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Etsy Shares Rise After Depop Sale

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Etsy shares climbed following the announcement that the company will sell its fashion resale platform Depop to eBay for nearly $1.2 billion.

The move is expected to help Etsy refocus on its core marketplace for handmade and vintage goods as it works toward improving profitability under new leadership.

Despite weaker quarterly performance and softer demand linked to cautious consumer spending, investors responded positively to the divestiture. Analysts noted that Depop had lower profitability compared to Etsy’s main platform, making the sale a strategic step to strengthen margins.

Etsy reported fourth-quarter revenue slightly below expectations, while gross merchandise sales on its primary marketplace declined marginally.

Looking ahead, the company projects modest growth in 2026, supported by marketing initiatives and operational adjustments.

The Depop transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026.

eBay Acquires Depop to Strengthen Resale Fashion

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eBay has forecast stronger-than-expected first-quarter revenue while announcing the acquisition of fashion resale platform Depop from Etsy for approximately $1.2 billion. The move aims to expand eBay’s position in the fast-growing pre-owned fashion segment.

The company expects quarterly revenue between $3 billion and $3.05 billion, surpassing analyst projections of $2.80 billion. This outlook reflects continued growth driven by its focus on recommerce, which emphasizes refurbished, authenticated and second-hand products.

Depop is seen as a strategic addition, particularly due to its popularity among younger consumers who prioritize sustainability and circular consumption. The platform has gained traction in the resale fashion market by promoting the reuse of clothing and accessories.

According to CEO Jamie Iannone, the acquisition aligns with shifting consumer preferences toward environmentally conscious shopping habits. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter and could contribute up to two percentage points to eBay’s gross merchandise volume growth by 2026.

For the first quarter, eBay anticipates total merchandise sales between $21.5 billion and $21.9 billion, exceeding market expectations. The company previously reported $2.97 billion in fourth-quarter revenue, alongside a 10 percent increase in merchandise volume.

Amazon Sues Perplexity Over AI Shopping Agent That Secretly Accessed Customer Accounts

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Amazon has filed a lawsuit against Perplexity AI, accusing the fast-growing startup of illegally accessing Amazon customer accounts through its automated “agentic” shopping feature. The complaint, filed Tuesday in a U.S. District Court in California, claims Perplexity’s Comet browser and AI agent disguised automated activity as human browsing to place orders on behalf of users.

The dispute marks a major flashpoint in the debate over regulating AI “agents” — autonomous digital assistants that can navigate websites, make purchases, and perform other online tasks on users’ behalf. Amazon said Perplexity’s technology posed security risks and had repeatedly ignored requests to stop unauthorized activity on its platform.

“Perplexity’s misconduct must end,” Amazon said in its filing, adding that the startup’s software “purposely disguised its automated activity” and that its actions were “no less unlawful” than a physical break-in.

Perplexity, whose AI tools have surged in popularity amid the rise of conversational assistants, previously dismissed Amazon’s complaints, calling them an attempt to stifle innovation and protect its ad-driven business model. “Bullying is when large corporations use legal threats to block innovation,” the startup said in an earlier blog post.

Amazon argued that Perplexity’s AI agent interfered with its ability to deliver a personalized shopping experience, undermining systems built over decades. The company added that third-party apps making purchases for users must act transparently and respect site policies.

Perplexity said its Comet AI assistant allows users to shop and compare products autonomously, while keeping login credentials stored locally, not on company servers. It argued that consumers have the right to choose their own AI shopping tools — a stance that could shape future legal battles over the limits of AI automation in e-commerce.