Airbnb maintains neutral rating, price target steady at $140 By Investing.com

On Wednesday, B.Riley maintained a neutral stance on Airbnb Inc. (NASDAQ: ABNB), reiterating a $140.00 price target for the company’s shares. Highlighting the significance of Airbnb’s co-hosting network introduced in its Winter 2024 update, the firm recognized the feature as a key development. The network, which has amassed over 10,000 co-hosts in ten countries, is designed to meet a frequently expressed demand from hosts and is expected to enhance the platform’s supply.

The analyst from B.Riley commented on the potential of the co-hosting service to expand the availability of Airbnb’s experiences, which are set to be re-launched in 2025. Although Airbnb is not currently monetizing co-hosting, there is an anticipation that it might do so in the future, potentially increasing the company’s revenue and EBITDA.

Despite the introduction of co-hosting, which could be seen as competition for professional hosts on Airbnb, the impact is not expected to be significant. This expectation is based on third-party data indicating that a substantial portion of professional hosts’ bookings are made through Airbnb.

The firm’s analysis suggests that the new service will not only meet host demands but also offer a scalable opportunity for Airbnb to further monetize its platform. While the co-hosting feature is not yet a revenue generator, its future potential was acknowledged in the firm’s remarks.

In other recent news, Airbnb has been the focus of several analyst notes and market developments. KeyBanc Capital Markets maintained a Sector Weight rating on Airbnb, acknowledging the company’s introduction of new features, including the Co-Host Network, designed to facilitate the expansion of supply by easing the hosting process. Airbnb’s innovations are expected to enhance the guest experience and improve conversion rates by tailoring to individual preferences and needs.

Simultaneously, Raymond James initiated coverage of Airbnb with a Market Perform rating, citing long-term potential but cautioning against near-term EBITDA growth restraints due to investment in growth initiatives. Bernstein SocGen Group and Mizuho Securities maintained an Outperform rating, suggesting the market’s pessimism might be overdone, while BTIG and Cantor Fitzgerald maintained neutral stances, emphasizing the need for clearer visibility on growth-accelerating initiatives.

Airbnb’s presence has significantly reshaped Rio de Janeiro’s rental market, particularly in the tourist-centric neighborhood of Ipanema, with a 24% increase in short-term rentals since 2019. However, the surge in short-term rentals has led to concerns among building managers and potential regulatory pushback.

Lastly, Airbnb’s operations in Greece could be impacted by a three-year tax incentive for homeowners who shift from offering short-term to long-term rentals. This initiative is part of Greece’s strategy to address the housing shortage and regulate the proliferation of holiday lets. Airbnb has expressed readiness to collaborate with the Greek government on this issue.

InvestingPro Insights

Airbnb’s financial metrics and market performance offer additional context to B.Riley’s analysis. According to InvestingPro data, Airbnb boasts a market capitalization of $85.67 billion and an impressive gross profit margin of 82.59% for the last twelve months as of Q2 2024. This aligns with one of the InvestingPro Tips, which highlights Airbnb’s “impressive gross profit margins.”

The company’s P/E ratio stands at 17.8, which is relatively low compared to its growth prospects. This is reflected in another InvestingPro Tip suggesting that Airbnb is “trading at a low P/E ratio relative to near-term earnings growth.” This valuation metric could be particularly relevant as the company explores new revenue streams like the co-hosting network mentioned in the article.

Additionally, Airbnb’s strong financial position is underscored by the InvestingPro Tip noting that the company “holds more cash than debt on its balance sheet.” This financial stability could provide Airbnb with the flexibility to invest in and expand initiatives like the co-hosting service and the relaunch of experiences in 2025, as discussed in the article.

For investors seeking a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers 11 additional tips for Airbnb, providing a deeper understanding of the company’s financial health and market position.

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