On Tuesday, Benchmark maintained its optimistic stance on Expedia Group Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPE) stock, reiterating a Buy rating and a price target of $180.00. The firm's analysis comes in anticipation of a potentially record-breaking July 4th travel season.
Expedia, often considered the more domestically-focused and less favored within the online travel agency (OTA) sector, has faced challenges following a downward revision in guidance and concerns over losing market share, particularly after the last quarterly report by CEO Peter Kern.
Despite these setbacks, including issues with Vrbo's technology revamp leading to competition losses against Airbnb and Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG).com, there have been positive indicators for Expedia.
Notably, the company has seen an increase in app downloads and traffic. Additionally, investor sentiment seemed to improve in mid-May when Expedia's stock was deemed undervalued, trading with a "4 handle."
Benchmark's commentary highlights that while Expedia's sell-side metrics have remained largely unchanged, the company's shares could potentially rebound to the $140+ range. The current trading value is considered attractive at 5 times the estimated 2024 EBITDA.
However, the firm acknowledges that Expedia's management must work on rebuilding trust during a period of executive transition and amid a competitive marketing landscape.
The report does not alter the long-term financial estimates for Expedia, suggesting that the underlying fundamentals of the company have not significantly shifted. As the travel industry gears up for a busy summer, particularly around the July 4th holiday, attention will be on whether Expedia can capitalize on this seasonal uptick and address the challenges outlined by Benchmark.
In other recent news, Expedia Group has experienced several noteworthy developments. The company held its 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, where all proposed items, including the election of directors and executive compensation, were approved.
Expedia Group has also launched an AI-powered travel assistant named Romie and is expanding into new areas such as the Retail Media Network (LON:NETW) and the integration of social content through Travel Shops.
Analysts provided mixed feedback on the company. BMO Capital Markets and Barclays (LON:BARC) maintained a "Market Perform" and "Equal Weight" rating on Expedia, respectively, while BTIG reaffirmed a 'Buy' rating, highlighting the strong growth potential of Expedia's Business-to-Business (B2B) segment.
However, DA Davidson and TD Cowen lowered their price targets for Expedia following the company's first-quarter 2024 earnings report and an unexpected reduction in the company's full-year guidance.
These developments indicate that while there are areas of concern, such as the slower-than-expected recovery in revenue at Vrbo and performance issues at Hotels.com, there are also areas of potential growth, particularly in the B2B segment and AI integration. These recent developments provide investors with a perspective on the company's current status and future prospects.
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