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It's not every day you hear ET and the Virgin Mary mentioned in the same sentence.
But all you have to do is add eBay (EBAY) and it all makes perfect sense.
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The list of bizarre things put up for sale on the online-auction platform goes on for miles and includes such gems as a ghost in a jar, a haunted rubber ducky and the entire country of Iceland, lock, stock and fjords.
And, yes, there was also a single piece of the Kellogg's breakfast cereal Nutri-Grain that had a slight resemblance to the lovable movie alien offered on eBay, as well as a grilled cheese sandwich that supposedly bore the image of the Virgin Mary.
Related: Goldman Sachs sees some safe-harbor stocks in trade-war storm
Funded as AuctionWeb in 1995, eBay was one of the first and most prominent online marketplaces. However, the company has been contending with shrinking market share and increasing competition.
The company's stock soared early this year following an announcement that Meta Platforms (META) will allow some listings to show up on Facebook Marketplace.
EBay CEO notes growth despite economy
The rollout began with a test in Germany, France and the U.S., where buyers will be able to view listings directly on Marketplace and complete the rest of their transactions on eBay.
EBay's shares had tumbled in February when the company forecast first-quarter revenue to grow at 1% at best, apparently disappointing investors who had hoped for better numbers in light of the Facebook connection.
2025 stock market forecasts
"We ended 2024 with three consecutive quarters of positive growth in gross merchandise volume despite continued challenges in the global economy," Chief Executive Jamie Iannone told analysts in February during the company's fourth-quarter earnings call.
Chief Financial Officer Steve Priest that eBay “delivered strong results in the fourth quarter, as we met or exceeded expectations across our key financial metrics.”
"We created a solid foundation to build upon in 2025, and our outlook reflects our confidence in eBay's ability to drive sustainable, long-term growth,” he said in a statement.
Analyst trims eBay price target
Wells Fargo lowered its price target on eBay to $62 from $64 and affirmed an equal weight rating on the shares, according to The Fly.