eBay Exploring Other Areas of Growth

Updated from 2:58 p.m. EDT

SAN FRANCISCO - At a time when eBay's(EBAY Quote) signature auction-style format may be losing favor, the company is increasingly setting its sights on alternatives.

eBay reported its third-quarter earnings on Wednesday, exceeding earnings estimates but falling short of revenue expectations on Wall Street.

But what really agitated investors was the online auction giant's disappointing outlook for the fourth quarter, which Chief Executive John Donahoe admitted would be a difficult one. eBay expects a 4% decline in revenue during the busiest shopping season of the year. ...