eBay Inc (NASDAQ:EBAY) is set to release its first quarter 2014 financial results after the market close on Tuesday, April 29, 2014. According to Wall Street estimates, the online auction site will post earnings of $0.67 per share for the quarter, an increase of $0.04 compared to the previous year same quarter. Sales are also expected to surge 12.7% year over year. Consensus estimates for revenue for the first quarter is $4.23 billion, up significantly from last year’s revenue figure of $3.75 billion.
Global sales a big catalyst for eBay
Research firm eMarketer expects North America, Western Europe and Asia-Pacific to contribute around 90% of total global online retail spending, which would benefit eBay who has a strong presence in these geographies.
From 2008 to 2013, eBay Inc (NASDAQ:EBAY)’s international revenue has enjoyed a compound annual growth of rate of 12.8%. Furthermore, growth has been well ahead of the overall CAGR for the past five years.
Markets like Germany and the United Kingdom registered a similar growth rate of around 15%-16% and revenue from other countries increased 13%. Global growth is a good sign for the company as it means the firm does not have to depend on any single market. eBay Inc (NASDAQ:EBAY)’s marketplaces business will also benefit from international expansion in Brazil, Russia, India and China. International retailers are racing to get a slice of these markets as market size is swelling with more potential buyers, an increase in personal income and the lack of organized retail penetration.
Renewed focus after Icahn’s withdrawal
Analyst Youssef Squali at Cantor Fitzgerald, in a report on April 28, 2014, suggests that the first quarter 2014 earnings of eBay Inc (NASDAQ:EBAY) would be in-line with the expectations of the market. Checks by the analyst suggest a surge in year over year growth in the United States Marketplaces and U.S. e-commerce in the first quarter 2014 compared to the fourth quarter 2013 levels.
“With pressure from Icahn waning, we believe that talk of a PayPal spinoff will take a backseat to renewed focus on how well eBay does operationally in the next few quarters. We continue to like EBAY as a value play for 2014,” says Squali.
The analyst expects eBay Inc (NASDAQ:EBAY)’s revenue to come in at $4.20 billion and earnings at $0.67 compared to the Street consensus of $4.23 billion and earnings of $0.67. Revenue is expected to grow at 12% year over year with a contribution from PayPal as well as stabilizing marketplaces.
Cantor Fitzgerald currently has a Buy rating on eBay Inc (NASDAQ:EBAY) with a price target of $65.
