eBay: Limited risk in a very large footprint

There's been relatively little chatter lately which wouldn't fall under the heading of old news in regard to eBay Inc. (NASDAQ: EBAY). In my view that's generally a signal that things are going fairly well in a business. A lack of sensational headlines is a good thing, unless of course you've been patiently waiting for particularly good news. Analysts are still guarded about eBay as an investment but they are beginning to hint at a greater level of comfort with eBay shares based on the fundamentals and an ongoing share buyback program.

As much as I dislike eBay from a personal perspective, I still find the company to be in a good position going forward. Yes, there are a great deal of unanswered questions about the future of its core auction business but the facts show that eBay auctions continue to generate increasing mountains of cash. A recent article by SmartMoney explores the current status of eBay and the potential for future growth in its stock value. To me, the whole scenario is summed up by this one single concept, eBay has unquestionably built a very, very large footprint.