On Friday, BofA Securities made an adjustment to its outlook on Expedia Group Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPE) stock, reducing the price target to $144 from the previous $147 while retaining a Neutral stance.
The decision follows Expedia's report of second-quarter bookings totaling $28.8 billion, surpassing the anticipated $28.6 billion, with a notable uptick in Vrbo bookings towards the end of the quarter.
The travel platform's revenue also exceeded expectations, coming in at $3.6 billion against the forecasted $3.5 billion, bolstered by robust advertising revenue. Additionally, Expedia's EBITDA reached $786 million, topping estimates of $752 million. A significant positive was the higher year-over-year gross margins.
Despite these strong results, the company's guidance for third-quarter bookings growth at 3-5% fell short of the expected 7%, due to pressures on the number of nights booked and the average daily rate (ADR).
Furthermore, Expedia has revised its 2024 revenue growth projection down to 4%, a decrease from the previously anticipated mid to high single digits.
This adjustment suggests potential risks to the consensus estimates for 8% revenue growth in 2025, which is projected to be $14.8 billion. However, changes to these estimates could occur following the second-quarter financials.
In other recent news, Expedia Group Inc. has been the subject of several analyst updates. Citi increased its price target for the company to $145, maintaining a Neutral rating, following promising trends in Brand Expedia and Vrbo.
The company's second-quarter performance revealed a significant year-over-year increase in booked Room Nights for Brand Expedia and an uptick in Gross Bookings for Vrbo. However, a dip in travel demand in July was also noted.
Benchmark and BTIG have maintained their Buy ratings on Expedia, with BTIG highlighting the robust performance of the company's Business-to-Business (B2B) segment. Despite facing challenges, positive indicators for Expedia include an increase in app downloads and traffic.
Meanwhile, Barry Diller, chairman of Expedia, has expressed his support for Vice President Kamala Harris, disagreeing with FTC Chair Lina Khan's approach to business growth.
In other company news, Expedia held its 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders where all proposed items, including the election of directors and executive compensation, were approved.
Furthermore, the company launched an AI-powered travel assistant named Romie, expanding into new areas such as the Retail Media Network (LON:NETW) and the integration of social content through Travel Shops. These are some of the recent developments that provide investors with insights into the company's current status.
InvestingPro Insights
Following BofA Securities' updated stance on Expedia Group Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPE), it's worth noting some key insights from InvestingPro that could further inform investors. The company's aggressive share buyback strategy is indicative of management's confidence in the business and its future prospects. Additionally, Expedia's high shareholder yield and impressive gross profit margins, which stand at 88.39% for the last twelve months as of Q1 2024, reflect its strong financial health and efficient operations.
While the company's short-term obligations exceeding its liquid assets may raise some concerns, it's important to consider that Expedia is trading at a low P/E ratio relative to near-term earnings growth, with an adjusted P/E ratio of 12.83. Moreover, the company's stock price movements have been quite volatile, which could present opportunities for investors with a higher risk tolerance. As for valuation, Expedia's Price / Book multiple is high at 17.56, which may suggest a premium market valuation.
For those looking for more detailed analysis, InvestingPro offers additional tips on Expedia, including insights on its debt levels, profitability predictions for the year, and its dividend policy. With a market cap of $15.63 billion and a PEG ratio of just 0.11 reflecting potential growth at a reasonable price, Expedia's financial metrics provide a complex but insightful picture for investors. For further guidance, visit https://www.investing.com/pro/EXPE to explore the full range of InvestingPro Tips on Expedia Group Inc.
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