Key Points
StubHub's sales and profits are growing along with its ticket base.
Management wants to partner with more content rights holders.
- 10 stocks we like better than StubHub ›
Shares of StubHub Holdings (NYSE: STUB) rose on Thursday after the ticket marketplace highlighted its improved profitability.
Image source: Getty Images.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
People still love live events
StubHub's revenue climbed 12% year over year to $446 million in the first quarter.
Gross merchandise sales (GMS) -- the total dollar value of the transactions facilitated by its platform -- grew 7% to $2.2 billion.
"The live events and secondary ticketing markets remain healthy with strong consumer demand and a robust 2026 event calendar," CEO Eric Baker said during a conference call with analysts.
Cash profits are surging
Better still, StubHub is becoming significantly more profitable as it scales its operations. The company swung to a net profit of $48 million from a loss of $22.2 million in the year-ago quarter.
Additionally, StubHub's free cash flow surged 92% to $290.6 million, enabling it to pay off $100 million in debt.
More growth ahead
These robust results prompted StubHub to reaffirm its full-year financial targets.
Management sees GMS of $9.9 billion to $10.1 billion in 2026, up from $9.2 billion in 2025.
The company also projects adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) of $400 million to $420 million, up from $232 million.
StubHub is working to expand the supply of tickets on its marketplace by enticing more content rights holders, such as sports teams and performing artists, to offer more inventory via its platform.
"Our focus remains on building the global destination for consumers to access live events, making it easier for fans to discover and access tickets anywhere in the world," Baker said.
Should you buy stock in StubHub right now?
Before you buy stock in StubHub, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and StubHub wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $472,205!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,384,459!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 999% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 208% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of May 14, 2026.
Joe Tenebruso has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
