EBay doesn't need Ryan Cohen for its comeback. How to profit from the turnaround

EBay is quietly rebuilding a growth story that many investors had already written off. After years of stalled marketplace growth, the company is beginning to show clear signs of acceleration across merchandise volume, advertising and focus categories. The recent GameStop takeover bid from Ryan Cohen has put eBay back in the headlines, but the more important story is that the core business is improving on its own. GameStop proposed to acquire eBay at $125 per share in May, and while eBay rejected the offer, GameStop has continued to pursue the deal, creating a layer of optionality on top of an improving operating story. The recovery is being supported by real numbers. In Q1 2026, eBay reported revenue growth of 19% year over year, with GMV growth of 18%. Advertising also continues to scale, with first-party ad revenue up 33%, adding a high-margin lever to the marketplace model. At the same time, eBay's acquisition of Depop gives the company a foothold in the Gen Z cohort. Depop brings roughly 7 million active buyers, nearly 90% of whom are under 35, giving eBay a fresh growth angle in one of the strongest areas of consumer resale. Against that backdrop, the stock's looks increasingly constructive, and the next move could be a retest of its recent highs and potentially a breakout to new 52-week highs. Trade timing & outlook EBAY has been building a constructive base above the $105 support level after a sharp move higher earlier this year. …