The value of merchandise sold on eBay Inc.’s U.S. marketplace increased 19.2% year over year in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, eBay reported today. That’s the largest growth eBay has reported since the third quarter of 2011. That growth likely exceeded that of the broader e-commerce market, as web measurement firm comScore Inc. estimates that e-commerce grew 13.7% during the November-December holiday season.
“EBay Marketplaces had a terrific fourth quarter, outpacing e-commerce,” says John Donahoe, the company’s CEO and president.
Moreover, mobile continues to be a bright spot for eBay, Donahoe says. “EBay mobile finished the year with $13 billion in volume—more than double the prior year—and PayPal mobile handled almost $14 billion in payment volume, more than triple the prior year. In 2013, we expect each to exceed $20 billion.”
For the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, eBay reported:
• The value of goods sold through eBay’s U.S. online marketplaces, excluding autos, increased 19.2% in the fourth quarter to $7.34 billion from $6.16 billion in the same quarter last year
• The value of goods sold worldwide through eBay’s online marketplaces, excluding autos, increased 15.9% in the fourth quarter to $19.11 billion from $16.49 billion in the same quarter last year. 61.6% of marketplace sales came from outside the United States.
• Fixed-price sales represented 68% of marketplace volume compared with 64% a year earlier, reflecting eBay’s continued move away from the auction format as more large and midsized retailers use eBay as a sales platform, selling merchandise for a fixed price.
• Active users of eBay’s marketplaces totaled 112.3 million, up 11.9% from 100.4 million a year earlier. (Active users are those who have listed or bought on eBay in the previous 12 months.)
• Payment volume increased 24.3% year over year to $41.47 billion from $33.37 billion.
• 67.6% of eBay’s payment volume came from the company’s merchant services unit that handles off-eBay payments for e-retailers.
• Active users of eBay’s payment services, which include consumers with PayPal or Bill Me Later accounts, grew 15.4% to 122.7 million from 106.3 million a year earlier.
• EBay’s total Q4 revenue increased 18.0% to $3.99 billion from $3.38 billion a year ago.
• Q1 net income was $751 million, down from $1.98 billion a year ago. The fourth quarter results in 2011 reflected a gain from the company’s sale of Skype, the online communication service.
For the full year, eBay reported:
- Revenue of $14.07 billion, up 20.8% from $11.65 billion a year earlier.
- Net income of $2.61 billion, down 19.2% from $3.23 billion