New Era at Berkshire Hathaway as Abel Takes Over
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 04 2026
0mins
Should l Buy EBAY?
Source: Fool
- End of Buffett Era: Berkshire Hathaway reported Q1 earnings with a 4% year-over-year revenue increase and a 120% rise in B shares, although both figures missed expectations, indicating reliance on investment holdings revaluations.
- Acquisition Ambitions: GameStop launched a non-binding bid for eBay at $125 per share, valuing eBay 20% above Friday's close, with potential annual savings of $2 billion if successful, showcasing GameStop's competitive aspirations.
- Market Optimism: The S&P 500 and Nasdaq reached new highs, rising 0.91% and 1.12% respectively, while Bitcoin surged back above $80,000, reflecting investor confidence in economic recovery prospects.
- Earnings Season Begins: Several prominent companies are set to report earnings this week, with Vertex Pharmaceuticals anticipating a 7% year-over-year revenue growth in Q1, and Shopify focusing on the impact of new product spending after 11 consecutive quarters of over 25% revenue growth.
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Analyst Views on EBAY
Wall Street analysts forecast EBAY stock price to fall
8 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
5 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 116.130
Low
60.00
Averages
95.00
High
112.00
Current: 116.130
Low
60.00
Averages
95.00
High
112.00
About EBAY
eBay Inc. is a global commerce company. The Company's technology empowers buyers and sellers in more than 190 markets globally. Its online marketplace is located at www.ebay.com and its localized counterparts, its off-platform marketplaces and its mobile apps. Its Marketplace platforms enable buyers and sellers to its global scale and continue investments in technology, marketing and customer service. Its eBay Money-Back Guarantee program allows buyers to obtain a refund if an item does not arrive, is damaged or faulty, or differs materially from its description, and applies to most purchases completed through payment methods. It develops intuitive user interfaces; buyer, seller and developer tools; and transaction processing, databases and network applications that enable its users to complete transactions on its Marketplace platforms. Its technology infrastructure simplifies the storage and processing of data, eases the deployment and operation of global products and services.
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.
- Multi-Supplier Management Upgrade: SuperDS announced the expansion of its multi-supplier listing automation and inventory management infrastructure to support sellers managing larger and more complex product catalogs, thereby enhancing market competitiveness.
- Enhanced Inventory Monitoring: The new system introduces updated supplier synchronization processes and enhanced inventory monitoring capabilities aimed at reducing delays between supplier inventory updates and marketplace listing adjustments, improving operational efficiency.
- Expanded Automation Support: This expansion provides additional automation support for sellers handling larger product volumes and more dynamic supplier activity, ensuring more consistent synchronization between supplier data and active eBay listings.
- Increased Responsiveness: According to SuperDS's CEO, this infrastructure expansion aims to strengthen inventory tracking reliability and improve workflow efficiency for high-volume listing activities, addressing the market's need for more responsive automation systems.
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- Inflation Data Rises: The core CPI increased by 0.4% month-over-month in April, up from 0.2% in March and exceeding the expected 0.3%, indicating persistent inflationary pressures that could influence Federal Reserve policy decisions.
- Cisco Beats Expectations: Cisco reported adjusted earnings per share of $1.06 for the quarter ending April 25, surpassing the consensus estimate of $1.04, with revenue increasing 12% year-over-year to $15.8 billion, reflecting strong momentum in its AI infrastructure solutions.
- Nebius Group Revenue Surge: Nebius reported a staggering 684% year-over-year revenue increase to $399 million for the quarter ending March 31, exceeding market expectations, while adjusted EBITDA turned profitable from a loss a year earlier, highlighting robust demand for computing.
- Boeing-China Deal: President Trump announced that China agreed to purchase 200 aircraft from Boeing, yet the stock fell over 7% due to a lack of specifics regarding aircraft types or order timing, indicating market caution regarding the deal.
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- Significant Debt Risk: Moody's analysis indicates that GameStop's acquisition of eBay could result in total debt soaring to approximately $31.4 billion, representing an over 400% increase relative to eBay's standalone capital structure, which significantly raises the company's financial risk and impacts its credit rating.
- Interest Expense Pressure: The annualized incremental interest expense associated with the new debt is estimated to exceed $1 billion, assuming interest rates are higher than eBay's current weighted average cost of borrowing (around 5%-6%), further constraining the company's cash flow.
- Cash Flow Constraints: eBay is projected to generate approximately $900 million in free cash flow in 2025, while GameStop is expected to report around $600 million, and considering the cash costs to achieve targeted cost savings, the pro forma free cash flow will be significantly constrained, impacting operational flexibility.
- Synergy Targets: GameStop aims to achieve approximately $2 billion in annualized synergies within 12 months post-close, with 60% from sales and marketing, 25% from general and administrative, and 15% from product development, which, if fully realized, could help alleviate the debt burden.
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- Acquisition Offer Rejected: GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen's unsolicited $55 billion bid for eBay was rejected, with eBay labeling the offer as neither credible nor attractive, indicating strong resistance to external takeover attempts.
- Shareholder Communication Plan: Despite the rejection, Cohen plans to take his proposal directly to eBay shareholders, reflecting his dissatisfaction with the company's governance and board composition, which may provoke shareholder scrutiny of management.
- Strong Financial Performance: eBay's latest quarterly results show an 18% year-over-year increase in gross merchandise volume and a 19% rise in revenue, alongside 136 million active buyers, demonstrating robust market performance that counters Cohen's claims of poor management.
- Market Competition and Strategic Adjustments: While eBay faces increasing competition in e-commerce, analysts suggest that the company has carved out a niche in collectibles and trading cards, indicating a need to explore alternative revenue streams, particularly in advertising, to sustain growth momentum.
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- 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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- Acquisition Proposal Defense: In an exclusive interview with Piers Morgan, Cohen reiterated his non-binding $125 per share offer for eBay, dismissing the company's rejection of his nearly $56 billion bid, asserting that shareholders would retain ownership of the combined entity while benefiting from improved execution.
- Financial Capability Analysis: Cohen highlighted GameStop's $9.4 billion cash position and the willingness of banks to provide approximately $20 billion in financing, showcasing the potential for the acquisition despite GameStop's market capitalization being only around $12 billion.
- Management Criticism: Cohen sharply criticized eBay's leadership, labeling them as “losers” and accusing them of prioritizing their own interests over shareholder value, arguing that the outdated operational platform and high expenses are detrimental to profitability.
- Market Sentiment Shift: On Stocktwits, retail sentiment for GME shifted from 'neutral' to 'bearish', while eBay's sentiment fell from 'bullish' to 'neutral', indicating investor concerns regarding Cohen's acquisition plans, although some users remain optimistic about the deal's potential.
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