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EBAY vs. LOW: eBay vs. Lowe's Stock Comparison

How do eBay (EBAY) and Lowe's (LOW) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

eBay (EBAY) and Lowe's (LOW) both fall under the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group, but EBAY is classified in Broadline Retail while LOW is classified in Specialty Retail.

Company profile comparison for eBay (EBAY) and Lowe's (LOW)
Profile ItemEBAYLOW
NameeBay Inc.Lowe's Companies, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer DiscretionaryConsumer Discretionary
GICS Industry GroupConsumer Discretionary Distribution & RetailConsumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail
GICS IndustryBroadline RetailSpecialty Retail
GICS Sub-IndustryBroadline RetailHome Improvement Retail
Market Capitalization53.54 billion USD125.98 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateSeptember 24, 1998March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

EBAY
LOW
GSPC
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eBay (EBAY) vs. Lowe's (LOW), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for eBay (EBAY) and Lowe's (LOW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for eBay (EBAY) and Lowe's (LOW). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for eBay (EBAY) and Lowe's (LOW)
MetricEBAYLOW
Total Return (1Y)47.54%1.84%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)47.56%9.02%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)12.50%1.87%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

EBAY
LOW
GSPC
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eBay (EBAY) vs. Lowe's (LOW), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for eBay (EBAY) and Lowe's (LOW). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for eBay (EBAY) and Lowe's (LOW)
MetricEBAYLOW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)32.35%30.08%
Beta (5Y)1.270.78
Max Drawdown (5Y)-50.71%-36.85%
Avg. Volume (3M)4.37M3.23M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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EBAY and LOW are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for eBay (EBAY) and Lowe's (LOW)
MetricEBAYLOW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.34-0.08
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.97-0.13

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: eBay (EBAY) earns 46.04% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Lowe's (LOW) has no ROE this period.

EBAY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

46.04%

Max
62.17%
EBAY
46.04%
Q3
29.44%
Median
15.69%
Q1
6.73%
Min
-12.16%

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

--

Max
62.17%
Q3
29.44%
Median
15.69%
Q1
6.73%
Min
-12.16%
LOW
--
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eBay (EBAY) vs. Lowe's (LOW): LOW does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; EBAY is benchmarked against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

eBay (EBAY) at 16.94% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Lowe's (LOW) at 7.35%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

EBAY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

16.94%

EBAY
16.94%
Max
16.94%
Q3
8.69%
Median
3.55%
Q1
1.14%
Min
-9.41%

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

7.35%

Max
16.94%
Q3
8.69%
LOW
7.35%
Median
3.55%
Q1
1.14%
Min
-9.41%
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eBay (EBAY) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both eBay (EBAY) at 19.21% and Lowe's (LOW) at 13.37% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

EBAY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

19.21%

Max
21.45%
EBAY
19.21%
Q3
10.89%
Median
5.57%
Q1
2.28%
Min
-7.12%

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

13.37%

Max
21.45%
LOW
13.37%
Q3
10.89%
Median
5.57%
Q1
2.28%
Min
-7.12%
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eBay (EBAY) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for eBay (EBAY) and Lowe's (LOW)
MetricEBAYLOW
ROE (TTM)46.04%--
ROA (TTM)9.33%12.52%
Net Margin (TTM)16.94%7.35%
Operating Margin (TTM)19.21%13.37%
Gross Margin (TTM)72.17%32.99%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both eBay (EBAY) at 7.95% and Lowe's (LOW) at 3.12% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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eBay (EBAY) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both eBay (EBAY) at 10.15% and Lowe's (LOW) at -3.11% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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eBay (EBAY) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for eBay (EBAY) and Lowe's (LOW)
MetricEBAYLOW
Revenue Growth (YoY)7.95%3.12%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)4.26%-3.85%
EPS Growth (YoY)10.15%-3.11%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--5.23%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Lowe's (LOW) at 1.11 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while eBay (EBAY) at 0.78 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for EBAY.

EBAY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.78

Max
2.62
Q3
1.75
Median
1.35
Q1
1.00
EBAY
0.78
Min
0.48

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.11

Max
2.62
Q3
1.75
Median
1.35
LOW
1.11
Q1
1.00
Min
0.48
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eBay (EBAY) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: eBay (EBAY) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 1.63 against its industry range, while Lowe's (LOW) reports no figure this period.

EBAY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.63

Max
3.93
Q3
2.14
EBAY
1.63
Median
1.25
Q1
0.73
Min
0.01

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

--

Max
3.93
Q3
2.14
Median
1.25
Q1
0.73
Min
0.01
LOW
--
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eBay (EBAY) vs. Lowe's (LOW): LOW does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; EBAY is benchmarked against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for eBay (EBAY) and Lowe's (LOW)
MetricEBAYLOW
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.781.11
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.63--
Net Debt / EBITDA1.653.05

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both eBay (EBAY) at 0.99% and Lowe's (LOW) at 2.13% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

EBAY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.99%

Max
5.84%
Q3
2.50%
EBAY
0.99%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

2.13%

Max
5.84%
Q3
2.50%
LOW
2.13%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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eBay (EBAY) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

eBay (EBAY) at 26.64% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Lowe's (LOW) at 41.00% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

EBAY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

26.64%

Max
72.73%
Q3
32.44%
EBAY
26.64%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

41.00%

Max
72.73%
LOW
41.00%
Q3
32.44%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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eBay (EBAY) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for eBay (EBAY) and Lowe's (LOW)
MetricEBAYLOW
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.99%2.13%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)26.64%41.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Lowe's (LOW) at 18.98 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while eBay (EBAY) at 26.63 sits in the richer quartile — EBAY needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

EBAY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

26.63

Max
40.50
EBAY
26.63
Q3
24.26
Median
19.23
Q1
12.64
Min
4.67

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

18.98

Max
40.50
Q3
24.26
Median
19.23
LOW
18.98
Q1
12.64
Min
4.67
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eBay (EBAY) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Lowe's (LOW) at 1.39 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while eBay (EBAY) at 4.32 sits in the pricier quartile — EBAY costs more per dollar of sales.

EBAY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

4.32

EBAY
4.32
Max
4.32
Q3
1.99
Median
0.70
Q1
0.26
Min
0.03

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.39

Max
4.32
Q3
1.99
LOW
1.39
Median
0.70
Q1
0.26
Min
0.03
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eBay (EBAY) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Lowe's (LOW) reports a negative P/B ratio of -16.94, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile eBay (EBAY) reports 12.16, ranking against industry peers normally.

EBAY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

12.16

EBAY
12.16
Max
10.96
Q3
5.26
Median
2.16
Q1
1.08
Min
-4.45

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

-16.94

Max
10.96
Q3
5.26
Median
2.16
Q1
1.08
Min
-4.45
LOW
-16.94
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eBay (EBAY) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for eBay (EBAY) and Lowe's (LOW)
MetricEBAYLOW
P/E Ratio (TTM)26.6318.98
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.321.39
P/B Ratio (MRQ)12.16-16.94
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.18%3.66%