February 27, 2025

Ron Finklestien

“Understanding the Price Surge: Airbnb’s Cost Advantage Over Competitors and Its Impact on ABNB Stock”

Airbnb’s Valuation Stands Out Amid Industry Peers

Shares of the vacation property rentals company Airbnb Inc. ABNB are currently trading at a notable premium compared to its peers. Data compiled by Benzinga Pro shows that the company’s stock sells at a valuation 40% higher than the industry average, making it 1.4 times more expensive.

Valuation Overview

Airbnb’s stock has delivered better performance than many of its competitors on a year-to-date basis, although its one-year performance has not met expectations. The stock is trading at approximately 32.362 times over its projected 2026 earnings, whereas the average forward price-to-earnings ratio of its peers is 23.257 times.

Among its closest competitors, Hilton Hotels Corp. HLT approaches Airbnb’s valuation with a forward P/E ratio of 32.05, while Expedia Group Inc. EXPE remains the most affordable, with a ratio of 13.19.

Stocks Forward P/E YTD Performance One Year Performance
Airbnb Inc. ABNB 32.362 9.55% -5.28%
Booking Holdings Inc. BKNG 23.92 2.22% 44.75%
Marriott International Inc. MAR 28.01 2.81% 13.30%
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. RCL 16.26 6.59% 98.06%
Hilton Hotels Corporation HLT 32.05 6.05% 27.69%
Trip.com Group Ltd. TCOM 17.01 -9.51% 32.24%
Expedia Group Inc. EXPE 13.19 7.67% 46.46%

Technical Analysis Insights

Current technical indicators suggest a bullish trend for Airbnb’s stock. As of Thursday, shares closed at $144.03, below the eight-day simple moving average of $151.47. However, data indicates that the stock is trading above its 20-day, 50-day, and 200-day moving averages, supporting the positive trend.

Momentum indicators are also showing strong signals. The moving average convergence divergence (MACD) reading at 3.97 reflects positive short-term momentum, while a relative strength index (RSI) of 53.64 suggests neutral market conditions.


Price Movement Summary

On Wednesday, ABNB saw an increase of 1.75%, outperforming the 0.24% rise of the Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 QQQ, which tracks the Nasdaq 100 index. The stock opened 0.19% higher in premarket trading on Thursday.

Benzinga tracks 35 analysts with an average price target of $145.87 for the stock, indicating a “hold” rating. Estimates vary widely, ranging from $90 to $200. Recent average ratings from Susquehanna, UBS, and B. Riley Securities suggest a price of $168.33, implying a potential upside of 16.66%.


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