eBay (EBAY) 10-Q2024 Q3 Quarterly report

eBay Inc. is a global commerce leader that connects people and builds communities to create economic opportunity for all. Our technology empowers millions of buyers and sellers in more than 190 markets around the world, providing everyone the opportunity to grow and thrive. Our Marketplace platforms, including our online marketplace located at www.ebay.com and its localized counterparts, our off-platform businesses in Japan and the United States, and our suite of mobile apps, together, create one of the world's largest and most vibrant marketplaces for discovering great value and unique selection.

When we refer to “we,” “our,” “us,” the “Company” or “eBay” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we mean the current Delaware corporation (eBay Inc.) and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires.

The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates, including but not limited to those related to provisions for transaction losses, legal contingencies, income taxes, revenue recognition, stock-based compensation, investments including level 3 investments in Gmarket Global LLC (“Gmarket”), warrants and the recoverability of goodwill and intangible assets. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

We review the useful lives of equipment on an ongoing basis, and effective January 1, 2024 we changed our estimate of the useful lives for our servers and networking equipment from three years to four years. The longer useful lives are due to continuous improvements in our hardware, software, and data center designs. The effect of this change in estimate for the three months ended September 30, 2024, based on servers and network equipment that were included in “Property and equipment, net” as of December 31, 2023 and those acquired during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, was a reduction in depreciation expense of $14 million and an increase to net income of $11 million, or $0.02 per basic share and $0.02 per diluted share. The effect of this change in estimate for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, based on servers and network equipment that were included in “Property and equipment, net” as of December 31, 2023 and those acquired during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, was a reduction in depreciation expense of $57 million and an increase to net income of $45 million, or $0.09 per basic share and $0.09 per diluted share.

The accompanying financial statements are consolidated and include the financial statements of eBay Inc. and our wholly and majority-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Minority interests are recorded as a noncontrolling interest. A qualitative approach is applied to assess the consolidation requirement for variable interest entities. Generally, investments in entities where we hold at least a 20% ownership interest and have the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, over the investee are accounted for using the equity method of accounting, including those in which the fair value option has been elected.

For equity method investments, our share of the investees’ results of operations is included in “Interest income and other, net” and investment balances are included in “Long-term investments”. For equity method investments under the fair value option, the change in fair value of the investment is included in “Gain (loss) on equity investments and warrant, net” and investment balances are included in “Long-term investments”, other than our equity interest in Adevinta ASA (“Adevinta”), which was included in the “Current assets” section on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2023 as discussed in “Note 5 — Investments.”

These condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 (the “2023 Form 10-K”). We have evaluated all subsequent events through the date these condensed consolidated financial statements were issued. In the opinion of management, these condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, which are necessary for the fair statement of the condensed consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows for these interim periods.

Effective January 1, 2024, certain immaterial prior period balances have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation in the condensed consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. Specifically, immaterial restricted cash balances previously reported as components of “Short-term investments” and “Long-term investments” are now reported within the “Other current assets” and “Other assets” sections, respectively, in our condensed consolidated balance sheet.

Cash and cash equivalents are short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less when purchased, which may include bank deposits, U.S. Treasury securities, time deposits, and certificates of deposit.

We consider cash to be restricted when withdrawal or general use is legally restricted. Restricted cash is held in interest bearing accounts for letters of credit related to our global sabbatical program and for certain amounts related to other compensation arrangements held in escrow. We also hold restricted cash in segregated bank accounts for purposes of safeguarding customer funds.

In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2023-07—Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segments Disclosures. The new guidance is intended to improve reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses enabling investors to better understand an entity’s overall performance and assess potential future cash flows. In addition, the amendments enhance interim disclosure requirements, clarify circumstances in which an entity can disclose multiple segment measures of profit or loss, provide new segment disclosure requirements for entities with a single reportable segment, and contain other disclosure requirements. The standard will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2023 and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. We do not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-08—Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Crypto Assets (Subtopic 350-60): Accounting for and Disclosure of Crypto Assets. The new guidance addresses the accounting and disclosure requirements for certain crypto assets and requires entities to subsequently measure certain crypto assets at fair value, with changes in fair value recorded in net income in each reporting period. In addition, entities are required to provide additional disclosures about the holdings of certain crypto assets. The standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2024, including interim reporting periods within those fiscal years. We do not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09—Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. The new guidance is intended to further standardize income tax disclosures primarily related to the presentation of the effective tax rate reconciliation and income taxes paid information in our financial statements and disclosures. The standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2024. We do not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Goodwill acquired during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 relates to the second quarter acquisition of Goldin, a leading U.S.-based auction house for high-value trading cards and collectibles. The adjustments to goodwill during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 were immaterial.

We have one operating and reportable segment. Our reportable segment is Marketplace, which includes our online marketplace located at www.ebay.com and its localized counterparts, our off-platform businesses in Japan and the United States, and our suite of mobile apps. Our management and our chief operating decision maker review financial information presented on a consolidated basis for purposes of allocating resources and evaluating performance and do not evaluate using asset information.

The accounting policies of our segment are the same as those described in “Note 1 — The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.”

Net revenues, inclusive of the effects of foreign exchange during each period, are attributed to U.S. and international geographies primarily based upon the country in which the seller is located or the service is provided.

Our fixed-income investments consist of predominantly investment grade corporate debt securities and government and agency securities. The corporate debt and government and agency securities that we invest in are generally deemed to be low risk based on their credit ratings from major rating agencies.

The longer the duration of these securities, the more susceptible they are to changes in market interest rates and bond yields. As interest rates increase, securities purchased at a lower yield show a mark-to-market unrealized loss. The unrealized losses are primarily due to changes in credit spreads and interest rates. We regularly review investment securities for other-than-temporary impairment using both qualitative and quantitative criteria. Investments classified as available-for-sale debt securities are carried at fair value with changes reflected in other comprehensive income. Where there is an intention or a requirement to sell an impaired available-for-sale debt security, the entire impairment is recognized in earnings with a corresponding adjustment to the amortized cost basis of the security. From time to time, we sell available-for-sale debt securities in an unrealized loss position and recognize an immaterial loss.

We regularly review investment securities for credit impairment using both qualitative and quantitative criteria. In making this assessment, we consider the extent to which fair value is less than amortized cost, any changes to the rating of the security by a rating agency, any adverse conditions specifically related to the security, among other factors. If this assessment indicates that a credit loss exists, the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the security are compared to the amortized cost basis of the security. If the present value of cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost basis, a credit loss exists and an allowance for credit losses will be recorded through interest income and other, net for the credit loss, limited by the amount that the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis. Any impairment that has not been recorded through an allowance for credit losses is recognized in other comprehensive income. We did not recognize any credit-related impairment through an allowance for credit losses as of September 30, 2024.

Investment securities in a continuous loss position for less than 12 months had an estimated fair value of $1.3 billion and unrealized losses of $1 million as of September 30, 2024 compared to an estimated fair value of $1.5 billion and unrealized losses of $2 million as of December 31, 2023. Investment securities in a continuous loss position for greater than 12 months had an estimated fair value of $728 million and unrealized losses of $13 million as of September 30, 2024 compared to an estimated fair value of $1.1 billion and unrealized losses of $43 million as of December 31, 2023. Refer to “Note 14 — Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income” for amounts reclassified to earnings from unrealized gains and losses.

At the initial recognition of this equity investment in Adevinta, we elected the fair value option where subsequent changes in fair value are recognized in “Gain (loss) on equity investments and warrant, net” in the condensed consolidated statement of income. The investment was reported within the “Current assets” section in our condensed consolidated balance sheet and was classified within Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. Refer to “Note 7 — Fair Value Measurement of Assets and Liabilities” for more information. The fair value of the investment was $4,474 million as of December 31, 2023.

On May 29, 2024, we completed the previously announced sale of (1) 227 million Adevinta shares to Aurelia BidCo 1 Norway AS in exchange for approximately $2.4 billion in cash and (2) 177 million Adevinta shares to Aurelia Netherlands TopCo B.V. (“Aurelia”) in exchange for the issuance of 177 million shares of the new entity, Aurelia (collectively, the “Transactions”) valued at $1.9 billion and representing approximately 18.3% ownership of the outstanding equity of Aurelia as of the date of the Transactions. The equity investment in Aurelia is accounted for under the measurement alternative as we are not able to exercise significant influence based on the governance structure defined in the terms of the Transaction Completion Agreement and the Aurelia Shareholder Agreement. Refer to "Equity investments without readily determinable fair values” below for additional information.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, an unrealized loss of $234 million and a realized gain on sale of $78 million were recorded in “Gain (loss) on equity investments and warrant, net” on our condensed consolidated statement of income related to the sale of the investment in Adevinta.

In connection with the Transactions, during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 we reduced “Deferred tax liabilities” by $456 million and increased “Income taxes payable” by $458 million on our condensed consolidated balance sheet related to the taxable gain on disposition of Adevinta shares.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, unrealized gains of $1,367 million and $1,331 million, respectively, were recorded in “Gain (loss) on equity investments and warrant, net” on our condensed consolidated statement of income related to the change in fair value of the investment in Adevinta.

In 2021, we completed the sale of 80.01% of the outstanding equity interests of eBay Korea to Emart. Upon completion of the sale, we retained 19.99% of the outstanding equity interest of the new entity, Gmarket, over whom we are able to exercise significant influence based on the terms of the securities purchase agreement, including through our board representation. Our equity investment in Gmarket was valued at $728 million as of the transaction close date.

At the initial recognition of this equity investment, we elected the fair value option where subsequent changes in fair value are recognized in “Gain (loss) on equity investments and warrant, net” in the condensed consolidated statement of income. The investment is reported within “Long-term investments” in our condensed consolidated balance sheet and is classified within Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy as the valuation reflects management’s estimate of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the equity investment. We believe the fair value option election creates more transparency of the current value in the equity investment in Gmarket. Refer to “Note 7 — Fair Value Measurement of Assets and Liabilities” for more information.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, unrealized gains of $16 million and unrealized losses of $12 million, respectively, related to the change in fair value of the investment were recorded in “Gain (loss) on equity investments and warrant, net” on our condensed consolidated statement of income compared to $43 million and $83 million of unrealized losses recorded during the same periods in 2023. The fair value of the investment was $323 million and $335 million as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.

Certain other individually immaterial equity investments aggregating to $55 million as of September 30, 2024 and $47 million as of December 31, 2023 are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) practical expedient, and have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. Refer to “Note 7 — Fair Value Measurement of Assets and Liabilities” for more information.

Equity investments without readily determinable fair values are non-marketable equity securities, which are investments in privately-held companies for which we do not exercise significant influence and are accounted for under the measurement alternative. Under the measurement alternative, the carrying value is measured at cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer. Changes in value and impairments of equity investments without readily determinable fair values are recognized in “Gain (loss) on equity investments and warrant, net” in our condensed consolidated statement of income. Equity investments without readily determinable fair values are presented within “Long-term investments” in our condensed consolidated balance sheet.

As discussed in the “Equity Investment in Adevinta” section above, our equity investment in Aurelia is accounted for under the measurement alternative as we are not able to exercise significant influence over Aurelia. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, no upward or downward adjustments to the carrying value of our equity investment in Aurelia were recorded. The carrying value of the investment was $1.9 billion as of September 30, 2024.

In connection with the Transactions discussed above, we also granted Aurelia UK Feederco Limited a six month option to purchase Aurelia shares (the "Aurelia Option"), which, if exercised, would reduce our ownership in Aurelia to approximately 8.3% of the outstanding equity of Aurelia. The Aurelia Option is reported within the “Current liabilities” section in our condensed consolidated balance sheet and is classified within Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy as the valuation reflects management’s estimate of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the equity investment. The Aurelia Option was valued at $74 million as of September 30, 2024. Refer to “Note 7 — Fair Value Measurement of Assets and Liabilities” for more information.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, we recorded additions of $10 million and $51 million compared to immaterial additions during the same periods in 2023. The change in value of our other equity method investments without readily determinable fair values for each of the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 was immaterial both individually and in the aggregate.

We account for certain other individually immaterial equity investments through which we exercise significant influence but do not have control over the investee under the equity method. Our consolidated results of operations include, as a component of “Interest income and other, net”, our share of the net income or loss of the equity investments. Equity method investments are presented within “Long-term investments” in our condensed consolidated balance sheet. Our share of the net income or loss of equity method investments for each of the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 was immaterial both individually and in the aggregate.

Our primary objective in holding derivatives is to reduce the volatility of earnings and cash flows associated with changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. These hedging contracts reduce, but do not entirely eliminate, the impact of adverse foreign exchange rate and interest rate movements. We do not use any of our derivative instruments for trading purposes.

We use foreign currency exchange contracts to reduce the volatility of cash flows related to forecasted revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities, including intercompany balances denominated in foreign currencies. These contracts are generally one month to one year in duration but with maturities up to 24 months. The objective of the foreign exchange contracts is to ensure that ultimately the U.S. dollar-equivalent cash flows are not adversely affected by changes in the applicable U.S. dollar/foreign currency exchange rate. We evaluate the effectiveness of our foreign exchange contracts designated as cash flow or net investment hedges on a quarterly basis.

For derivative instruments that are designated as cash flow hedges, the derivative’s gain or loss is initially reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) and subsequently reclassified into earnings in the same period the forecasted hedged transaction affects earnings. Derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges must be de-designated as hedges when it is probable the forecasted hedged transaction will not occur in the initially identified time period or within a subsequent two-month time period. Unrealized gains and losses in AOCI associated with such derivative instruments are immediately reclassified into earnings. As of September 30, 2024, we have estimated that approximately $38 million of net derivative losses related to our foreign exchange cash flow hedges and $8 million of net derivative gains related to our interest rate cash flow hedges included in AOCI will be reclassified into earnings within the next 12 months. We classify cash flows related to our cash flow hedges as operating activities in our condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.

Non-Designated Hedges

Our derivatives not designated as hedging instruments consist of foreign currency forward contracts that we primarily use to hedge monetary assets or liabilities, including intercompany balances and equity investments denominated in non-functional currencies. The gains and losses on our derivatives not designated as hedging instruments are recorded in “Interest income and other, net”, which are offset by the foreign currency gains and losses on the related assets and liabilities that are also recorded in “Interest income and other, net”. We classify cash flows related to our non-designated hedging instruments in the same line item as the cash flows of the related assets or liabilities, which is generally within operating activities in our condensed consolidated statement of cash flows. Cash flows related to the settlement of non-designated hedging instruments related to equity investments are classified within investing activities in our condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.

Warrant

We entered into a warrant agreement in conjunction with a commercial agreement with Adyen N.V. (“Adyen”) that, subject to meeting certain conditions, entitles us to acquire a fixed number of shares up to 5% of Adyen’s fully diluted issued and outstanding share capital at a specific date. The warrant has a term of seven years and vests in a series of four tranches, at a specified price per share (fixed for the first two tranches) upon meeting processing volume milestone targets on a calendar year basis. When or if a relevant milestone is reached, the warrant becomes exercisable with respect to the corresponding tranche of warrant shares up until the warrant expiration date of January 31, 2025. The maximum number of tranches that can vest in one calendar year is two.

Fair Value of Derivative Contracts

Under the master netting agreements with the respective counterparties to our derivative contracts, subject to applicable requirements, we are allowed to net settle transactions of the same type with a single net amount payable by one party to the other. However, we have elected to present the derivative assets and derivative liabilities on a gross basis in our condensed consolidated balance sheet. As of September 30, 2024, the potential effect of rights of set-off associated with the foreign exchange contracts would be an offset to both assets and liabilities by $14 million, resulting in net derivative assets of $8 million and net derivative liabilities of $6 million. As of September 30, 2024, there was no potential effect of rights of set-off associated with the interest rate contracts as there were no asset positions.

Effect of Derivative Contracts on Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Effect of Derivative Contracts on Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income

Notional Amounts of Derivative Contracts

Our derivatives expose us to credit risk to the extent that the counterparties may be unable to meet the terms of the arrangement. We seek to mitigate such risk by limiting our counterparties to, and by spreading the risk across, major financial institutions. In addition, the potential risk of loss with any one counterparty resulting from this type of credit risk is monitored on an ongoing basis. To further limit credit risk, we also enter into collateral security arrangements related to certain interest rate derivative instruments whereby collateral is posted between counterparties if the fair value of the derivative instrument exceeds certain thresholds. Additional collateral would be required in the event of a significant credit downgrade by either party. We are not required to pledge, nor are we entitled to receive, collateral related to our foreign exchange derivative transactions.