BTIG Reaffirms Buy Rating for Expedia Group with $330 Target

Investment analysts at BTIG Research have reaffirmed their “buy” rating for Expedia Group (NASDAQ: EXPE) in a research note released on Monday. They set a target price of $330.00 for the online travel company’s stock, reflecting a potential upside of 44.50% from its previous closing price.

Other analysts have also recently made adjustments to their ratings and target prices for Expedia. On February 13, HSBC raised its price target on Expedia Group from $365.00 to $387.00, maintaining a “buy” rating. On the same day, Cantor Fitzgerald set a target of $245.00. Earlier, on February 9, Evercore reiterated an “outperform” rating, while Wall Street Zen upgraded the stock from a “buy” to a “strong-buy” rating on February 7. Additionally, Jefferies Financial Group increased their target from $270.00 to $285.00 on December 11, categorizing the stock as a “hold.”

Currently, thirteen analysts have assigned a “buy” rating to Expedia, while twenty-two others consider it a hold. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the consensus price target for the stock is $281.65.

Positive Earnings Report Boosts Investor Confidence

Expedia Group recently reported its quarterly earnings on February 12. The company announced earnings per share (EPS) of $3.78, surpassing the consensus estimate of $3.32 by $0.46. Revenue for the quarter reached $3.55 billion, exceeding the expected $3.41 billion. This marks an increase of 11.4% compared to the same quarter last year, when the company earned $2.39 per share.

The company’s performance also showcased a return on equity of 72.23% and a net margin of 8.78%. Analysts predict that Expedia Group will post an EPS of 12.28 for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions and Institutional Investments

In related news, insider Robert J. Dzielak sold 8,225 shares of Expedia stock on March 4 for an average price of $220.82, totaling approximately $1.82 million. Following the transaction, Dzielak retains 102,480 shares, valued at around $22.63 million, reflecting a 7.43% decrease in his position. This sale was disclosed in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Institutional investors have also been active in reshaping their holdings in Expedia Group. Notably, Motiv8 Investments LLC initiated a new stake valued at about $25,000 during the fourth quarter, while Entrust Financial LLC acquired a position worth approximately $26,000. Additionally, JFS Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings by 78.6%, now owning 100 shares worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 44 shares.

Overall, institutional investors and hedge funds currently own 90.76% of Expedia Group’s stock, indicating strong institutional confidence in the company’s future.

Expedia Group operates a comprehensive online marketplace that connects consumers with travel suppliers and partners. The platform facilitates the search, comparison, and booking of various travel products and services, catering to both leisure and business travelers. Its offerings include hotel reservations, airline tickets, vacation rentals, car rentals, and travel insurance.

For those looking to stay updated on Expedia Group, a concise daily summary of the latest news and analyst ratings can be received through MarketBeat.com’s free daily email newsletter.