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European cities will gain more leeway to curb short-term rentals such as Airbnb under new EU plans that aim to bring down housing costs in tourism hotspots.

HB Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB – Free Report) by 18.2% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 22,119 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 3,412 shares during the quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in Airbnb were worth $3,165,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Caxton Associates LLP acquired a new position in Airbnb during the 1st quarter worth about $258,000. Intech Investment Management LLC increased its position in Airbnb by 55.8% in the 1st quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 12,161 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,453,000 after acquiring an additional 4,353 shares in the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of Airbnb by 18.8% in the second quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 5,866 shares of the company’s stock worth $776,000 after acquiring an additional 927 shares during the last quarter. WINTON GROUP Ltd bought a new position in shares of Airbnb in the second quarter worth about $411,000. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Airbnb by 9.8% during the second quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 54,054 shares of the company’s stock worth $7,153,000 after purchasing an additional 4,811 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.76% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts have recently commented on ABNB shares. Truist Financial increased their price target on shares of Airbnb from $129.00 to $134.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, June 12th. Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Airbnb from $175.00 to $193.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, August 7th. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Airbnb from $120.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Raymond James Financial upgraded Airbnb from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $200.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, Evercore set a $200.00 target price on Airbnb in a research note on Monday, August 24th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-five have assigned a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $179.10.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on ABNB Airbnb Stock Down 4.1% Shares of NASDAQ ABNB opened at $174.54 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $104.51 billion, a PE ratio of 39.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 1.16. The company has a current ratio of 1.41, a quick ratio of 1.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. Airbnb, Inc. has a 1 year low of $110.81 and a 1 year high of $193.45. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $164.35 and its 200-day moving average is $144.88.

Airbnb (NASDAQ:ABNB – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 6th. The company reported $1.37 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.26 by $0.11. The company had revenue of $3.61 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.58 billion. Airbnb had a net margin of 20.45% and a return on equity of 33.38%. Airbnb’s revenue was up 16.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.03 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Airbnb, Inc. will post 5.23 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Airbnb In other news, Director Joseph Gebbia Jr. sold 294,903 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, June 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $148.43, for a total value of $43,772,452.29. Following the transaction, the director owned 2,622,452 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $389,250,550.36. This represents a 10.11% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Nathan Blecharczyk sold 531,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $174.41, for a total value of $92,611,710.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 171,370 shares in the company, valued at $29,888,641.70. This represents a 75.60% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 2,288,689 shares of company stock valued at $374,988,733. 27.21% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Airbnb Profile (Free Report)

Airbnb, Inc operates a global online marketplace that connects guests seeking accommodations and travel activities with hosts and other service providers. Through its platform and mobile applications, users can search for, book and review a broad range of lodging options, including private homes, apartments, rooms and other distinctive properties.

The company also offers Airbnb Experiences, which enables guests to discover and book activities hosted by local experts. In addition, Airbnb has expanded into related travel services, including services designed to support hosts and help them manage listings, reservations and guest relationships.

Founded in 2008 by Brian Chesky, Joe Gebbia and Nathan Blecharczyk, Airbnb serves travelers and hosts across a broad international market, with listings and activities available in destinations around the world.

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Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options: https://bit.ly/2v9tH6D. Baird upgraded and raised its price target for Airbnb (ABNB) because of the upside it sees for the company's asset-light home rental model.

Why Flywire and Airbnb Could Be Quiet Winners of a CeasefireAirbnb NASDAQ: ABNB CEO Brian Chesky said the company is expanding beyond its core short-term home rental business, outlining ambitions in hotels, services, experiences, longer-term housing and eventually products focused on human connection.

Speaking at an investor conference, Chesky said Airbnb spent recent years rebuilding its technology and operating foundation to support broader platform expansion. He compared the effort to reconstructing a one-story house before adding multiple floors, saying the company had to accept some growth pressure while establishing the new foundation.

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Trip.com’s Selloff Raises a Bigger Question About Its Travel Recovery Story“Our vision was to become AI native,” Chesky said. “Our idea was we’re going to go from homes to everything for travel, and eventually to living and beyond.”

Chesky said Airbnb’s core business is approaching $100 billion in gross booking value, while the hotel market represents a substantially larger opportunity. Although Airbnb’s early messaging urged travelers to “Forget hotels,” Chesky said customer demand and the opportunity among independent properties changed his view.

Hotels, services and international expansion Uber's Annual Product Showcase Reveals It Is Coming for Airbnb and BookingThe company has been adding hotels to its platform, initially concentrating on independent and boutique operators. Chesky said about half of the world’s hotels are independent, and that many such properties are seeking alternatives to larger hotel chains and major online travel agencies.

He said Airbnb’s lower commission structure, younger customer base and focus on unique inventory have helped attract independent hotels. According to Chesky, one in three travelers who book a hotel through Airbnb later return to book a home.

Airbnb is also pursuing service and experience offerings, as well as categories including car rentals and resort passes. Chesky said car rentals have become a fast-growing category for the company. He added that each new business can be launched more quickly as Airbnb reuses technology and supply-acquisition tools developed for prior categories.

On international growth, Chesky said the company’s strategy centers on localizing its product, building the right supply in markets where demand exists, and marketing the offering. He cited differences in consumer behavior across countries, including a preference for browsing over search in Japan and the importance of local payment options in India.

Brazil is Airbnb’s third-largest market, Chesky said, while India is growing 60% year over year. He said 70% of the company’s business is concentrated in five countries, leaving significant room for expansion in markets such as Japan, Korea and other parts of Asia.

AI use across operations Chesky said artificial intelligence is already changing Airbnb’s operations, even as he argued that consumer-facing AI applications remain in their early stages. Nearly half of Airbnb’s customer-service tickets are now handled by AI, he said, allowing the company to shift human agents toward more complex and premium support needs.

He said AI can assist support agents by analyzing prior cases and recommending solutions, an important capability given the complexity of disputes between guests and hosts. Airbnb also uses AI in search, where travelers may be weighing thousands of potential listings and multiple preferences across a group trip.

Internally, Chesky said the company is shipping 80% more features than it did a year ago after adopting AI tools more broadly. He characterized AI adoption as a cultural issue as much as a technical one, arguing that companies with the ability to adapt quickly will benefit most.

While Airbnb is testing AI-driven product experiences, Chesky said he does not view a text-based chatbot as the ideal interface for travel planning. He said Airbnb’s future approach will need to be visual and collaborative, reflecting that the average Airbnb reservation includes three guests and often involves shared decision-making.

Events and monetization Chesky said large events remain an important supply-acquisition channel for Airbnb. The company was founded around a design conference in San Francisco, when its founders rented air beds after local hotels sold out. He said people frequently list their homes for a single event, with about half continuing to host afterward.

He cited the Paris Olympics as an example, saying 600,000 people stayed in Airbnb properties during the event and that the company added tens of thousands of new supply types. Such events can help cities accommodate surges in visitors when hotels are fully booked, he said.

For revenue and margins, Chesky identified category expansion and international growth as major top-line opportunities. He said seller services could provide a margin opportunity, including sponsored listings and other products for hosts. Sponsored listings alone could represent $1 billion in incremental high-margin revenue, based on comparisons with other platforms, he said. Airbnb’s travel insurance offering is also a high-margin product, according to Chesky.

Looking ahead, Chesky described three priorities: expanding categories, building deeper customer profiles and community engagement, and becoming an AI-native company. He said Airbnb’s core business still has considerable room to grow, while longer-term rentals and other living-related services could become future areas of focus.

About Airbnb (NASDAQ:ABNB)Airbnb, Inc operates a global online marketplace that connects guests seeking accommodations and travel activities with hosts and other service providers. Through its platform and mobile applications, users can search for, book and review a broad range of lodging options, including private homes, apartments, rooms and other distinctive properties.

The company also offers Airbnb Experiences, which enables guests to discover and book activities hosted by local experts. In addition, Airbnb has expanded into related travel services, including services designed to support hosts and help them manage listings, reservations and guest relationships.

Founded in 2008 by Brian Chesky, Joe Gebbia and Nathan Blecharczyk, Airbnb serves travelers and hosts across a broad international market, with listings and activities available in destinations around the world.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

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B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG lessened its holdings in shares of Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB – Free Report) by 7.6% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 41,385 shares of the company’s stock after selling 3,427 shares during the period. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG’s holdings in Airbnb were worth $5,922,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of ABNB. Harris Associates L P lifted its position in shares of Airbnb by 43.2% in the 2nd quarter. Harris Associates L P now owns 14,237,331 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,884,168,000 after purchasing an additional 4,292,383 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new position in Airbnb in the fourth quarter worth about $480,332,000. Jennison Associates LLC raised its stake in Airbnb by 9,331.0% in the first quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 3,172,959 shares of the company’s stock worth $400,681,000 after buying an additional 3,139,315 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC lifted its holdings in Airbnb by 453.5% in the third quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 3,325,498 shares of the company’s stock worth $403,782,000 after buying an additional 2,724,682 shares during the period. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its holdings in Airbnb by 80.6% in the second quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 5,785,665 shares of the company’s stock worth $827,929,000 after buying an additional 2,581,539 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 80.76% of the company’s stock.

Key Headlines Impacting Airbnb Here are the key news stories impacting Airbnb this week:

Positive Sentiment: Rosenblatt Securities initiated coverage with a “Buy”/“Strong Buy” recommendation and a $220 price target. The target suggests meaningful upside from recent trading levels and adds to a generally favorable analyst outlook for Airbnb. Rosenblatt initiates coverage of Airbnb Positive Sentiment: ABNB moved above its 20-day moving average, a technical signal that suggests improving short-term momentum and may attract additional buying from trend-focused investors. Airbnb overtakes 20-day moving average Positive Sentiment: Airbnb appointed Pepijn Rijvers as chief business officer. Rijvers’ prior leadership experience at Tripadvisor and Booking.com could support Airbnb’s expansion of hotels and other travel offerings, reinforcing its broader growth strategy. Airbnb names Pepijn Rijvers chief business officer Neutral Sentiment: Investor commentary continues to compare Airbnb favorably with other consumer-growth companies, citing its global listing network and high net margin. The discussion is supportive but does not represent a specific estimate or change to Airbnb’s fundamentals. Airbnb versus Spotify comparison Negative Sentiment: Insiders continued to sell shares. Chief Accounting Officer David Bernstein sold 5,224 shares for approximately $953,000, while co-founder Nathan Blecharczyk recently sold an additional 13,615 shares for about $2.55 million and has substantially reduced his position through multiple transactions. Such sales can weigh on sentiment, although they may reflect personal financial planning rather than concerns about Airbnb’s business. Airbnb insider selling Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, insider Nathan Blecharczyk sold 531,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $174.41, for a total transaction of $92,611,710.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 171,370 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $29,888,641.70. This trade represents a 75.60% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Joseph Gebbia Jr. sold 294,903 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $148.43, for a total transaction of $43,772,452.29. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 2,622,452 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $389,250,550.36. The trade was a 10.11% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 2,330,588 shares of company stock valued at $380,660,896. Insiders own 27.21% of the company’s stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research firms have recently commented on ABNB. Oppenheimer raised their target price on Airbnb from $180.00 to $190.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, August 7th. Citigroup upped their price target on Airbnb from $175.00 to $193.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, August 7th. KeyCorp reiterated a “sector weight” rating on shares of Airbnb in a report on Monday, August 10th. Benchmark raised their price objective on Airbnb from $160.00 to $180.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, August 7th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on shares of Airbnb from $146.00 to $165.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a report on Monday, August 10th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-four have given a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $177.07.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on ABNB

Airbnb Price Performance ABNB stock opened at $185.25 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $162.30 and a 200-day moving average price of $143.70. Airbnb, Inc. has a 52-week low of $110.81 and a 52-week high of $193.45. The firm has a market capitalization of $110.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 42.10, a PEG ratio of 2.12 and a beta of 1.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 1.41 and a current ratio of 1.41.

Airbnb (NASDAQ:ABNB – Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, August 6th. The company reported $1.37 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.26 by $0.11. The firm had revenue of $3.61 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.58 billion. Airbnb had a return on equity of 33.38% and a net margin of 20.45%.The company’s quarterly revenue was up 16.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.03 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Airbnb, Inc. will post 5.23 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Airbnb Company Profile (Free Report)

Airbnb, Inc (NASDAQ: ABNB) operates a global online marketplace that connects travelers with hosts offering short-term lodging, unique accommodations and related travel experiences. The company’s core platform enables individuals and professional property managers to list private homes, apartments, single rooms and entire properties, while providing search, booking and payment processing for guests. Airbnb earns revenue primarily through service fees charged to guests and hosts and offers tools to facilitate reservations, communications, and logistics between parties.

Beyond accommodations, Airbnb has expanded its product portfolio to include curated experiences led by local hosts, higher-end offerings such as Airbnb Luxe, and programs aimed at enhancing quality and safety like Airbnb Plus.

See Also Five stocks we like better than Airbnb The Path to $230 Billion: Broadcom Outlines the Next Phase of Its AI Growth Story NVIDIA’s Hugging Face Deal Raises a Bigger Question About Its AI Moat Now Dropping the Dough: Yum! Brands Strategically Trims the Fat These 3 Stock Charts Just Flashed the Dreaded Death Cross Pattern Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ABNB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB – Free Report).

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Choosing between a travel powerhouse and an audio streaming leader involves balancing profitability and growth. Investors are asking whether Airbnb (ABNB +1.55%) or Spotify Technology (SPOT +1.19%) offers more value today.

Airbnb dominates the short-term rental market through its unique host network, while Spotify has evolved from a music platform into a diversified audio ecosystem. Both companies rely on digital marketplaces to scale efficiently. This comparison evaluates their financials and risks to help you decide which stock fits your strategy.

The case for AirbnbIn its latest annual report, filed for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, Airbnb explains how it operates an online marketplace connecting millions of hosts with guests. The company is a prominent player among consumer discretionary stocks, facilitating travel experiences in 220 countries and regions. Airbnb generates revenue primarily by charging service fees on bookings and continues to innovate with AI-powered customer support.

In FY 2025, revenue reached nearly $12.2 billion, representing a growth rate of approximately 10.3% compared to the previous year. The company reported net income of close to $2.5 billion, which resulted in a net margin of roughly 20.5%. Revenue growth continues to be driven by a recovery in international travel and increased host listings across almost every country across the globe.

Regarding the balance sheet, the December 2025 data shows a debt-to-equity ratio of approximately 0.3x, which measures total debt relative to shareholder equity. The current ratio, measuring a company's ability to pay short-term debts with short-term assets, was roughly 1.4x. Airbnb generated free cash flow of about $4.6 billion, though stock-based compensation represented roughly 34.3% of operating cash flow, which inflates reported cash generation since SBC is a non-cash expense.

The case for Spotify TechnologyIn its latest annual report, filed for the fiscal year 2025, Spotify highlights how it provides audio streaming for music and podcasts to 777 million users. The company offers both ad-supported and premium subscription tiers to its global audience, including over 300 million premium subscribers. By expanding into audiobooks and video podcasts, it aims to become a central hub for all digital audio content.

In FY 2025, revenue reached approximately $20.1 billion, a 9.7% increase over the previous fiscal period. Spotify achieved net income of close to $2.6 billion, a significant rise that led to a net margin of roughly 12.9%. The company has focused on controlling operating costs while steadily increasing its average revenue per user through price adjustments and new tier offerings.

As of its December 2025 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio was roughly 0.3x, showing a similar leverage profile to its peers. The current ratio stands at approximately 1.7x, suggesting the company maintains a healthy cushion of liquid assets. Spotify reported free cash flow of nearly $3.4 billion, which is the cash remaining after the business pays for its operations and capital investments.

Risk profile comparisonAirbnb faces a fragmented global regulatory landscape, including strict rules or bans in major cities. The company is also managing significant tax audits, including a $1.3 billion dispute with the U.S. IRS regarding international intellectual property valuation. Competitive pressure remains high from online travel agencies like Booking Holdings (BKNG -0.62%), which can impact market share and booking volume.

Spotify faces intense competition from large technology firms like Amazon (AMZN +1.45%) and Apple (AAPL +1.44%) that offer competing audio services. The company must also manage the rising costs of licensing content from music labels and creators, which can pressure its net margin. Additionally, the business remains sensitive to broader economic trends that could affect consumer spending on monthly entertainment subscriptions.

Valuation comparisonSpotify currently offers a lower P/S ratio, though both companies trade at nearly identical Forward P/E multiples relative to their future earnings estimates.

MetricAirbnbSpotify Technology S.A.Forward P/E36.0x36.9xP/S ratio9.2x5.5xValuation metrics sourced from Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) and may differ from other data providers.

Spotify generates impressive revenue from its 777 million monthly active users, including 300 million Premium subscribers. Revenue, margins, and free cash flow have all been improving. However, Spotify operates in a highly competitive audio market, facing major rivals such as Apple and Amazon, as well as smaller music, podcast, and audiobook platforms. Its long-term success will depend on maintaining subscriber growth while preserving the royalty economics that shape its margins.

Airbnb has become a popular alternative to traditional hotels and has built a highly scalable, asset-light marketplace. Because it does not own most of the properties listed on its platform, the company can grow without the capital requirements of a hotel operator. That model has supported strong margins and free cash flow, while the company continues to expand both domestically and internationally. Airbnb still faces meaningful competition from Booking Holdings and other travel platforms, as well as a significant regulatory risk: Cities can restrict short-term rentals, limiting available listings in key markets.

Even with those risks, I would choose Airbnb. Its marketplace model, strong balance sheet, and durable free-cash-flow generation give it an attractive foundation for long-term compounding. Spotify's recent improvement is encouraging, but Airbnb appears to offer the more resilient combination of profitability, capital efficiency, and growth potential.

Airbnb (NASDAQ:ABNB | ABNB Price Prediction) stock is up 21% over the past month, a company-specific rerating that has left the broader travel and leisure trade behind. However, shares are down 4% to $182.

Airbnb has surged ~40% YTD, fueled by robust travel demand and strong bookings growth across core markets. Despite a premium valuation after the rally, ABNB's performance and market expansion justify maintaining a "Buy" rating. Earlier macro concerns, such as FX volatility and geopolitical risks, have eased, with demand rebounding and cancellations now a modest headwind.

Revenue is soaring despite the macroeconomic headwinds.

*Stock prices used were the afternoon prices of Aug. 12, 2026. The video was published on Aug.14, 2026.

Parkev Tatevosian, CFA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Airbnb. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Parkev Tatevosian is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through his link, he will earn some extra money that supports his channel. His opinions remain his own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool.

Shares of Airbnb (ABNB +2.80%) furthered their ascent on Thursday, as investors continue to price in the vacation rental company's strong second-quarter report and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered expansion initiatives.

Image source: Getty Images.

AI-driven gains Airbnb's revenue jumped 17% year over year to $3.6 billion in the second quarter, boosted by higher travel demand for the FIFA World Cup.

Nights and seats booked on its platform increased 10% to 148.3 million, fueling a 16% rise in gross booking value to $27.2 billion.

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CEO Brian Chesky said AI was also helping to drive Airbnb's sales and profits higher. AI is making it easier for hosts to list properties and for guests to find them. It's also enabling Airbnb to roll out new features faster.

"We've rebuilt Airbnb from the ground up to be an AI-native company, and it's showing up in our results," Chesky said in a letter to shareholders.

All told, Airbnb's free cash flow surged 30% to $1.25 billion.

Acquisitions could accelerate Airbnb's growth That robust cash flow provides Airbnb with considerable optionality.

The travel platform is expanding beyond short-term house rentals to include hotel stays, car rentals, grocery deliveries, and other services. All of which offer Airbnb potential acquisition prospects.

"Entrepreneurs would love to be part of Airbnb and to hold stock," Chesky said during a conference call with analysts. "So, I think there's a huge number of opportunities for us."

Joe Tenebruso has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Airbnb. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Should you prioritize the high-growth potential of the digital travel economy or the steady dividends of a global snack titan? Investors choosing between Airbnb (ABNB -2.47%) and PepsiCo (PEP -0.35%) are weighing two very different paths to wealth.

Airbnb operates a massive online marketplace for stays and local experiences, while PepsiCo produces iconic food and beverage brands found in almost every pantry. Comparing these two giants helps you decide if you prefer a lean, tech-driven platform or a diversified consumer manufacturing powerhouse with a long history of dividends.

The case for AirbnbAirbnb operates as a leader among consumer discretionary stocks by providing a global marketplace for stays and local experiences. The company connects over five million hosts with guests while utilizing infrastructure from Amazon and Alphabet to run its platform. It also manages complex payment integrations to support transactions in approximately 50 different currencies worldwide.

In FY 2025, revenue reached nearly $12.2 billion, which was an increase of approximately 10.3% compared to the previous year. The company generated a net income of roughly $2.5 billion for the period. This resulted in a net margin of close to 20.5%, reflecting the platform's ability to turn a significant portion of its sales into profit.

As of its December 2025 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio was approximately 0.3x. This ratio compares total debt, including short-term and long-term obligations, to shareholder equity, suggesting the company uses relatively little debt to fund its operations. Free cash flow was approximately $4.6 billion, though note that stock-based compensation represented roughly 34.3% of operating cash flow, which inflates reported cash generation since SBC is a non-cash expense added back in the cash flow statement.

The case for PepsiCoPepsiCo is a global giant in the beverage and snack markets with brands like Lay’s and Gatorade. Its customer base spans wholesale distributors, grocery stores, and massive retailers like Walmart. Notably, Walmart represents a major customer concentration, accounting for nearly 14% of total revenue in 2025, and customer concentration like this adds a layer of risk to the business.

In FY 2025, revenue reached nearly $93.9 billion, representing a growth of roughly 2.3% over the prior year. The company reported a net income of approximately $8.2 billion. This led to a net margin of nearly 8.8%, reflecting the higher costs associated with manufacturing and distributing physical goods compared to digital platforms.

As of the December 2025 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio was approximately 2.4x, indicating the company carries more debt than the value of its shareholder equity. The current ratio was close to 0.9x, indicating that its short-term liabilities slightly exceed its most liquid assets. Free cash flow reached nearly $7.7 billion for the fiscal year, providing significant capital for dividends and business reinvestment.

Risk profile comparisonAirbnb faces significant regulatory hurdles as various cities implement strict rules or outright bans on short-term rentals. The company is also involved in a major tax dispute with the IRS involving a $1.3 billion notice regarding the valuation of international intellectual property. Furthermore, the business relies heavily on third-party infrastructure from Amazon and Alphabet, which could lead to service disruptions if those partnerships face technical or contractual issues.

PepsiCo must navigate increasing government taxes on sugar-sweetened drinks and evolving environmental rules for plastic packaging. It faces intense competition from global rivals like The Coca-Cola Company, as well as cheaper private-label brands that pressure its pricing power. Additionally, the company is managing various legal challenges, including antitrust litigation and lawsuits related to the health profile of its snack products in the eyes of consumers and massive retailers like Walmart.

Valuation comparisonPepsiCo appears significantly cheaper based on its earnings multiples, while Airbnb commands a higher premium for its growth potential. The Forward P/E measures price against future earnings estimates, while the P/S ratio compares market value to total revenue. Valuation metrics indicate that investors are paying more for each dollar of sales at Airbnb.

MetricAirbnbPepsiCoForward P/E34.8x16.3xP/S ratio8.6x2.0xValuation metrics sourced from Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) and may differ from other data providers.

I'd go with Airbnb. That said, PepsiCo is a household name with a dividend history that income-focused investors have counted on for decades, and that stability has value. International demand for its snacks and beverages is holding up well, and the company reaffirmed its full-year guidance in its most recent quarter.

But PepsiCo is dealing with a soft patch that is hard to overlook. North American consumers are pulling back on discretionary snack spending as gas prices and inflation squeeze household budgets, and the company signaled that full-year earnings may come in toward the lower end of its guidance range. For a stock that investors typically buy for steady, predictable returns, that cautious tone is not encouraging.

Airbnb, by contrast, is a company in good shape. Revenue grew at a healthy pace in the most recent quarter, free cash flow is substantial, and global travel demand is holding up well. The platform has a loyal, growing user base and a business model that keeps getting more efficient as it scales.

If you’re a long-term investor looking for growth, Airbnb is the more exciting place to put your money right now.

On CNBC’s “Halftime Report Final Trades,” Joshua Brown, co-founder and CEO of Ritholtz Wealth Management, picked Snowflake Inc. (NYSE:SNOW).

Lending support to his choice, Evercore ISI Group analyst Kirk Materne, on Monday, maintained Snowflake with an Outperform rating and raised the price target from $280 to $360.

Rob Sechan, CEO of NewEdge Wealth, named KLA Corporation (NASDAQ:KLAC) as his final trade.

On the earnings front, KLA, on July 28, reported fourth-quarter earnings of $1.05 per share, which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $1. Quarterly revenue came in at $3.66 billion, which beat the Street estimate of $3.6 billion.

Don’t forget to check out our premarket coverage here

Brian Belski, founder, CEO & chief investment officer at Humilis Investment Strategies, recommended Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD)

Gilead Sciences, on Aug. 4, reported quarterly losses of $6.75 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of losses of $7.24 per share. The company reported quarterly sales of $7.803 billion which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $7.400 billion.

Joseph M. Terranova, senior managing director for Virtus Investment Partners, picked Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB).

Supporting his view, Airbnb, on Aug. 6, reported better-than-expected second-quarter financial results and issued third-quarter sales guidance above estimates.

Price Action:

Snowflake shares fell 0.2% to close at $334.14 on Tuesday. KLA shares gained 4% to settle at $200.47 during the session. Gilead Sciences shares rose 2% to close at $135.77 on Tuesday. Airbnb shares gained 0.2% to settle at $184.98. Photo via Shutterstock

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© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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HomeIndustriesHotels/Restaurants/CasinosThe home-rental company is leaning in to hotels and third-party amenities to transform into a ‘one-stop shop’ for travelAug. 11, 2026, 8:29 a.m. ET

Airbnb built a multibillion-dollar hospitality platform by convincing travelers to “forget hotels.” Now, it says it’s the best place on the internet to book one. 

The company is in the midst of a big push into hotel listings, marking a shift from the peer-to-peer house-rental model that’s been at the company’s core since it was founded in 2008. CEO Brian Chesky said on Airbnb’s ABNB earnings call last week that the company is “stepping on the gas” to expand its hotel listings as it seeks to become a “one-stop shop” for travel.

Airbnb (ABNB), the global marketplace for stays and travel experiences has its shares jump another 2.5% Monday morning even as BMO Capital raised its price targ

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky reveals to Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi how AI is driving the company's fastest growth in years, shares his bold predictions for the future of consumer tech, and confirms the existence of a secret internal AI lab.

After years of trading sideways to the chagrin of early investors, Airbnb (ABNB +17.43%) finally appears to be breaking out.

Shares of the leading home-sharing platform finished Friday up 17.4%, closing at its highest point in more than four years. Coming into the report, the stock had been climbing in line with strong results from peers in the travel sector and on hopes for the second-quarter results. Additionally, Airbnb appears to be seeing results from its investments in AI.

Let's take a look at the report before discussing whether the stock can keep moving higher.

Image source: Airbnb.

Airbnb accelerates Airbnb's second-quarter earnings report showed that the company continues to bounce back from a dip in 2024 and 2025.

The travel company reported 17% revenue growth, or 13% on a currency-neutral basis, to $3.61 billion, which topped estimates at $3.58 billion.

Nights and seats booked, Airbnb's core growth driver, were up 10% to 148.3 million, and gross booking value rose 16% to $27.2 billion, showing it benefited from rising prices.

On the bottom line, adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) rose 21% to $1.3 billion, representing an expansion in adjusted EBITDA margin to 35%.

On the bottom line, generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) earnings per share rose from $1.03 to $1.37, benefiting from revenue growth, margin expansions, and share buybacks. That figure beat the consensus at $1.22.

Finally, investors were pleased with a guidance increase, as the company now expects mid-teens revenue growth for the full year and an adjusted EBITDA margin of at least 35.5%. For the third quarter, it sees revenue growth of 15%-17%, or 12%-14% adjusting for foreign exchange, to $4.69 billion-$4.77 billion, which was ahead of expectations at $4.61 billion.

What's working for Airbnb In addition to benefiting from strong travel demand, Airbnb has also improved its product on multiple fronts.

The company has been investing in AI for years, and its AI assistant continues to improve as it now resolves nearly 45% of issues without human intervention and delivers faster resolution times. The company plans to introduce an AI voice assistant later this year that will help with phone calls.

Airbnb is expanding its selection by partnering with boutique and independent hotels, allowing it to more deeply penetrate the travel industry and bring in new customers who don't typically book homeshares. It's also added new services, including car rentals, airport pickups, luggage storage, and grocery delivery.

Together, those moves show the company becoming an all-in-one travel platform rather than just a home-sharing platform, which is a better way to serve guests' needs. The more Airbnb can do to keep customers on its platform without having to visit a competitor to book a flight or rent a car, the better it will do in the long run.

Airbnb has also made improvements for hosts, including simplifying pricing and giving them personalized recommendations and tips to improve listings.

Finally, the company benefited from the World Cup in the quarter, which led to more than 150,000 homes across host cities being listed for the first time, and it said it's developing a repeatable playbook for major global events.

Today's Change

(

17.43

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26.43

Current Price

$

178.07

Airbnb has long been plagued by good-but-not-good-enough earnings. The company has delivered steady growth on the top and bottom lines, and clearly benefits from competitive advantages. However, a combination of valuation concerns, regulatory pushback, and a laundry list of customer complaints seemed to have restrained the stock.

With Friday's 17% gain, that may be changing. CEO Brian Chesky's effort to expand beyond the core seems to be paying off, and issues like the war in Iran have not slowed the company down.

Airbnb is executing as effectively as it has in a long time, and the valuation continues to look reasonable, especially on a free cash flow basis.

The company finally seems to be tapping into the potential of its platform. Given that and the momentum in the business, buying a few shares of the stock makes sense.

7.8.2026 22:25

Americké akciové indexy v závěru páteční seance ještě kosmeticky vylepšily svojí bilanci a uzavřely tak v kladném teritoriu. Nejlépe si vedl technologický Nasdaq se ziskem 1,3 %, širší index S&P500 pak přidal přes 0,6 % a uzavřel na novém historickém maximu. Tradiční index Dow Jones přidal 0,28 %. Dařilo se také dluhopisům napříč splatnostmi, stejně jako drahým kovům. Zlato přidalo 2,4 % na 4339 USD/oz, stříbro zpevnilo o 3,2 % na 63,44 USD/oz. Energie končily se smíšenou bilancí. Zatímco plyn končil se ziskem 1,3 % na 2,67 USD/mmbtu, ropa nakonec odepsala 0,4 % se závěrem u 77 USD/barel.

Závěrečné hodnoty:

Dow Jones +0,28 % na 54036,93 b.
S&P 500 +0,62 % na 7757,64 b.
Nasdaq Composite +1,3 % na 26690,62 b.

Index S&P 500 +0,62 % na 7757,64 b. Nejsilnější sektory S&P Změna Nejslabší sektory S&P Změna Základní materiály +1,5 % Energie -1,2 % Zbytná spotřeba +1,3 % Komunikační služby -0,3 % Informační technologie +1,3 % Finanční sektor -0,3 % Nejsilnější akcie S&P Změna Nejslabší akcie S&P Změna Airbnb (ABNB) +17 % Trade Desk (TTD) -22 % Microchip Technology (MCHP) +14 % Akamai Technologies (AKAM) -6,8 % Coherent Corp (COHR) +13 % Zoetis (ZTS) -6,0 % Palantir Technologies (PLTR) +10 % ResMed (RMD) -5,1 % Moderna (MRNA) +9,9 % Seagate Technology Holdings (STX) -4,7 %
David Lamač
Fio banka, a.s.
Prohlášení

CNBC's MacKenzie Sigalos discusses Airbnb's latest quarterly earnings results.

Investors choosing between high-growth travel disruptors and steady dividend payers face a classic dilemma. Comparing Airbnb Inc (ABNB +17.43%) and Coca-Cola Co (KO +0.23%) helps determine which business model fits your specific financial goals.

Airbnb thrives as a platform for unique stays, while Coca-Cola dominates the essential beverage space. Both companies have shifted toward asset-light models to improve efficiency. This comparison examines whether the travel platform's expansion potential outweighs the beverage giant's defensive reliability.

The case for AirbnbAirbnb connects more than 5 million hosts with travelers in over 220 countries and regions, offering everything from single rooms to unique castles. The company manages a two-sided marketplace within the consumer discretionary stocks space where hosts provide the inventory, allowing the platform to scale without owning real estate. Recent efforts focus on a Co-Host Network and expanding active listings to capture more of the global travel market, providing deeper integration for managers who assist property owners.

In FY 2025, revenue reached nearly $12.2 billion, representing an increase of approximately 10% compared to the previous year as travel demand remained resilient. The company reported net income of about $2.5 billion for the period, reflecting its ability to generate significant earnings from its platform fees. While the net margin, which measures how much profit a company keeps from every dollar of sales, was roughly 21%, it was lower than the prior fiscal year.

As of its December 2025 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio was approximately 0.3x, indicating the company uses very little debt relative to shareholders’ equity. Airbnb generated roughly $4.6 billion in free cash flow, which is the cash left over after paying for operations and equipment. Note that stock-based compensation (SBC) represented roughly 34% of operating cash flow, which inflates reported cash generation since SBC is a non-cash expense added back in the cash flow statement.

The case for Coca-ColaCoca-Cola operates a vast beverage empire, selling brands in more than 200 countries through a complex network of bottling partners. The company relies on these partners to manufacture and distribute finished products, though it sells fountain syrups directly to retailers and wholesalers. This asset-light system allows the brand to maintain high visibility and reach roughly 2.2 billion servings per day across its diverse global markets.

In FY 2025, revenue reached nearly $48.1 billion, showing a modest growth rate of roughly 12% year over year as the company navigated a mature global market. Net income for the fiscal year was approximately $13.1 billion, a significant sum that supports its long history of returning value to shareholders. The operating efficiency was evident in a net margin of close to 27.3%, which indicates how effectively the company converts its total sales into actual profit.

As of its December 2025 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio was roughly 1.5x, a figure indicating the company has more debt than the value of its equity. The current ratio, which measures short-term liquidity, was approximately 1.2x, while free cash flow reached nearly $5.3 billion. Free cash flow represents the cash a business generates after accounting for the money spent to maintain or expand its physical assets like manufacturing equipment.

Risk profile comparisonAirbnb faces a patchwork of global regulations, including severe restrictions in cities like New York and new rules across Europe. The company is also navigating tax audits in several countries that could lead to significant financial penalties. Additionally, the platform competes with established travel search engines like Alphabet Inc (GOOG -0.88%) and traditional hotel chains, which may force higher marketing spending to maintain market share.

Coca-Cola is currently involved in a multi-billion dollar tax dispute with the IRS that could significantly impact its cash reserves. The company is also vulnerable to price spikes in raw materials like aluminum and sweeteners, which can squeeze profit if costs cannot be passed to consumers. Furthermore, shifting health trends mean the company must constantly innovate to prevent losing ground to competitors like PepsiCo Inc (PEP +0.42%).

Valuation comparisonCoca-Cola appears slightly more affordable based on Forward P/E and future earnings estimates, while Airbnb carries a higher growth premium despite having a slightly lower P/S ratio.

MetricAirbnbCoca-ColaForward P/E29.1x26.5xP/S ratio7.1x7.5xValuation metrics sourced from Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) and may differ from other data providers.

Coca-Cola Co., as a business, is just beverages, but its portfolio covers almost every consumer beverage except alcohol. But even there, the company is busily marketing ways to use its soda with Jack Daniel’s and Bacardi. The business is seeing good success with a variety of packaging and sizes, which  helps it appeal to more consumers. Marketing is a huge part of the business, too, like with this summer World Cup, which appeared to generate good consumer reaction. A recent tie-in with the NBA should drive enthusiasm among youth domestically and in the growing Asia-Pacific market.

Coke recently reported second-quarter results that beat expectations. The company posted revenue of $13.4 billion, up 7%. Net income exceeded $4.4 billion, beating expectations as well. Management raised its guidance for the full fiscal 2026. Investors now expect sales of $49.7 billion and net income of $14.3 billion, both solid improvement over 2025.

Airbnb, meanwhile, just reported an excellent second-quarter fiscal 2026, sending shares gapping up more than 16% in trading today. The business beat consensus revenue estimates by $100 million, reporting $3.6 billion in sales, up 17% compared to the same period in 2025, driven by a strong increase in nights booked. Foreign markets like India and Latin America, two markets in which Airbnb is seeking growth, were exceptionally strong.

The business is finding ways to expand its popular travel business, embracing features like buy now, pay later (BNPL) on reservations, a form of short-term lending. The network advantage of Airbnb’s history, over 2 billion guest arrivals since 2008, and the lack of host presence on AI (so AI has little to index to form a competing product), give it a competitive moat.

For the full year, management expects sales of $14.1 billion with net income of $3.2 billion.

These are two very different types of businesses, but perhaps remarkably, before Airbnb’s blowout-quarter reaction today, Coke had the better return over one year. Airbnb offers growth-stock volatility and potential, while Coca-Cola provides a steady presence that throws off a nice 2.4% yield at today’s prices. For long-term investors, a tortoise like Coca-Cola may be the better option than a hare like Airbnb.

Airbnb stock is approaching key resistance levels. Why is ABNB stock breaking out? Airbnb Beats Its Own Outlook Across Every Metric in the QuarterEarnings of $1.37 per share topped Wall Street’s $1.25 estimate, while revenue of $3.61 billion beat the $3.58 billion consensus and rose from the $3.1 billion generated in the comparable period a year earlier.

Gross booking value expanded 16% from the prior year to $27.2 billion while nights and experiences booked climbed 10% year over year, a rate of growth that picked up pace relative to the first quarter.

Q3 Revenue Guidance Clears the Consensus at Both Ends of the RangeAirbnb projected third-quarter revenue between $4.69 billion and $4.77 billion, a range whose floor sits above the $4.61 billion analyst estimate, meaning even the low end of guidance surpasses what the Street had been expecting.

Analysts Raise Price Targets Following the Strong PrintABNB Versus its Moving Averages: Momentum Now, Mean Reversion LaterTechnically, ABNB is not just above its trend gauges. It is sitting at an altitude where gravity starts to matter. The stock is 17.7% above its 20‑day SMA at $148.98 and 31.6% above its 200‑day SMA at $133.33, the kind of separation that often appears in late‑stage momentum bursts when buyers focus on participation over precision.

The trend structure remains supportive. The 20‑day SMA is above the 50‑day SMA, and the golden cross that appeared in April keeps the longer‑term backdrop constructive. In simple terms, the broader trend has been building and Friday looks like the moment the market decided to acknowledge it.

Momentum is the heat check. RSI at 78.14 is stretched, a reading that often leads to pullbacks or sideways digestion even when the primary trend stays intact. The nearby line in the sand is $141.00, a prior buyer‑defense zone that sits close to the 50‑day SMA at $143.46 and the 50‑day EMA at $145.30. If the stock cools off, that cluster is where bulls will want to see demand show up quickly and convincingly.

ABNB Shares Are SoaringABNB Price Action: Airbnb shares were up 15.40% at $174.99 at the time of publication on Friday. The stock is trading at a new 52-week high, according to Benzinga Pro.

Image: Boumen Japet/Shutterstock

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Airbnb shares surged 15% Friday after the company delivered one of its strongest growth quarters in years and raised its full-year outlook — a turnaround CEO Brian Chesky is directly crediting to artificial intelligence.

In an exclusive interview with CNBC after the earnings report, Chesky said Airbnb will spend "a lot more" on AI tokens this year than it originally forecast because the cost of inference "pales in comparison" to the revenue and productivity the company is getting back.

Airbnb is cutting product-development time by roughly 60%, shipping about 80% more features year over year and keeping headcount roughly flat even as AI spending rises sharply, Chesky said.

"I think now it's safe to say AI is the best thing to have happened to Airbnb," he said. "I think we're becoming an AI-native company, and I think that is probably the number one explanation for our results."

That conviction marks a sharp turn for Chesky. A year ago, Chesky said the question inside the company was essentially, "Is AI good for Airbnb or is AI bad for Airbnb?"

The shift is notable for a CEO who has long approached technology more like a designer than a traditional engineer.

Chesky went to the Rhode Island School of Design and studied industrial design before co-founding Airbnb. Years later, he would become close with former Apple design chief Jony Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman — and eventually introduce the two men, helping spark the relationship that led to their work together on AI hardware.

Now, Chesky is trying to bring that same design-first sensibility to Airbnb's own AI overhaul.

Read more CNBC tech news'AI Kill Switch' bill needs to be passed this year amid ongoing rogue agent hacks, Rep. Lieu saysSpaceX stock could face further pressure as first batch of shares unlock since IPOGoogle is expanding its AI empire — and losing the people who built itHadrian valued at nearly $8 billion after fresh funding as money pours into defense techThe company hired Ahmad Al-Dahle, Meta's former head of generative AI and a leader of its Llama work, as chief technology officer in January. Chesky said Airbnb had been "maybe middle of the pack in AI" before Al-Dahle arrived with a mandate to help make the company "AI-native."

There are already measurable signs of that shift. Chesky said AI is helping Airbnb attract more bookings, make it easier for hosts to list and price homes, and lower customer-service costs.

The company is piloting AI-powered search, using AI to generate personalized listing highlights and answers for guests, and helping hosts create and price listings. In customer service, 45% of guests who interact with Airbnb's AI agent never need to speak with a human agent.

"It's really across the board: More demand, more supply, cheaper customer service," Chesky said.

Internally, Airbnb is also closely tracking how employees use AI. Chesky said the company looks at individual token usage as one measure of adoption, but considers that a relatively crude metric and focuses more heavily on the output of teams.

"What we're seeing is that across the board, teams are significantly more productive," Chesky said. He said those gains began with engineers and have since spread to product management, design, marketing, and creative services. "I have so underestimated the impact of AI."

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That productivity is showing up in Airbnb's hiring plans as well. Headcount is roughly flat year to date, even as spending on AI rises sharply, and Chesky said investors should expect revenue to grow "a lot faster" than staffing for the foreseeable future.

"Our philosophy has been not necessarily to use AI to have fewer people, but to use AI to get more out of the people," Chesky said. He added that revenue per employee should continue to rise.

The economics are central to Chesky's increasingly bullish view of AI. While many consumer companies are still trying to figure out how to generate enough revenue to justify inference costs, he argues Airbnb has an unusually favorable model.

"One of the problems is a lot of people feel like they don't know how to make money on consumer with AI," Chesky said.

At Airbnb, he said, inference costs pale in comparison with "the amount of money we make on every booking" and the additional revenue generated by faster product development.

"We are going to spend a lot more on AI tokens this year than we forecasted," he said. "But that's great because the ROI is there, and therefore our revenue is much higher."

Airbnb is still trying to be selective about where it spends those tokens and the company is using more than a dozen AI models internally, Chesky said. Those include models like Anthropic's Claude Code and OpenAI's Codex. But it limits access to some slower and more expensive models when their additional capability is not necessary for the task.

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Chesky is particularly bullish on open-source models for consumer-facing products and said frontier models remain important for the hardest problems, but most consumer tasks do not require the most expensive systems.

"Consumers mostly do not need frontier models for most things," Chesky said. "It's a matter of throttling the right job for the right tool."

He declined to name the open-source models Airbnb is deploying in consumer products, saying the makeup of the company's technology stack is becoming competitively sensitive.

The bigger question is whether AI ultimately becomes more than a tool inside Airbnb — and instead changes how travelers reach the platform in the first place. As AI agents become better at assembling itineraries and acting on behalf of users, companies like OpenAI and Alphabet could theoretically become the interface through which travelers discover and book accommodations.

But Chesky is skeptical that chatbots will replace Airbnb as the transaction layer.

Travel is visual, difficult to compare through text alone and often planned collaboratively, he said, all areas where the traditional chatbot interface remains weak.

"I do not believe the chat interface is the right interface for travel," Chesky said.

He expects chatbots to become important for inspiration and itinerary building, but said he does not see them becoming major booking platforms "in the coming future."

For now, Chesky said he is focused on using AI to extend Airbnb's own growth runway. He told CNBC that first-time bookers are growing at the fastest pace in four years and said the U.S. business accelerated from the first quarter. Hotels, meanwhile, are growing three times faster than the company's traditional home listings as Airbnb expands beyond the home-rental marketplace it built its name on.

"We are not a company whose best days were in the 2010s," Chesky said. "We are a company where the best days are in front of us."

Airbnb stock chart

Airbnb (ABNB) is experiencing significant trading gains following one of its best quarterly performances in recent years. The company has also upgraded its full

7.8.2026 15:49, TTWO, TTD, GRPN, ABNB

Index Dow Jones +0,12 % na 53950,69 b., S&P 500 +0,35 % na 7736,91 b., Nasdaq Composite +0,88 % na 26580,5 b.

Index S&P 500 mírně posiluje poté, co červencová data z trhu práce ukázala výrazné zpomalení tvorby pracovních míst v USA. To vyvolává spekulace, že Fed nebude v nejbližší době nucen zvyšovat úrokové sazby.

Akcie The Trade Desk padají o 25 %. Americká reklamně-technologická společnost, která provozuje DSP (platformu na straně poptávky) pro nákup digitální reklamy v reálném čase, zveřejnila výsledky hospodaření za druhý kvartál roku 2026. Výnosy vzrostly meziročně pouze o 3 %, což představuje nejpomalejší tempo kvartálního růstu od covidového roku 2020, a zaostaly za konsensem trhu stejně jako za odhadem samotné společnosti. Hlavním zklamáním byl ovšem výhled na třetí kvartál, který je proti očekávání trhu nižší o zhruba 20 % a implikuje meziroční pokles výnosů. Vedení jako důvody uvádí makroekonomické tlaky u výrobců balených potravin (CPG) a automobilek, přesun části rozpočtů k levnějším formám nákupu reklamy a vlastní exekuční chyby.

Akcie Airbnb rostou o 14 % poté, co tento online zprostředkovatel ubytování uvedl, že v letošním roce nyní očekává zrychlení růstu výnosů na nejméně 14–16 %, zatímco v předchozím výhledu počítal s růstem v rozmezí přibližně 10–16 %. Za druhé čtvrtletí společnost vykázala výnosy ve výši 3,61 mld. USD (meziročně +17 %, odhad 3,58 mld. USD) a hrubou hodnotu rezervací 27,2 mld. USD (meziročně +16 %, odhad 26,48 mld. USD). Očištěný zisk EBITDA dosáhl 1,26 mld. USD (meziročně +21 %, odhad 1,23 mld. USD), což představuje marži očištěného zisku EBITDA ve výši 35 % (odhad 34,4 %). Zisk na akcii činil 1,37 USD oproti 1,03 USD o rok dříve.

Výsledky zveřejnily rovněž například vývojář videoher Take-Two Interactive (+2 %) či provozovatel online tržiště Groupon (+5,5 %). 

Akcie amerických solárních společností posilují poté, co prezident Donald Trump nařídil zavedení nových 15% cel a minimální cenové hladiny na dovoz derivátů polysilikonu, včetně křemíkových destiček, fotovoltaických článků a solárních modulů.

Index S&P 500 +0,35 % na 7736,91 b. Nejsilnější sektory S&P Změna Nejslabší sektory S&P Změna Zbytná spotřeba +1,1 % Energie -1,4 % Informační technologie +1 % Nezbytná spotřeba -0,7 % Základní materiály +0,7 % Utility -0,6 % Nejsilnější akcie S&P Změna Nejslabší akcie S&P Změna Airbnb (ABNB) +14 % Trade Desk (TTD) -25 % Microchip Technology (MCHP) +12 % ResMed (RMD) -8,9 % Coherent Corp (COHR) +9,9 % Dow (DOW) -3,1 % First Solar (FSLR) +9,7 % CF Industries Holdings (CF) -3,0 % Lumentum Holdings (LITE) +6,5 % Vistra Corp (VST) -3,0 % Zdroj: Bloomberg

Michal Šnobl
Fio banka, a.s.
Prohlášení

Airbnb reported better-than-expected second-quarter results on Thursday, driven by strong global travel demand and a surge in first-time users during the FIFA World Cup hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Airbnb also raised its forecast for the year, citing an expansion in global demand as it uses artificial intelligence to improve its platform.

The results sent Airbnb shares nearly 11% higher in after-hours trading as investors welcomed stronger revenue growth and an improved outlook for next year.

Travel-related companies, including Booking Holdings and Expedia, also benefited from the global football tournament, which boosted tourism across North America. Airbnb said the region recorded its fastest booking growth in nearly three years during the quarter.

"We've delivered some of the strongest results in years," Airbnb Chief Executive Brian Chesky said during the earnings call.

"More new guests are trying Airbnb than we've seen in years."

Globally, nights and experiences booked rose 10% year over year to 148.3 million during the quarter, reflecting sustained travel demand despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainties.

The company generated quarterly revenue of $3.61 billion, up from $3.1 billion a year earlier and ahead of analysts' estimates of $3.57 billion, according to LSEG data.

Quarterly earnings per share rose to $1.37 from $1.03 in the same period last year.

North America, which accounted for more than 40% of Airbnb's revenue in 2025, posted high-single-digit growth in bookings during the quarter.

The company said stronger demand from markets such as Brazil and India, together with World Cup-related travel, helped offset pressure from the Iran conflict, which disrupted long-haul travel through flight rerouting and higher jet fuel costs.

Airbnb also said travel demand in the Middle East has continued to recover steadily.

Airbnb has continued expanding beyond its traditional vacation rental business.

Since last May, the company has added services such as private chefs, car rentals and thousands of boutique hotels to its platform as it seeks to become a broader travel marketplace.

Hotel nights booked grew nearly three times faster than home bookings during the quarter, although hotels still account for only a single-digit share of total nights booked.

Chesky said Airbnb's transformation remains in its early stages.

According to him, the company first aims to become a comprehensive travel platform before expanding further into everyday living services and eventually creating new ways for people to connect through the platform.

The company also indicated it is evaluating acquisition opportunities to accelerate that strategy.

"There are a lot of merger and acquisition opportunities. We have quite a lot of cash, we generate a lot of cash, entrepreneurs would love part of Airbnb and to hold stock, so I think there's a huge number of opportunities for us," Chesky said.

The expansion increasingly places Airbnb in direct competition with established online travel companies including Booking Holdings, Expedia and Tripadvisor.

Reflecting confidence in demand trends, Airbnb increased its revenue growth forecast for 2026.

The company now expects revenue to grow at least in the mid-teens, compared with its earlier projection of low-to-mid-teen growth.

The improved guidance suggests management expects travel demand to remain resilient even as global economic and geopolitical uncertainties continue to influence consumer spending.

Investors have been closely watching Airbnb's ability to diversify beyond home-sharing while maintaining strong booking growth, and the latest results indicate those efforts are beginning to contribute meaningfully to the company's performance.

Airbnb's stock has experienced some volatility this year, largely due to president Trump's decision earlier this year to halt issuing immigrant visas from 75 countries, including Brazil, Nigeria, and Somalia, and then due to the US-Iran war.

CEO Brian Chesky said luggage storage has been a surprisingly popular service on Airbnb. David Paul Morris/Bloomberg/Getty Images Airbnb helped solve one of the more annoying aspects of staying in a rental home, and it looks like it could be paying off.

CEO Brian Chesky said on the company's third-quarter earnings call Thursday that one of the most popular new features offered as part of the app's push into experiences and services was one that he did not expect: luggage storage.

"What a sleeper hit," Chesky said when an analyst asked which of the newer services were most popular.

Chesky said he was giving a keynote speech where he was talking up a bunch of AI features, and that the mention of luggage storage got the biggest cheer. He also said it got a huge reaction when he posted about the new offering on Instagram, adding, "I finally felt cool on the internet."

Airbnb announced in May that it was partnering with Bounce, a global luggage storage platform, to help guests find places to store their bags before check-in or after checkout. After booking a trip, Airbnb guests can see luggage drop-off locations near their stay and receive a discounted rate in some cities.

The added service addresses an advantage that hotels, which commonly store guests' luggage before or after their stay, often have over rental homes.

"That's not the sexiest service," Chesky said of luggage storage, adding, "but I will say that what we've learned is that every service in and of itself has value."

The most popular new service "by far" has been car rentals, Chesky said, adding that the average car rental on the platform lasts longer than the average Airbnb stay.

He said both rental cars and luggage storage have been revenue drivers compared to some other services.

"But what all these services have in common is they make you more likely to want to book a home on Airbnb or a hotel on Airbnb," he said. "And so we have a pipeline of dozens of more services."

Airbnb posted an earnings beat on Thursday, with the stock jumping around 10% in after-hours trading.

Airbnb did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

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Kelsey Vlamis You're currently following this author! Want to unfollow? Unsubscribe via the link in your email.

Kelsey is a senior reporter for Business Insider, where she covers business and tech news as well as stories about travel, luxury, and consulting.Her feature story "Disaster at 18,200 feet" received awards from the New York Press Club and the North American Travel Journalists Association, as well as honorable mention from the Society of American Travel Writers. It was also included on Longreads' and Pocket's best of 2022 lists. She has also received an American Journalism Online Award for her coverage on missing and murdered Indigenous people in Wyoming.She's appeared on CBS, NPR, NBC, and other outlets to discuss her work. She previously worked on the world news desk at the BBC in London and received a master's in journalism from Northwestern University.She can be reached by email at [email protected] or via the encrypted-messaging app Signal @kelseyv.21.Popular storiesDisaster on Denali: Inside a 1,000-foot fall on America's highest peakThrifting is more popular than ever. It's also never been worse.Rolex wouldn't service the vintage watch my mom inherited. Watchmakers say it happens all the time.A tiny, invasive bug and the climate crisis are changing how guitars are made, and shifting the course of music historyThe tourism free-for-all is overGovernment-run boarding schools were founded to 'civilize' Native Americans. Hundreds of dead children remain buried in the schoolyard graves.Meet the Texas minister who helps fly dozens of women to New Mexico every month to get abortionsPeople are flocking to Colorado for the great outdoors, but the air pollution is so bad, it's forcing many to stay insideInside Kabul: An aid worker reveals the devastating chaos that erupted during the US exit from Afghanistan

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