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eBay(EBAY) - 2022 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript
EBAYeBay(EBAY)2022-11-03 01:13

Financial Data and Key Metrics - Gross merchandise volume (GMV) declined 5% year-over-year, improving nearly nine points sequentially [26] - Revenue was down 2% to approximately 2.4billion,outpacingvolumebynearlyfourpoints,primarilyduetomomentumintheadvertisingbusiness[26]NonGAAPoperatingmarginwas28.92.4 billion, outpacing volume by nearly four points, primarily due to momentum in the advertising business [26] - Non-GAAP operating margin was 28.9%, up modestly quarter-over-quarter [27] - Non-GAAP EPS was 1 per share, up 11% year-over-year [27] - Free cash flow grew 26% to 633millioninQ3[38]BusinessLinePerformanceFocuscategories,excludingtradingcards,grewoversevenpointsfasterthantherestoftheplatformcomparedtolastyear[9]Motorspartsandaccessoriesisnearingmarketratesofgrowthduetoinvestmentsinmarketingandfitmentbasedtechnologies[9][10]TradingcardsGMVtrendsremainedsteadyatmorethandoubleprepandemiclevels,drivenbyinnovationsliketheeBayVault[12]Luxurycategories,includingwatches,handbags,andsneakers,sawhigherGMVgrowthduetoauthenticationservices[14]Advertisingrevenuegrew27633 million in Q3 [38] Business Line Performance - Focus categories, excluding trading cards, grew over seven points faster than the rest of the platform compared to last year [9] - Motors parts and accessories is nearing market rates of growth due to investments in marketing and fitment-based technologies [9][10] - Trading cards GMV trends remained steady at more than double pre-pandemic levels, driven by innovations like the eBay Vault [12] - Luxury categories, including watches, handbags, and sneakers, saw higher GMV growth due to authentication services [14] - Advertising revenue grew 27% year-over-year, driven by increased seller adoption and optimization of ad products [17] Market Performance - U.S. GMV grew 17% compared to Q3 2019, while international GMV was down 3% over the same period [30] - European markets faced significant headwinds, including energy price hikes and labor strikes, impacting consumer confidence [31] - Germany saw a temporary surge in demand for home energy products due to rising utility prices [32] Strategy and Industry Competition - The company's focus on non-new-in-season categories, such as pre-owned and refurbished goods, has made the platform more resilient during economic turbulence [28] - Investments in technology, including search algorithms and SEO improvements, have driven site-wide conversion improvements [15][16] - The acquisition of TCG Player and My Fitment aims to enhance capabilities in collectibles and parts & accessories categories [13][23] Management Commentary on Operating Environment and Outlook - Management highlighted a challenging macro environment, with inflation, higher energy costs, and rising interest rates impacting discretionary income [6] - Despite these challenges, the company's focus on value-oriented categories and technological investments has strengthened its competitive position [7] - For Q4, the company expects GMV between 17.5 billion and 18.1billion,representinganFXneutraldeclinebetween918.1 billion, representing an FX-neutral decline between 9% and 6% [41] Other Important Information - The company raised over 33 million through eBay for Charity and issued grants to 50 nonprofit organizations supporting inclusive entrepreneurship [20] - eBay's inaugural small business report highlighted that 95% of sellers rely on eBay for their business, with nearly one-third stating their small business would not exist without eBay [21][22] Q&A Session Summary Question: Full funnel marketing results and buyback commentary [46] - The company has shifted to full funnel marketing, driving consideration and improving performance in focus categories like parts & accessories [48] - Share buybacks remain a core component of value creation, with $3.2 billion returned to shareholders year-to-date [50] Question: Macro environment impact on Q4 guidance and future investments [52] - The Q4 guidance reflects a dynamic macro environment, with consumer demand weakening in the U.S. and Europe facing energy and labor challenges [53] - The company will continue to invest in core business areas, including advertising and payments, while managing cost efficiency [54][55] Question: Cross-category shopping impact and U.S. market trends [57] - Cross-category shopping is driving significant multiplier effects, with focus category buyers spending substantially in other categories [58] - U.S. trends in October showed broad-based weakness, but focus categories continue to outperform non-focus categories [60] Question: Cross-border activity and currency impact [62] - Cross-border trade is benefiting from easing supply chain constraints and new payment capabilities, with 70% adoption of buyer FX for cross-currency transactions [63] - Currency volatility is expected to create a headwind of three points to GMV growth and five to six points to EPS if the U.S. dollar remains strong [71] Question: Advertising growth drivers [73] - Advertising growth was driven by optimization of Promoted Listings Standard and contributions from new ad products, with double-digit quarter-over-quarter growth [74] Question: Long-term targets and M&A strategy [77] - The company remains confident in its long-term targets, with focus categories, payments, and advertising driving growth [78] - M&A will continue to be a key part of the strategy, focusing on vertical expansion and enhancing core capabilities [80] Question: Enthusiast buyer trends and advertising outlook [82] - Enthusiast buyers remain resilient, with average spend up double-digits versus 2019, though macro pressures may cause migration between buyer groups [83] - Advertising growth is expected to continue, with new products driving momentum and healthy ROAS [84] Question: Non-new-in-season goods and advertising impact on GMV [86] - Non-new-in-season goods represent about 90% of GMV, with used and refurbished goods accounting for one-third of GMV [87] - Advertising investments directly tie to GMV growth, with CPA-based programs driving incremental sales [88] Question: GMV sensitivity and used/refurbished goods performance [90] - The company's focus on non-new-in-season and refurbished goods provides resilience, with 32% of GMV from used and refurbished goods growing faster than the rest of the site [91]