital, likely leading to further declines in GameStop's store traffic and undermining its previously profitable used game market.
- Revenue Contraction: GameStop's annual revenue has plummeted 61% from its peak 14 years ago, and while sales in collectibles have surged, overall net sales still fell by 7% due to the decline in its used game business, indicating challenges to its business model sustainability.
- Strong Cash Position: Despite a 4% drop in stock price over the past year and a staggering 56% decline over five years, GameStop's cash-rich balance sheet provides potential for future acquisitions, although it may need to pursue smaller deals to adapt to the current market landscape.
- Increased Market Competition: With Sony's move, other console makers may follow suit, intensifying competitive pressures on GameStop; although profitability has improved amidst declining sales, the future market outlook remains uncertain.
See More
eBay Revives Growth Narrative Amid GameStop Bid
- Significant Revenue Growth: In Q1 2026, eBay reported a 19% year-over-year revenue increase and an 18% growth in Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV), indicating a resurgence in market share and sales, showcasing the potential for core business recovery.
- Strong Advertising Revenue: First-party advertising revenue surged by 33%, adding a high-margin lever to eBay's marketplace model, which enhances the company's profitability and competitive positioning in the market.
- Acquisition of Depop Expands Youth Market: The acquisition of Depop adds approximately 7 million active buyers, with nearly 90% under 35, providing eBay with a fresh growth angle in the resale market, particularly in fashion.
- Stock Support and Upside Potential: eBay's stock has built a solid base above the $105 support level, and a sustained move above the $112-$115 range could lead to a retest of recent highs and open the door to new 52-week highs.
See More
TPG RE Finance Trust Sees Surge in Options Trading Volume
- Surge in Options Volume: TPG RE Finance Trust (TRTX) recorded an options trading volume of 8,003 contracts today, equivalent to approximately 800,300 shares, which is about 108% of its average daily trading volume of 741,050 shares over the past month, indicating strong market interest in the stock.
- Strike Price Focus: Notably, the $9 strike call option expiring on October 16, 2026, saw a trading volume of 8,003 contracts today, suggesting investor optimism regarding TRTX's future performance, which could influence its stock price trajectory.
- NVIDIA Options Activity: Concurrently, NVIDIA (NVDA) experienced an options trading volume of 1.7 million contracts today, representing approximately 173.9 million shares, which is 106.8% of its average daily trading volume of 162.9 million shares over the past month, reflecting ongoing market interest in the stock.
- Strike Price Insights: Within NVIDIA, the $200 strike call option expiring on July 1, 2026, recorded a trading volume of 229,539 contracts today, equivalent to about 23 million shares, indicating strong investor confidence in its future growth prospects.
See More
