Airbnb IncRaised full-year revenue forecast and beat Q2 estimates, citing AI cost cuts.
Airbnb shares surged to a more than four-year high on August 7 after the company raised its full-year revenue forecast, crediting artificial intelligence for cutting costs and speeding up feature releases. Airbnb now expects 2026 revenue to grow at least a mid-teens percentage, up from its earlier low- to mid-teens call, after posting second-quarter revenue of $3.61 billion, up 17% and ahead of the $3.57 billion Wall Street expected. CEO Brian Chesky called AI the best thing to ever happen to Airbnb, pointing to a 16% drop in customer support costs per booking. Meanwhile, Booking Holdings beat second-quarter estimates on August 4 but trimmed its full-year gross bookings forecast to high-single-digit growth from a prior high-single- to low-double-digit range, blaming reduced Middle East travel and pricier airfares that will persist through the third quarter. Argus Research raised its Booking price target to $245 from $210 on August 10, and CFO Ewout Steenbergen said the company is already seeing a positive return on its AI investments.
Airbnb IncRaised full-year revenue forecast and beat Q2 estimates, citing AI cost cuts.
Booking Holdings IncTrimmed full-year gross bookings forecast due to reduced Middle East travel and pricier airfares.
Argus Research raised its price target on Booking Holdings to $245 from $210.