Yield Theory

Consumer Discretionary stock comparison

EBAY vs LULU: which business are you actually underwriting?

Compare eBay Inc. with lululemon athletica inc. using their business models, SEC classifications, fiscal calendars, current primary filings, and the research questions that matter. This is a thesis framework—not a price target or automatic winner.
Sector
Consumer
Industry
Different SIC
Shared themes
1
Updated
2026-03-17

EBAY vs LULU: quick comparison

Company factEBAYLULU
CompanyeBay Inc.lululemon athletica inc.
ExchangeNASDAQNASDAQ
SEC industryServices-Business Services, NECApparel & Other Finishd Prods of Fabrics & Similar Matl
Fiscal year-endDecember 31January 31
Latest annual filing10-K · 2026-02-1910-K · 2026-03-17

EBAY vs LULU: audited financials

LULU reported revenue roughly in line with EBAY in the latest audited fiscal year. On profitability, EBAY converted a larger share of revenue into net income (18.3% versus 14.2%). Scale and margin are starting facts for the thesis, not the verdict.

MetricEBAYLULU
Revenue$11.1B$11.1B
Net income$2.0B$1.6B
Operating cash flow$2.0B$1.6B
Diluted EPS$4.34$13.26
Net margin18.3%14.2%

EBAY: FY ending 2025-12-31 · LULU: FY ending 2026-02-01. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.

How the businesses differ

Why this pair belongs in the comparison set

EBAY and LULU have different SEC industry classifications, but both map to the maintained International markets research theme inside the Consumer Discretionary sector. A shared classification or theme makes the pair useful for a defined research question; it does not mean the companies have identical products, economics, or risks.

eBay Inc. (EBAY)

eBay operates a global online marketplace connecting buyers and sellers of new and used goods.

lululemon athletica inc. (LULU)

Lululemon designs and sells premium athletic apparel and accessories for yoga, running, and training.

The useful starting point is not which ticker has performed better. It is whether the two companies convert the same economic forces into revenue and cash flow in the same way. EBAY is classified by the SEC as Services-Business Services, NEC, while LULU is classified as Apparel & Other Finishd Prods of Fabrics & Similar Matl. The different industry codes are a warning against treating sector membership as proof of identical economics.

Members-only research

What members are reading this month

The thesis, the numbers behind it, and what would break it. Full access is $15 a month.

Read the full research

Which thesis does each company fit?

Use the distinction below to decide which filing deserves deeper work. It is a research routing rule, not a recommendation or prediction.

Study EBAY when…

  • Real wage growth and consumer confidence
  • Interest rates on autos and big-ticket credit
  • Inventory cycles and promotional intensity
  • The trade-down between premium and value

Study LULU when…

  • Real wage growth and consumer confidence
  • Interest rates on autos and big-ticket credit
  • Inventory cycles and promotional intensity
  • The trade-down between premium and value

Shared research themes

International markets

SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence

Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable.EBAY's fiscal year ends December 31, while LULU's ends January 31. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.

The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 4matched transaction rows for EBAYand 16 for LULU. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.

What this comparison cannot tell you

This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.

A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.

EBAY vs LULU FAQs

Are EBAY and LULU direct competitors?

eBay Inc. and lululemon athletica inc. sit in the same Consumer Discretionary sector but have different SEC industry classifications. The comparison is most useful for portfolio role and sector exposure, not as a claim that every product competes directly.

Which is better, EBAY or LULU?

There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.

Does this EBAY vs LULU comparison include live prices?

No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. The financial figures on this page are the audited annual numbers eBay Inc. and lululemon athletica inc. tagged in their SEC XBRL filings. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices and valuation multiples.

Where does the company information come from?

Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-09-25. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.

Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-09-25. Independent educational research; not investment advice.

A comparison is the setup. The thesis is the call.

EBAY vs LULU shows how the businesses differ. Membership is the monthly sourced view of who could benefit, what could break, and what evidence matters next. $15/month or $150/year.

$15/mo or $150/yr · cancel future renewals anytime · sources included