eBay Inc. (NASDAQ:EBAY)

The financial data reveals a shifting composition of liabilities and stockholders’ equity over the five-year period.

Short-term Debt

Shows fluctuations, initially at 1.88% in 2014, dropping in 2015 (data missing), rising to 6.08% in 2016, then declining to 3.01% in 2017, and increasing again to 6.78% by 2018. This indicates variability in short-term borrowing relative to the overall capital structure.

Accounts Payable

Accounts payable as a percentage of total liabilities and equity fluctuated moderately, from 0.89% in 2014 to a peak of 1.96% in 2015, stabilizing near 1.2%-1.3% thereafter, suggesting relatively consistent use of supplier credit.

Customer-related Payables

Data for "Funds payable and amounts due to customers" is only reported in 2014 at 23.36%. Subsequently, "Customer accounts and funds payable" range from 2.2% to 2.98% from 2015 to 2018, indicating a change in classification or reporting. The lower values suggest a reduction or reclassification of these liabilities after 2014.

Compensation and Related Benefits

This liability fluctuates slightly, peaking at 2.52% in 2015, then stabilizing around 1.8% over the subsequent years, reflecting a relatively steady obligation toward employee-related payments.

Advertising Accruals

There is a gradual increase from 0.76% in 2015 to 1.16% in 2018, indicating rising accrued liabilities related to advertising expenses.

Other Current Tax Liabilities

Reported only in 2018 at 1%, suggesting recognition or reclassification of certain tax-related liabilities in that year.

Other and Accrued Expenses

The "Other" category and "Accrued expenses and other current liabilities" show a downward trend from 10.22% to around 3-3.3% and from 11.95% to 10.23%, respectively, exhibiting reductions in these current liabilities until a slight rise in accrued expenses in 2018.

Deferred Revenue and Income Taxes Payable

Deferred revenue remained relatively low and stable, ranging from 0.42% to 0.74%. Income taxes payable increased from 0.34% in 2014 to a peak of 0.68% in 2017 before slightly decreasing, indicating some variability in tax obligations.

Current Liabilities

Present notable volatility, decreasing sharply from 38.84% in 2014 to a low of 12.72% in 2015, fluctuating thereafter but ending at 19.52% in 2018. This suggests changes in short-term obligations relative to total capital.

Deferred Tax Liabilities

From a modest 1.75% in 2014, this liability category increased significantly, peaking at 13.18% in 2017, remaining high at 12.82% in 2018, reflecting growing deferred tax obligations.

Long-term Debt

Shows an increase from 15.02% in 2014 to a maximum of 38.12% in 2015, followed by a reduction to approximately 33.68% in 2018. This indicates considerable leveraging via long-term borrowing, with some deleveraging or refinancing occurring after 2015.

Other Liabilities and Non-current Liabilities

"Other liabilities" jump significantly in 2017 to around 6.5%, up from negligible amounts previously, contributing to a rise in total non-current liabilities from 17.05% in 2014 to over 50% afterward, peaking at 55.34% in 2017. This suggests either new obligations or reclassification impacting long-term liabilities.

Total Liabilities

Increase consistently from 55.89% in 2014 to 72.47% in 2018, indicative of a rising reliance on external funding or obligations in the company’s capital structure.

Stockholders’ Equity Components

Common Stock

Remains negligible and stable at 0.01% from 2015 onwards.

Additional Paid-in Capital

Initially jumps from 30.77% in 2014 to 81.74% in 2015, then declines to around 58.86%-68.87% in later years, showing fluctuations in capital contributions above par value.

Treasury Stock at Cost

Highly negative values intensify from -31.14% in 2014 to -115.67% in 2018, indicating increased repurchase or holding of treasury shares, which reduces overall equity.

Retained Earnings

Shows an upward trend from 41.88% in 2014 to 72.13% in 2018, reflecting accumulated earnings retained within the company. Despite fluctuations, this increase supports equity growth.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Fluctuates between minor positive and negative amounts, ending at 2.18% in 2018, representing relatively small and volatile gains/losses from comprehensive income components.

Stockholders’ Equity Total

Decreases steadily from 44.11% in 2014 to 27.53% in 2018, signaling a declining proportion of equity financing relative to total capital, consistent with the rising total liabilities trend.

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

Maintains a constant 100% as expected in a balanced financial structure.

Overall, the data indicates an increasing dependency on liabilities, particularly long-term and deferred tax liabilities, with a concurrent reduction in equity proportion. The significant increase in treasury stock negatively impacts total equity, despite substantial growth in retained earnings. These dynamics highlight evolving capital structure strategies, possibly reflecting financing decisions oriented toward debt funding and share buybacks over the period analyzed.