← Kohl's overview

Kohl's vs eBay: why the prices moved differently

Weekly · monthly · quarterly news summaries, side by side in time

Kohl's Corporation (KSS)

Q3 2026
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Kohl's Q2 beat driven by tariff refunds, not sales

  • Q2 earnings beat and raised outlook Kohl's reported Q2 EPS of $1.28, beating expectations, and raised its full-year profit outlook to $1.80–$2.40 while restarting buybacks of up to $100 million. This initially cheered investors.

    This is the headline event that drove the stock in August.

  • Profit boost came from tariff refunds, not sales About 98% of gross margin gains came from roughly $150 million in tariff refunds, not from selling more merchandise. This raises doubts about the sustainability of the profit beat.

    It reveals the low quality of earnings, a key reason the stock may not hold gains.

  • 18th straight quarter of falling same-store sales Comparable sales fell 0.9%, the 18th consecutive quarterly decline, with total revenue down 2%—the weakest among general merchandise peers. Low-income shoppers remain stressed, and broader consumer pullback pressures demand.

    It shows the core business continues to shrink, a major headwind for the stock.

  • New growth initiatives, but unproven Kohl's is expanding DoorDash rapid delivery to 1,100+ stores, adding Martha Stewart and Babies"R"Us shop-in-shops, and hiring a new Chief Merchandising Officer from Walmart. These could help, but benefits are unproven and don't yet signal a recovery.

    These are the main positive efforts that could drive future performance, though their impact is uncertain.

August 2026
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Kohl's Q2 beat driven by tariff refunds, not sales

  • Q2 earnings beat and raised outlook Kohl's reported Q2 EPS of $1.28, beating expectations, and raised its full-year profit outlook to $1.80–$2.40 while restarting buybacks of up to $100 million. This initially cheered investors.

    This is the headline event that drove the stock in August.

  • Profit boost came from tariff refunds, not sales About 98% of gross margin gains came from roughly $150 million in tariff refunds, not from selling more merchandise. This raises doubts about the sustainability of the profit beat.

    It reveals the low quality of earnings, a key reason the stock may not hold gains.

  • 18th straight quarter of falling same-store sales Comparable sales fell 0.9%, the 18th consecutive quarterly decline, with total revenue down 2%—the weakest among general merchandise peers. Low-income shoppers remain stressed, and broader consumer pullback pressures demand.

    It shows the core business continues to shrink, a major headwind for the stock.

  • New growth initiatives, but unproven Kohl's is expanding DoorDash rapid delivery to 1,100+ stores, adding Martha Stewart and Babies"R"Us shop-in-shops, and hiring a new Chief Merchandising Officer from Walmart. These could help, but benefits are unproven and don't yet signal a recovery.

    These are the main positive efforts that could drive future performance, though their impact is uncertain.

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Kohl's: tariff refunds boost profit, but sales still falling

  • Tariff refunds inflate profit, not sales Kohl's raised its full-year profit outlook and restarted share buybacks after about $150 million in tariff refunds. But roughly 98% of its gross margin gain came from those refunds, and comparable sales fell for an 18th straight quarter. The profit boost is real but not from selling more.

    This is the single biggest new force behind KSS's improved earnings picture and explains why the profit gain may not last.

  • New delivery and merchandise partnerships Kohl's launched DoorDash rapid delivery from over 1,100 stores and expanded its Martha Stewart kitchen line onto Kohls.com. These widen how customers can buy and refresh the product mix, which could help digital sales and customer reach, though the financial benefit is not yet proven.

    These are new distribution and merchandising moves that could support future demand, a genuine positive driver.

  • New merchandising chief and baby-shop expansion Kohl's named a new Chief Merchandising Officer from Walmart and is adding Babies"R"Us shops to 56 more stores. Both aim to fix weak merchandise and win back customers, but comparable sales are still down 0.9% and analysts say 18 straight quarters of declines don't signal a full recovery.

    These are the period's main strategic efforts to reverse weak sales, with a clear counterweight that results aren't there yet.

  • Consumer spending slowdown pressures sales Weak results from Albertsons and Tractor Supply signaled shoppers are pulling back, and Kohl's shares fell 5% in July on those fears. Kohl's also posted a 2% revenue decline, the slowest grower among general merchandise peers, showing demand remains the core problem.

    This explains the demand weakness that keeps KSS's sales falling despite profit-boosting one-offs.

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Kohl's Q2 EPS Beat, Raised Outlook, Buybacks; Sales Still Weak

  • Q2 earnings beat and raised full-year outlook Kohl's reported Q2 EPS of $1.28, far above the $0.55 consensus, and raised its full-year earnings outlook to $1.80–$2.40 from $1.00–$1.60. This profit surge, partly from tariff refunds, gives investors a reason to bid the stock higher.

    The earnings beat and guidance raise are the main new positive catalysts for KSS this period.

  • Restarted share buybacks up to $100 million Kohl's said it will restart share repurchases of up to $100 million in 2026 under its existing $3 billion authorization. Buybacks reduce the number of shares outstanding, which can lift earnings per share and support the stock price.

    Buybacks are a new capital-return action that directly supports the share price.

  • Comparable sales fell 0.9%, missing expectations Kohl's Q2 comparable sales dropped 0.9%, worse than the 0.6% decline analysts expected, and total revenue slipped to $3.52 billion. The weak top line shows customers are still pulling back, which weighs on the stock and limits how much the profit beat can lift it.

    The sales miss is the key negative counterweight to the earnings beat.

  • Low-income consumer stress threatens future demand Reports highlight that low-income shoppers are under pressure, with diesel prices up over 40% and half of Americans living paycheck to paycheck. Since Kohl's depends on these shoppers, continued stress could hurt sales in coming quarters and keep a lid on the stock.

    This explains the demand risk that could offset the positive earnings news.

eBay Inc (EBAY)

Q3 2026
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eBay Surges on UK Fee-Free Test, Resale Growth, and Depop Deal

  • UK Fee-Free Experiment Drives Stock Surge eBay's UK fee-free experiment drove a 52% stock surge, signaling a major strategic shift that could boost seller activity and buyer demand.

    This was the primary catalyst for the stock's strong performance in Q3.

  • Strong Q2 Earnings and Depop Acquisition Clearance Q2 revenue rose 15% to $3.13B with net income up 51%, and regulators cleared the $1.2B Depop acquisition, reinforcing growth prospects.

    These financial results and regulatory approval provided fundamental support for the stock.

  • Resale Growth Accelerates eBay Live volume rose 8x, with collectibles and fashion exceeding 70% of sales and growing over 20% annually, highlighting strong momentum in high-margin categories.

    This demonstrates eBay's successful focus on resale and live commerce, driving future growth.

  • GameStop Hostile Bid Creates Uncertainty GameStop's hostile bid created board uncertainty before fading, removing a takeover premium and risking a pullback, though GameStop retains a $4.9B stake.

    This event introduced volatility and potential downside risk to the stock.

August 2026
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GameStop bid fades, but eBay's resale growth engines accelerate

  • GameStop buyout bid fades GameStop's $56B hostile bid is fading as CEO Ryan Cohen considers a partnership instead, removing the takeover premium that had lifted eBay shares and risking a pullback.

    This is the biggest new event, directly affecting eBay's price by removing a takeover premium.

  • GameStop still holds big stake GameStop still owns a $4.9B eBay stake, making it the second-largest shareholder, which signals confidence in eBay's future even as the buyout bid fades.

    This counterbalances the negative bid news and shows continued investor confidence.

  • Depop acquisition and resale growth eBay acquired Depop from Etsy, expanding in resale fashion. eBay Live volume rose about 8x, and collectibles and fashion now exceed 70% of sales, growing over 20% annually.

    These are new growth drivers that strengthen eBay's core resale business.

  • Q2 beat but stock fell; airbag ban eBay beat Q2 estimates but the stock fell on worries about durability and competition. eBay also banned airbags after counterfeit parts appeared, a small volume negative but reducing liability.

    This shows mixed signals: strong results but market skepticism, plus a regulatory action.

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eBay's resale and live-shopping bets grow as takeover premium fades

  • Live shopping and resale categories are eBay's real growth engine eBay Live's sales volume jumped about 8 times from a year ago, and sellers who stream sell roughly 3 times more. Collectibles and fashion now make up over 70% of sales and are growing more than 20% a year. This is the core reason eBay can keep growing even without a takeover.

    It shows the underlying business demand that supports eBay's value beyond deal speculation.

  • eBay keeps investing in fashion and Depop to reach younger buyers eBay named a new global head of fashion to run its luxury and non-luxury clothing business and work closely with Depop, the secondhand fashion site it bought from Etsy. This builds on the resale push that management says is driving growth, a positive for long-term revenue.

    It shows concrete follow-through on the Depop acquisition and fashion strategy that earlier reports flagged.

  • Q2 beat wasn't enough; stock fell on growth and competition worries eBay beat revenue and profit estimates but the stock dropped from $111.15 to $106.31 as analysts questioned how long the growth can last and how much competition is coming from other consumer-to-consumer platforms. A beat that still sells off shows investors want more proof the growth is durable.

    It captures the market's skeptical reaction to eBay's results and the key risks analysts raised.

  • eBay bans airbag listings after counterfeit parts expose safety gaps eBay banned airbags and inflators after dangerous counterfeit parts were found on its marketplace. The ban removes some automotive parts sales but cuts liability and refund risk. It is a small negative for volume and a small positive for safety and legal exposure.

    It is a new regulatory and safety action that affects eBay's marketplace operations and risk profile.

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GameStop's eBay stake grows, but takeover bid fades

  • GameStop may drop its $56B eBay bid GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen is considering withdrawing his $56 billion buyout offer for eBay, possibly seeking a partnership or joint venture instead. Without a takeover bid, eBay loses the buyout premium that had lifted its stock, so the shares could fall back toward where they traded before the offer.

    This is the key new event that removes the takeover premium supporting eBay's price.

  • eBay buys Etsy's Depop, expanding its marketplace eBay acquired Depop from Etsy, adding a popular secondhand fashion marketplace to its portfolio. This grows eBay's reach in resale and could boost long-term revenue and user growth, a positive for the stock even though the price paid wasn't disclosed.

    This is a new strategic acquisition that directly affects eBay's business and growth outlook.

  • GameStop's $4.9B eBay stake signals confidence GameStop disclosed it owns about 43.4 million eBay shares worth roughly $4.9 billion, making it eBay's second-largest shareholder. That large, committed stake shows strong outside belief in eBay's value and could support the stock by reducing the number of shares available to trade.

    This new disclosure highlights a major shareholder's confidence and potential support for eBay's stock.

  • Cohen buys more GameStop stock, not eBay Ryan Cohen spent $26.4 million buying more GameStop shares, raising his personal stake past 40 million shares. This suggests his focus is shifting back to GameStop rather than pursuing eBay, making it less likely he'll raise his eBay offer and weakening the takeover premium in eBay's stock.

    This new insider buying shows Cohen's priorities may be moving away from an eBay deal.

July 2026
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eBay's UK fee-free push and Depop win offset by GameStop, Meta threats

  • UK fee-free experiment drives 52% stock surge eBay's UK test of scrapping selling fees for casual sellers sent the stock up 52%, showing its consumer-to-consumer turnaround is working and boosting investor confidence.

    This is the biggest positive force behind eBay's price move in the period.

  • Q2 beat and UK clears Depop deal Q2 revenue rose 15% to $3.13B and net income jumped 51%, beating estimates, while UK regulators cleared the $1.2B Depop acquisition, supporting growth plans.

    Strong earnings and a cleared acquisition are key positive drivers for the stock.

  • GameStop stake and hostile bid create uncertainty GameStop built a roughly 10% stake and made a $125-per-share hostile bid, creating board uncertainty, though Wedbush doubts it succeeds. This weighs on the stock.

    This is a major new risk factor that pressured eBay's price during the period.

  • Meta Seller app and Icahn campaign add pressure Meta's new Seller app threatens eBay's high-margin professional sellers, Wells Fargo downgraded the stock on Depop's 2027 earnings drag, and Carl Icahn is pushing for a PayPal spin-off and board seats.

    These competitive and activist pressures are new negative forces on eBay's outlook.

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eBay's strong Q2 offset by Meta competition and activist pressure

  • Meta's Seller App Threatens eBay's Core Sellers Meta launched a Seller app for Facebook Marketplace, directly targeting eBay's professional sellers with lower fees and AI tools. This threatens eBay's high-margin seller base, pushing the stock down as investors worry about losing market share.

    This new competitive threat directly pressures eBay's core business and was a key driver of the stock's decline this period.

  • Wells Fargo Downgrade on Depop Costs Wells Fargo downgraded eBay to underweight, citing the Depop acquisition will weaken 2027 earnings and require higher marketing spend. This adds to concerns that defending against rivals like Vinted will hurt profits, weighing on the stock.

    The downgrade reflects real concerns about profitability and was a direct catalyst for the stock's drop.

  • Strong Q2 Results and Upbeat Q3 Guidance eBay reported 15% revenue growth to $3.13 billion and 51% higher net income, beating estimates. Q3 revenue guidance also topped expectations, driven by demand for luxury, collectibles, and refurbished goods. This shows the core business is healthy and growing.

    The strong financial performance and guidance are key positives that support the stock's value.

  • Carl Icahn's Activist Campaign Carl Icahn is demanding a PayPal spin-off and board seats, alleging conflicts of interest. This creates uncertainty about eBay's strategy and leadership, which could distract management and unsettle investors.

    Activist pressure introduces strategic uncertainty that can negatively impact investor sentiment.

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GameStop's eBay stake grows, but UK clears Depop and C2C strategy shines

  • GameStop's creeping stake and hostile bid GameStop now owns nearly 10% of eBay and is pushing a $125-per-share hostile bid. This creates uncertainty for eBay's board and shareholders, as a proxy fight or tender offer could disrupt management and distract from operations.

    This is the main source of uncertainty and potential downside for eBay's stock.

  • UK C2C experiment drives 52% stock surge eBay's UK experiment eliminating selling fees for casual sellers led to double-digit growth in consumer-to-consumer sales. This validates eBay's turnaround strategy and shows it can grow profitably, boosting investor confidence.

    This is a major positive catalyst that directly supports eBay's standalone growth story.

  • UK regulator clears $1.2B Depop acquisition The UK competition watchdog approved eBay's purchase of fashion resale platform Depop. This removes a regulatory hurdle and supports eBay's strategy to attract younger shoppers and strengthen its resale fashion business.

    This is a new positive development that advances eBay's growth strategy.

  • Analyst skeptical on GameStop bid, sees eBay reasonably valued Wedbush doubts GameStop's bid will succeed due to a financing gap, noting eBay trades below the offer price. The analyst views eBay as reasonably valued on its own but warns of downside if GameStop walks away.

    This provides a balanced view on the takeover situation and eBay's standalone value.