$EXPE

Wells Fargo reduced its price target for Expedia (EXPE) to $275 from $307, citing concerns over softer U.S. lodging bookings and weak app data. The stock trades at $260, with a strong financial position and attractive PEG ratio. Q3 2026 EBITDA is expected near the high end of guidance. Analysts have mixed views on Expedia's future performance.

B. Riley maintains buy ratings on Booking (BKNG), Expedia (EXPE), and Airbnb (ABNB), citing positive travel trends and market share gains. Price targets set at $274 for BKNG, $390 for EXPE, and $210 for ABNB. Airbnb trades at $160.39 with a market cap of $94.56B. Other analysts also upgraded ABNB, citing growth and AI potential.

Expedia's stock has fallen 13.7% in a month, but the company has been actively buying back shares, reducing its share count by 19.3% over three years. This has led to a higher earnings per share growth rate (41.3% annually) compared to net income growth (31.3%). Expedia spent $1.5 billion on buybacks, funded by its free cash flow of $4.46 billion. The company's operating margin improved to 17.4%, with B2B revenue growing faster than consumer revenue.

Expedia Group (EXPE) faces a civil lawsuit over a deadly 2026 vacation rental fire in the Dominican Republic, with plaintiffs alleging inadequate smoke detector disclosures on Vrbo listings. The case focuses on Expedia's safety disclosures and rental screening practices, which are critical to Vrbo's role in the travel platform. Analysts project revenues of $19.1B and earnings of $2.9B by 2029, with a 28% potential upside to the current price.

Expedia Group's B2B division launched a beta Rapid Activities API, integrating inventory from Tiqets, to expand its TAAP program. The tool allows agencies to curate activities within the TAAP interface, responding to a trend where 77% of travelers want to book entire trips on a single platform, according to Expedia. The API is in beta, with a full rollout planned for early 2027.

Truist cut price targets for Booking Holdings (BKNG) and Expedia (EXPE) due to Meta's Muse shopping agent, but maintained their ratings. Booking's target fell to $216, while Expedia's dropped to $288. Booking focuses on direct consumer sales, while Expedia partnered with Muse. Booking's independent hotel network and payment processing make it less vulnerable to AI agents. Both stocks have declined similarly over the past month.

Meta's AI agent Muse may pressure online travel stocks, says Truist. Muse's scale and data resources pose risks to OTAs like Expedia, which has significant U.S. operations. Truist notes uncertainty over financial impact but expects investor sentiment to be influenced. Expedia's CEO did not provide details on working with Muse. Truist rates Meta Buy, Expedia Hold.

Vrbo, owned by Expedia Group, will raise its commission rate to 12% for all hosts and property managers starting October 29. Currently, fees vary between 5% and 8% depending on the use of property management software. About 55% of global listings use such software. Guest fees may be reduced, but some will remain.

The UN added 61 companies, including ADAMA, Alony Hetz, and Salvat Logistica, to its list of firms operating in Israeli West Bank settlements, now totaling 214. Some companies, like Opodo and eDreams, were removed after reassessment. Israel criticizes the list as biased, while others, like Expedia, defend their compliance with international laws.

Meta's AI agent 'Muse' is partnering with Expedia to enable hotel bookings through conversational AI. Users can share preferences and receive accommodation options, with booking handled via Expedia. The feature is coming soon to the U.S. Expedia is integrating with Meta's AI to streamline hotel bookings, allowing users to search and book hotels via conversational AI. The service will launch in the U.S. soon.