On Friday, Citi updated its stance on Expedia Group Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPE) shares, increasing the price target to $145 from the previous $140, while keeping a Neutral rating on the stock.
The revision follows Expedia's second-quarter performance, which, according to the firm, showed promising signs despite a guidance towards the lower end of expectations for 2024 Gross Bookings (GBs).
The travel platform's recent financial results revealed that Brand Expedia's booked Room Nights (RNs) saw a significant year-over-year increase of around 20%, outpacing the overall RN growth of 10%.
Additionally, Vrbo, Expedia's vacation rental business, displayed an uptick in Gross Bookings during the quarter, particularly noting a positive change in June driven by higher conversion rates.
The new CEO of Expedia, whose tenure is just beginning, has been recognized for her commitment to investing in the company's core brands. The goal is to achieve consistent growth, which seems to be on track according to the analyst's observations.
However, the report also noted a dip in travel demand in July, with users opting for cheaper options and shorter booking periods, which could affect Gross Bookings expectations for 2024.
Despite these challenges, Expedia has chosen to maintain its EBITDA margin guidance for the year. Following the announcement, Expedia's shares experienced an 11% rise in after-hours trading. The firm's outlook remains cautiously optimistic, as it awaits more evidence of consistent execution before altering its rating.
In other recent news, Expedia Group has seen a flurry of activity. Notably, the company has maintained its "Buy" rating from both Benchmark and BTIG, with BTIG emphasizing the strong growth potential of Expedia's Business-to-Business (B2B) segment. Despite facing challenges following a downward revision in guidance, positive indicators for Expedia include an increase in app downloads and traffic.
Meanwhile, Barry Diller, chairman of Expedia, has publicly expressed his support for Vice President Kamala Harris and his disagreement with FTC Chair Lina Khan's approach to business growth. Additionally, the company held its 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders where all proposed items, including the election of directors and executive compensation, were approved.
In terms of technological advancements, Expedia Group has 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. These recent developments provide investors with a perspective on the company's current status and future prospects.
InvestingPro Insights
As Expedia Group Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPE) navigates the post-pandemic travel landscape, real-time data from InvestingPro offers a deeper look into the company's financial health and market performance. With a current market capitalization of $15.63 billion, Expedia is trading at a P/E ratio of 20.63, which adjusts to a more attractive 12.83 when considering the last twelve months as of Q1 2024. This aligns with the InvestingPro Tip that highlights the company's low P/E ratio relative to near-term earnings growth, suggesting potential for investors.
The company's impressive gross profit margin of 88.39% over the last twelve months further underlines its operational efficiency, a metric that is particularly relevant for investors considering the company's ability to maintain profitability amidst market fluctuations. This is complemented by an EBITDA growth of 25.2% in the same period, indicating robust earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization.
InvestingPro Tips also reveal that Expedia's stock price movements have been quite volatile, with a 1-month price total return of -8.24%, yet a 1-year price total return showing a positive change of 7.43%. This volatility is an essential factor for investors to consider when evaluating the timing of their investment decisions.
For readers interested in a more comprehensive analysis, there are 11 additional InvestingPro Tips available, providing nuanced insights into Expedia's financial and market performance. These include observations on share buybacks, shareholder yield, and the company's debt levels, all accessible through InvestingPro's platform.
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