Airbnb vs Booking Holdings

Explore a detailed comparison of Airbnb and Booking Holdings. This page examines their distinct business models, analyses their financial performance, and contextualises their positions within the current market. Understand the nuances that differentiate these two prominent players in the travel industry. Educational content, not financial advice.

Explore a detailed comparison of Airbnb and Booking Holdings. This page examines their distinct business models, analyses their financial performance, and contextualises their positions within the cur...

Comparison Snapshot

Key Financial Metrics

ABNB

Metric

BKNG

$80.88B

Market Cap

$164.63B

7.59%

Potential Profit

18.01%

Hold

Analyst Rating

Buy

Why It's Moving

Airbnb pivots to regulated apartments and fraud crackdown to fuel growth amid tightening rules.

Promoting 'Airbnb-friendly' apartments to bypass standalone rental bans in regulated cities, preserving host availability and guest options.
Intensifying efforts to remove fraudulent listings, bolstering platform reliability and repeat business through enhanced trust.
Releasing upbeat 2026 travel trends like Gen Z quick trips and solo adventures, signaling robust future demand.

Sentiment:

⚖️Neutral

Booking Holdings rides earnings anticipation amid mixed insider signals and resilient travel demand.

Analysts forecast Q4 EPS of $48.59, up 16.94% year-over-year, signaling strong profitability amid normalizing travel demand.
Revenue expected at $6.12 billion, a 12% jump from last year, highlighting Booking's grip on flexible, multi-leg trip bookings.
Insider sales by executives like David Fogel (1,013 shares for $5.25M) on Jan. 15 add caution, even as institutional holders like Massachusetts Financial boost stakes.

Sentiment:

⚖️Neutral

Airbnb pivots to regulated apartments and fraud crackdown to fuel growth amid tightening rules.

Promoting 'Airbnb-friendly' apartments to bypass standalone rental bans in regulated cities, preserving host availability and guest options.
Intensifying efforts to remove fraudulent listings, bolstering platform reliability and repeat business through enhanced trust.
Releasing upbeat 2026 travel trends like Gen Z quick trips and solo adventures, signaling robust future demand.

Sentiment:

⚖️Neutral

Booking Holdings rides earnings anticipation amid mixed insider signals and resilient travel demand.

Analysts forecast Q4 EPS of $48.59, up 16.94% year-over-year, signaling strong profitability amid normalizing travel demand.
Revenue expected at $6.12 billion, a 12% jump from last year, highlighting Booking's grip on flexible, multi-leg trip bookings.
Insider sales by executives like David Fogel (1,013 shares for $5.25M) on Jan. 15 add caution, even as institutional holders like Massachusetts Financial boost stakes.

Sentiment:

⚖️Neutral

Investment Analysis

Airbnb

ABNB

Pros

Airbnb maintains superior net income margin of 34% and EBITDA margin of 50% versus Booking Holdings.
Asset-light model drives high profitability and customer retention through AI-powered service.
Faster revenue growth stems from smaller scale and customisation in unique stays and experiences.

Considerations

Higher forward P/E ratio of 27.84x indicates relative valuation premium over peers.
Margin stagnation contrasts with competitors' expansions amid intensifying competition.
Regulatory risks threaten operations in peer-to-peer lodging markets.

Booking Holdings

BKNG

Pros

Diversified portfolio spans hotels, flights, car rentals and restaurants for stable revenues.
EBITDA margins expand through cost discipline and AI integrations like OpenAI partnerships.
Stronger revenue and profit scale bolster resilience across global markets.

Considerations

Negative equity returns and higher leverage strain financial structure.
Forward P/E of 22x trails Airbnb's profitability metrics despite diversification.
Net-zero target by 2040 lags peers, with slower Scope 3 emission reductions.

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About The Companies

Airbnb (ABNB)

Airbnb (ABNB) operates an online marketplace for short‑term lodging and experiences, connecting travellers with hosts worldwide. Investors should note its asset‑light model earns fees from bookings rather than owning properties, giving potential for strong margins as scale improves. Key strengths include network effects, a globally recognised brand, and diversified revenue streams (accommodation and Experiences). Risks include regulatory and zoning challenges in major cities, competition from traditional hotels and other platforms, sensitivity to travel cycles and economic downturns, and possible variability in host supply. Financial performance has shown recovery and growth after pandemic disruptions, but future returns depend on travel demand, pricing power and cost control. This summary is educational only and not personalised advice; values can rise and fall and past performance is not a guide to the future. Consider suitability for your goals and risk tolerance before investing.

Booking Holdings (BKNG)

Booking Holdings Inc (BKNG) is a leading online travel company operating brands such as Booking.com, Priceline, Agoda and KAYAK. It connects travellers with accommodation, flights and rental cars, earning fees through commissions, merchant bookings and advertising. With a market capitalisation around $171.32bn, Booking benefits from scale, a large inventory and data-driven pricing, which historically have supported strong margins and cash generation. Growth depends on travel demand recovery, international tourism trends and distribution relationships. Key investor considerations include cyclical revenue sensitivity to economic cycles and global events, competitive pressures from other online platforms and metasearch engines, marketing intensity, and regulatory scrutiny over fees and data use. The company has typically prioritised reinvestment and buybacks over a large dividend. This is general educational information and not personalised advice — suitability depends on your financial situation, investment goals and risk tolerance. Values can fall as well as rise and past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

Airbnb (ABNB) Next Earnings Date

Airbnb (ABNB) is scheduled to report its next earnings on February 12, 2026. This release will cover the fourth quarter of 2025 (Q4 2025) financial results. Expectations cluster around this date per multiple analyst projections, though minor variations exist to February 16-17.

Booking Holdings (BKNG) Next Earnings Date

Booking Holdings (BKNG) next earnings date is estimated for February 18-19, 2026, prior to market open, as the company has not yet confirmed the exact date. This report will cover the fourth quarter of 2025 (Q4 2025), ending December 31, 2025, consistent with historical patterns of late-February releases for prior-year Q4 results. Investors should monitor official announcements for confirmation, given the alignment across multiple estimates.

Airbnb (ABNB) Next Earnings Date

Airbnb (ABNB) is scheduled to report its next earnings on February 12, 2026. This release will cover the fourth quarter of 2025 (Q4 2025) financial results. Expectations cluster around this date per multiple analyst projections, though minor variations exist to February 16-17.

Booking Holdings (BKNG) Next Earnings Date

Booking Holdings (BKNG) next earnings date is estimated for February 18-19, 2026, prior to market open, as the company has not yet confirmed the exact date. This report will cover the fourth quarter of 2025 (Q4 2025), ending December 31, 2025, consistent with historical patterns of late-February releases for prior-year Q4 results. Investors should monitor official announcements for confirmation, given the alignment across multiple estimates.

Which Baskets Do They Appear In?

Travel

Investment opportunities already packed for you. This carefully curated collection of travel stocks represents companies poised to capitalize on the industry's post-pandemic revival. Selected by professional analysts for their recovery potential and growth opportunities.

Published: May 23, 2025

Explore Basket

Which Baskets Do They Appear In?

Travel

Investment opportunities already packed for you. This carefully curated collection of travel stocks represents companies poised to capitalize on the industry's post-pandemic revival. Selected by professional analysts for their recovery potential and growth opportunities.

Published: May 23, 2025

Explore Basket

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Airbnb vs Booking Holdings

Comparison Snapshot

Why It's Moving

Airbnb pivots to regulated apartments and fraud crackdown to fuel growth amid tightening rules.

Booking Holdings rides earnings anticipation amid mixed insider signals and resilient travel demand.

Airbnb pivots to regulated apartments and fraud crackdown to fuel growth amid tightening rules.

Booking Holdings rides earnings anticipation amid mixed insider signals and resilient travel demand.