In the dynamic world of specialty retail, eBay Inc. and Genuine Parts Company stand out as influential players with distinct business models and market approaches. eBay excels as a global online marketplace connecting buyers and sellers, while Genuine Parts specializes in distributing automotive and industrial replacement parts. This comparison explores their innovation strategies and market overlap to help you decide which company holds the most promise for your investment portfolio. Let’s uncover which stock could be the smarter choice for you.
Table of contents
Companies Overview
I will begin the comparison between eBay and Genuine Parts Company by providing an overview of these two companies and their main differences.
eBay Overview
eBay Inc. operates marketplace platforms connecting buyers and sellers globally, primarily through its online marketplace at ebay.com and mobile apps. Founded in 1995 and headquartered in San Jose, California, eBay’s mission centers on enabling users to list, buy, sell, and pay for items via diverse channels, including retailers and distributors. It holds a market cap of 41B USD and employs 11.5K people.
Genuine Parts Company Overview
Genuine Parts Company distributes automotive replacement parts and industrial supplies through its Automotive and Industrial Parts Groups. Incorporated in 1928 and based in Atlanta, Georgia, it serves a broad range of sectors, including automotive aftermarket and industrial maintenance. GPC’s market cap stands at 17.9B USD with a workforce of 63K employees across multiple countries.
Key similarities and differences
Both companies operate in the Specialty Retail industry within the Consumer Cyclical sector, but eBay focuses on digital marketplace services linking buyers and sellers worldwide. In contrast, Genuine Parts Company specializes in physical distribution of automotive and industrial parts, serving various industries globally. eBay’s business is primarily platform-based, while GPC’s model emphasizes product distribution and value-added repair services.
Income Statement Comparison
The table below presents a side-by-side comparison of key income statement metrics for eBay Inc. and Genuine Parts Company for the fiscal year 2024, highlighting their financial performance.
| Metric | eBay Inc. | Genuine Parts Company |
|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | 41.1B | 17.9B |
| Revenue | 10.3B | 23.5B |
| EBITDA | 2.86B | 1.68B |
| EBIT | 2.54B | 1.27B |
| Net Income | 1.98B | 904M |
| EPS | 3.98 | 6.49 |
| Fiscal Year | 2024 | 2024 |
Income Statement Interpretations
eBay Inc.
eBay’s revenue showed a moderate increase of 15.62% from 2020 to 2024, but net income declined sharply by 65.15% over the same period. Margins, including gross (71.99%) and net (19.21%), remain favorable, though the recent year saw a 1.69% revenue growth slowdown and a 29.81% drop in net margin. Operating expenses grew in line with revenue, showing disciplined cost management in 2024.
Genuine Parts Company
GPC experienced strong revenue growth of 42.02% over five years, with net income surging by over 3200%. Its gross margin of 36.29% is favorable, but EBIT and net margins are more moderate at 5.42% and 3.85%, reflecting some margin pressure. The latest year posted a 1.71% revenue increase but suffered a near 30% decline in EBIT and net margin, indicating recent profitability challenges.
Which one has the stronger fundamentals?
eBay maintains higher margins and a more favorable cost structure despite recent earnings setbacks, while GPC shows impressive long-term income growth but lower margin quality and recent profitability declines. eBay’s margin stability contrasts with GPC’s volatile earnings, suggesting a trade-off between margin strength and growth performance depending on investor priorities.
Financial Ratios Comparison
The table below presents a side-by-side comparison of key financial ratios for eBay Inc. and Genuine Parts Company based on their most recent fiscal year data (2024).
| Ratios | eBay Inc. (EBAY) | Genuine Parts Company (GPC) |
|---|---|---|
| ROE | 38.3% | 20.8% |
| ROIC | 13.4% | 9.8% |
| P/E | 15.6 | 18.0 |
| P/B | 6.0 | 3.7 |
| Current Ratio | 1.24 | 1.16 |
| Quick Ratio | 1.24 | 0.51 |
| D/E (Debt-to-Equity) | 1.52 | 1.32 |
| Debt-to-Assets | 40.6% | 29.8% |
| Interest Coverage | 8.95 | 14.9 |
| Asset Turnover | 0.53 | 1.22 |
| Fixed Asset Turnover | 6.08 | 6.31 |
| Payout Ratio | 27.0% | 61.4% |
| Dividend Yield | 1.73% | 3.41% |
Interpretation of the Ratios
eBay Inc.
eBay’s 2024 ratios reveal strengths in net margin (19.21%) and return on equity (38.29%), signaling solid profitability and efficient equity use. However, the high price-to-book ratio (5.96) and debt-to-equity level (1.52) raise concerns about valuation and leverage. The dividend yield stands at 1.73%, supported by a consistent payout, with moderate risk from financial gearing.
Genuine Parts Company
Genuine Parts shows a modest net margin of 3.85%, which is a relative weakness, but a favorable 20.84% return on equity and solid interest coverage (13.15) indicate operational strength. The company pays a higher dividend yield of 3.41%, reflecting a shareholder-friendly approach, although a low quick ratio (0.51) and moderate debt levels warrant attention for liquidity and leverage risks.
Which one has the best ratios?
Both companies present slightly favorable overall ratios, but eBay excels in profitability and equity returns whereas Genuine Parts offers stronger dividend yield and better leverage metrics. The choice depends on prioritizing robust profit margins and returns or a higher income yield with conservative financial structure.
Strategic Positioning
This section compares the strategic positioning of eBay Inc. and Genuine Parts Company, including market position, key segments, and exposure to disruption:
eBay Inc.
- Operates a global online marketplace with strong competition in specialty retail.
- Key segments include Marketplaces and Advertising Revenues driving e-commerce platform growth.
- Exposure primarily to digital platform innovations and e-commerce technological advances.
Genuine Parts Company
- Distributes automotive and industrial parts across multiple countries, facing competitive pressures.
- Revenue driven by Automotive Parts and Industrial Parts segments with diversified industrial exposure.
- Exposure to automotive and industrial parts supply chain advancements and electric vehicle parts distribution.
eBay Inc. vs Genuine Parts Company Positioning
eBay Inc. focuses on a diversified digital marketplace and advertising model, while Genuine Parts Company concentrates on physical automotive and industrial parts distribution. eBay’s model leverages platform scalability; Genuine Parts benefits from broad industrial customer base but depends on supply chains.
Which has the best competitive advantage?
Both companies show a very favorable moat with growing ROIC above WACC, indicating durable competitive advantages and efficient capital use in their respective sectors.
Stock Comparison
The stock price movements of eBay Inc. and Genuine Parts Company over the past 12 months reveal contrasting dynamics, with eBay showing strong gains despite recent deceleration, while Genuine Parts Company experiences a persistent downward trend with accelerating losses.
Trend Analysis
eBay Inc. displayed a bullish trend over the past 12 months with a 109.23% price increase, though the trend shows deceleration. Price volatility is notable, with a 14.19 standard deviation and a high of 100.7 and low of 43.45.
Genuine Parts Company’s stock followed a bearish trend over the past year, declining 10.21% with accelerating losses. Volatility is moderate at a 12.0 standard deviation, with prices ranging from 113.61 to 162.39.
Comparing both stocks, eBay delivered the highest market performance with a strong bullish trend, while Genuine Parts Company showed a weaker, accelerating bearish trend over the same period.
Target Prices
The consensus target prices from verified analysts suggest a positive outlook for both eBay Inc. and Genuine Parts Company.
| Company | Target High | Target Low | Consensus |
|---|---|---|---|
| eBay Inc. | 115 | 65 | 96.69 |
| Genuine Parts Company | 150 | 140 | 145.33 |
Analysts expect eBay’s stock to grow moderately from its current price of 90.91 USD, while Genuine Parts Company shows strong upside potential with consensus targets well above the current 128.34 USD price.
Analyst Opinions Comparison
This section compares analysts’ ratings and financial scores for eBay Inc. and Genuine Parts Company:
Rating Comparison
eBay Inc. Rating
- Rating: B+, classified as Very Favorable by analysts.
- Discounted Cash Flow Score: 3, indicating a Moderate rating.
- ROE Score: 5, considered Very Favorable.
- ROA Score: 5, rated Very Favorable.
- Debt To Equity Score: 1, seen as Very Unfavorable.
- Overall Score: 3, placed in the Moderate category.
Genuine Parts Company Rating
- Rating: B, also classified as Very Favorable by analysts.
- Discounted Cash Flow Score: 4, indicating a Favorable rating.
- ROE Score: 4, considered Favorable.
- ROA Score: 3, rated Moderate.
- Debt To Equity Score: 1, also Very Unfavorable.
- Overall Score: 3, also Moderate.
Which one is the best rated?
Based strictly on provided data, eBay holds a higher rating (B+) and superior scores in ROE and ROA, while GPC leads slightly in discounted cash flow. Both share moderate overall and debt-to-equity scores.
Scores Comparison
The scores comparison between eBay Inc. and Genuine Parts Company is as follows:
EBAY Scores
- Altman Z-Score: 5.84, indicating a safe zone with low bankruptcy risk.
- Piotroski Score: 6, reflecting average financial strength.
GPC Scores
- Altman Z-Score: 2.44, indicating a grey zone with moderate bankruptcy risk.
- Piotroski Score: 6, reflecting average financial strength.
Which company has the best scores?
eBay shows a stronger Altman Z-Score in the safe zone, while both companies share an identical average Piotroski Score of 6. Based on these scores, eBay displays a more favorable financial stability profile.
Grades Comparison
Here is a detailed comparison of the grading data from multiple financial institutions for the two companies:
eBay Inc. Grades
The following table summarizes the latest grades issued by known financial institutions for eBay Inc.:
| Grading Company | Action | New Grade | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wells Fargo | Maintain | Equal Weight | 2026-01-08 |
| Truist Securities | Maintain | Hold | 2025-11-03 |
| Piper Sandler | Maintain | Overweight | 2025-10-30 |
| Barclays | Maintain | Overweight | 2025-10-30 |
| Wells Fargo | Maintain | Equal Weight | 2025-10-30 |
| Benchmark | Maintain | Buy | 2025-10-30 |
| UBS | Maintain | Neutral | 2025-10-30 |
| Needham | Maintain | Buy | 2025-10-30 |
| Cantor Fitzgerald | Maintain | Neutral | 2025-10-30 |
| Evercore ISI Group | Maintain | In Line | 2025-10-30 |
Overall, eBay’s grades display a balanced trend with a mix of Buy, Overweight, Equal Weight, and Hold ratings, indicating moderate investor confidence.
Genuine Parts Company Grades
Below is a summary of the latest grades from reputable financial institutions for Genuine Parts Company:
| Grading Company | Action | New Grade | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goldman Sachs | Upgrade | Neutral | 2025-11-13 |
| JP Morgan | Maintain | Overweight | 2025-10-23 |
| Truist Securities | Maintain | Buy | 2025-10-22 |
| UBS | Maintain | Neutral | 2025-10-10 |
| Evercore ISI Group | Maintain | Outperform | 2025-10-01 |
| Evercore ISI Group | Maintain | Outperform | 2025-08-26 |
| Loop Capital | Maintain | Buy | 2025-07-24 |
| JP Morgan | Maintain | Overweight | 2025-07-23 |
| Truist Securities | Maintain | Buy | 2025-07-23 |
| UBS | Maintain | Neutral | 2025-07-23 |
Genuine Parts Company’s grades lean strongly toward Buy, Overweight, and Outperform ratings, reflecting generally positive analyst sentiment.
Which company has the best grades?
Comparing the two, Genuine Parts Company holds a stronger consensus with multiple Buy and Outperform ratings, while eBay has a more mixed profile centered around Hold and Equal Weight grades. This suggests that Genuine Parts may currently be viewed more favorably by analysts, potentially influencing investor decisions toward perceived growth or stability prospects.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Below is a comparison table summarizing the key strengths and weaknesses of eBay Inc. and Genuine Parts Company based on their recent financial and operational data.
| Criterion | eBay Inc. (EBAY) | Genuine Parts Company (GPC) |
|---|---|---|
| Diversification | Moderate: Focus on online marketplaces and advertising revenues; limited product range. | High: Diverse segments including automotive and industrial parts. |
| Profitability | Strong: Net margin 19.21%, ROE 38.29%, ROIC 13.39% (favorable). | Moderate: Lower net margin 3.85%, ROE 20.84% (favorable), ROIC 9.82% (neutral). |
| Innovation | High: Growing ROIC trend indicating efficient capital use and competitive advantage. | High: Very favorable moat with strong ROIC growth, indicating durable advantage. |
| Global presence | Significant: Large online presence, but mainly digital marketplace focus. | Broad: Extensive physical distribution network in automotive and industrial sectors. |
| Market Share | Strong in online marketplace niche with $8.65B marketplaces revenue (2024). | Large share in automotive parts with $14.77B and industrial parts $8.72B revenue (2024). |
Key takeaways: eBay excels in profitability and innovation within the digital marketplace space, though it is less diversified. Genuine Parts Company offers greater diversification and a robust physical presence but faces margin pressures. Both demonstrate durable competitive advantages with growing ROIC trends, supporting long-term value creation.
Risk Analysis
Below is a comparative risk assessment of eBay Inc. and Genuine Parts Company based on the most recent data from 2024-2026.
| Metric | eBay Inc. (EBAY) | Genuine Parts Company (GPC) |
|---|---|---|
| Market Risk | High beta at 1.35 indicates higher volatility and sensitivity to market swings. | Lower beta at 0.75 suggests less market volatility risk. |
| Debt level | Debt-to-equity ratio of 1.52 is relatively high, indicating leverage risk. | Debt-to-equity at 1.32; still leveraged but slightly better than eBay. |
| Regulatory Risk | Moderate; eBay faces global e-commerce and data privacy regulations. | Moderate; operates in automotive and industrial parts with compliance risks. |
| Operational Risk | Platform dependency and cybersecurity threats are key concerns. | Supply chain and parts distribution complexity pose operational risks. |
| Environmental Risk | Lower direct environmental impact but increasing pressure on sustainability reporting. | Higher exposure due to industrial operations and global supply chain. |
| Geopolitical Risk | Moderate; international operations expose eBay to global trade tensions and regulations. | Moderate; global footprint in multiple countries with potential trade disruptions. |
The most significant risks for eBay stem from its high market volatility and elevated debt levels, compounded by cybersecurity and regulatory pressures. Genuine Parts Company, while less volatile, faces operational risks from its complex supply chain and moderate leverage, with environmental impact scrutiny increasing. Both companies maintain moderate geopolitical risks due to their international operations.
Which Stock to Choose?
eBay Inc. shows mixed income evolution with a 15.62% revenue growth over 2020-2024 but a significant decline in net income and margins. Its financial ratios are slightly favorable, with strong profitability (ROE 38.29%) but elevated debt (D/E 1.52) and a B+ rating reflecting solid but cautious financial health.
Genuine Parts Company presents favorable income growth overall, notably a 42.02% revenue increase and substantial net income expansion. Its ratios are slightly favorable, featuring moderate profitability (ROE 20.84%), lower debt levels (D/E 1.32), and a B rating indicating stable financial standing despite some weaknesses in liquidity.
For risk-tolerant investors focused on growth, eBay’s higher profitability and durable competitive advantage might appear attractive despite earnings volatility. Conversely, those prioritizing income stability and moderate risk may find Genuine Parts’ consistent growth and lower leverage more aligned with their profile, given its slightly favorable ratings and income statement.
Disclaimer: Investment carries a risk of loss of initial capital. The past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Be sure to understand risks before making an investment decision.
Go Further
I encourage you to read the complete analyses of eBay Inc. and Genuine Parts Company to enhance your investment decisions:
