Increasing Numbers of Americans, Led by Gen Z, Are Shopping at Thrift Stores for Clothing
Gen Z and Thrift Shopping: Gen Z is driving the thrift shop boom, with older generations joining in due to inflation and tariffs, creating new business opportunities and budget flexibility.
Growth of Thrift Clothing Market: The global secondhand apparel market is projected to reach $367 million by 2030, with the U.S. market expected to hit $74 billion by 2029, as companies like ThredUp see significant revenue growth.
Impact of AI on Thrifting: Artificial intelligence is enhancing the thrift shopping experience by making it easier for sellers to list items and for buyers to find clothing that suits their style, potentially increasing industry growth.
ThredUp's Success: ThredUp has experienced a record 54% year-over-year growth in new buyers, with over 1.57 million active buyers, benefiting from the trend towards sustainable shopping and maintaining logistics unaffected by tariffs.
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- Earnings Release Announcement: eBay is set to release its Q4 earnings after the market closes on February 18, with analysts forecasting earnings of $1.35 per share, indicating a steady improvement in the company's profitability compared to $1.25 per share last year.
- Revenue Growth Expectations: According to Benzinga Pro, eBay's quarterly revenue is expected to reach $2.87 billion, up from $2.58 billion in the previous year, reflecting the company's competitive position and sales growth potential in the market.
- Analyst Rating Adjustment: UBS analyst Stephen Ju has maintained a Neutral rating on eBay while lowering the price target from $95 to $93, indicating a cautious outlook on the company's future performance that may affect investor confidence.
- Dividend Yield Analysis: With an annual dividend yield of 1.45% and a quarterly dividend of $0.29, investors aiming for $500 monthly in dividends would need to invest approximately $413,501, highlighting the attractiveness and investment threshold of the company's dividend policy.
- Significant Transaction Value: Etsy announced the sale of its secondhand clothing platform Depop to eBay for approximately $1.2 billion in cash, a notable increase from the $1.62 billion it paid five years ago, reflecting strong market interest and growth potential in the secondhand clothing sector.
- Youthful User Base: With about 90% of Depop's users under the age of 34, this transaction allows Etsy to focus on its core marketplace, further attracting younger buyers and enhancing its competitive position in the rapidly growing secondhand market.
- Strategic Shift: Etsy has acquired several niche online marketplaces in recent years as part of a
- Strong Financial Performance: eBay reported Q4 revenue of $2.97 billion, surpassing estimates of $2.89 billion and reflecting a 15% year-over-year growth, indicating robust momentum in the e-commerce sector.
- Earnings Beat Expectations: The adjusted EPS of $1.41 exceeded analyst expectations of $1.35, showcasing the company's sustained profitability and bolstering investor confidence.
- Robust Cash Flow: The company generated $595 million in operating cash flow and $478 million in free cash flow during the quarter, indicating a healthy financial position that supports future investments.
- Strategic Acquisition Announcement: eBay revealed plans to acquire Depop from Etsy for cash, with the transaction expected to close in Q2 2026, enhancing eBay's competitiveness in the pre-loved fashion market.
- Acquisition Overview: eBay announced its acquisition of C2C fashion marketplace Depop for approximately $1.2 billion in cash, enhancing its influence among younger consumers, with the deal expected to close in Q2 2026.
- Market Performance Highlights: Depop achieved approximately $1 billion in gross merchandise sales in 2025, with nearly 60% year-over-year growth in the U.S., demonstrating strong momentum in the secondhand fashion sector.
- Strategic Significance: This acquisition will further expand eBay's C2C fashion business, with fashion representing over $10 billion in annual gross merchandise volume for eBay, achieving 10% year-over-year growth in 2025.
- Future Outlook: Depop will retain its brand and platform, leveraging eBay's global scale and operational capabilities to accelerate growth in the U.S. and beyond, enhancing the buyer and seller experience.
- Acquisition Overview: eBay plans to acquire Etsy's secondhand clothing marketplace Depop for approximately $1.2 billion in cash, marking a significant expansion into the secondhand market and expected to enhance eBay's appeal among younger consumers.
- Etsy Stock Reaction: Following the announcement of the deal, Etsy's shares surged over 16% on Wednesday, reflecting a positive market sentiment towards the acquisition and indicating investor confidence in Etsy's future growth potential.
- Historical Context: Etsy originally acquired Depop for about $1.62 billion nearly five years ago, and this transaction not only recoups part of that investment but also underscores Etsy's commitment to the secondhand market, particularly the demand from younger consumers.
- Strategic Market Implications: Through this acquisition, eBay is set to solidify its position in the secondhand goods market, particularly in attracting younger consumers, which is expected to drive long-term growth and increase market share.
- Strong Performance: eBay reported a Q4 Non-GAAP EPS of $1.41, beating expectations by $0.06, indicating a sustained enhancement in profitability and reflecting robust performance in the e-commerce market.
- Revenue Growth: The company achieved Q4 revenue of $2.97 billion, a 14.2% year-over-year increase that surpassed market expectations by $100 million, demonstrating eBay's success in attracting more consumers in a competitive landscape.
- Positive Guidance: eBay's guidance for Q1 2026 revenue is set between $3.00 billion and $3.05 billion, with expected year-over-year growth of 13% to 15%, showcasing confidence in future growth that exceeds the consensus estimate of $2.80 billion.
- Market Reaction: Following the earnings release, eBay's shares rose by 3.31% in after-hours trading, reflecting investor optimism regarding the company's performance and future outlook, further solidifying its market position in e-commerce.











