EBAYThe resale OG found its groove
eBay is having one of those “wait, they’re still around?” moments — except this time, the answer is: yes, and apparently they’re winning. The company said first-quarter 2026 sales rose 19% from a year ago, with fashion playing a big role in the comeback.
That matters because fashion is one of those categories that can make a marketplace feel alive. If buyers are hunting for sneakers, vintage jackets, and “I swear this is the one” accessories, you get repeat visits. And repeat visits are basically the oxygen of e-commerce.
Why investors should care
A strong fashion category can do a few things at once:
- Pull in more shoppers without the company having to buy every click like it’s Black Friday on hard mode
- Keep sellers active, because people list more when they think their stuff will actually move
- Make the platform feel more relevant, which is a fancy way of saying eBay looks less like your uncle’s garage sale app
The bigger takeaway: if this growth sticks, eBay’s not just defending its turf — it’s proving that the resale economy still has room to run.
The bigger picture
eBay’s always lived in that tricky spot between “legacy internet brand” and “quietly useful marketplace.” But 19% sales growth is the kind of number that can make investors lean in a little. Big picture: if fashion keeps driving traffic, eBay might be turning nostalgia into a real growth story.