EBay is speeding toward a split of its online marketplace and payments businesses. For some analysts and investors, it cannot come soon enough.

EBay on Wednesday reported earnings of $626 million for the quarter that ended March 31, swinging back to profitability after a $2.32 billion loss in the same period a year ago that included a hefty one-time tax charge. Excluding the charge, the company’s income grew 4.8 percent from a year ago. Revenue rose 4 percent, to $4.45 billion, surpassing estimates of $4.42 billion.

The results illustrate a divergence in eBay’s two businesses. Sales in the company’s marketplace business fell 4 percent to $2.07 billion from a year ago, a lackluster showing that continued the trend of declining e-commerce growth over the past four quarters. It is the unit’s first year-over-year revenue drop since 2009.

In contrast, the company’s PayPal electronic payments unit posted revenue of $2.1 billion, up 14 percent from $1.85 billion a year ago. It was the first time PayPal’s sales exceeded that of the marketplace business.