Group 1 - Booking Holdings plans to hold a conference call to discuss its third quarter 2025 financial results on October 28 at 4:30 p.m. ET [1] - The financial results will be posted on the company's Investor Relations website at approximately 4:00 p.m. ET on the same day [2] - Booking Holdings is a leading provider of online travel and related services, operating in over 220 countries and territories through brands like Booking.com, Priceline, Agoda, KAYAK, and OpenTable [2] Group 2 - The Chief Financial Officer, Ewout Steenbergen, will participate in a fireside chat at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference [3] - Additionally, the CFO will also present at the Citi 2025 Global TMT Conference [4]

Company Performance - Booking Holdings (BKNG) closed at $5,448.03, reflecting a -1.8% change from the previous day's closing price, underperforming compared to the S&P 500's 0.26% gain [1] - Over the past month, shares of Booking Holdings have decreased by 0.91%, while the Retail-Wholesale sector gained 0.76% and the S&P 500 increased by 2.87% [1] Upcoming Financial Results - Booking Holdings is expected to report earnings of $95.56 per share, indicating a year-over-year growth of 13.91%, with projected revenue of $8.71 billion, representing a 9.01% increase compared to the same quarter last year [2] - For the entire year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates forecast earnings of $220.74 per share and revenue of $26.36 billion, reflecting changes of +17.98% and +11.03% respectively compared to the previous year [3] Analyst Estimates and Rankings - Recent changes to analyst estimates for Booking Holdings are important as they reflect short-term business trends, with upward revisions indicating analysts' positive outlook on the company's profitability [4] - The Zacks Rank system, which ranges from 1 (Strong Buy) to 5 (Strong Sell), currently rates Booking Holdings at 3 (Hold), with the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate remaining unchanged over the past month [6] Valuation Metrics - Booking Holdings has a Forward P/E ratio of 25.13, which is a premium compared to the industry average Forward P/E of 22.36 [7] - The company has a PEG ratio of 1.6, compared to the Internet - Commerce industry's average PEG ratio of 1.47 [7] Industry Context - The Internet - Commerce industry, part of the Retail-Wholesale sector, holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 71, placing it in the top 29% of over 250 industries [8]

Group 1 - The United Nations has added nearly 70 companies to a blacklist for their involvement in violating Palestinian human rights through business ties to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank [1][4] - The updated list now includes a total of 158 companies, primarily Israeli, with others from the United States, Canada, China, and several European countries [3][4] - New companies added to the list include Heidelberg Materials from Germany, Steconfer from Portugal, and Ineco from Spain, while notable travel companies like Expedia Group, Booking Holdings Inc., and Airbnb, Inc. remain on the list [4] Group 2 - The U.N.'s human rights body established this blacklist nearly a decade ago, and the recent additions could further isolate Israel amid changing international recognition of Palestinian statehood [5]

Core Insights - The interview features Glenn Fogel, CEO of Booking Holdings, discussing the company's evolution, business model, and future direction, emphasizing its role as a leading aggregator in the travel industry [1][2][3] Group 1: Company Background and Evolution - Booking Holdings was formed through the acquisition of Booking.com in 2005, which was a strategic move to expand internationally and adopt a different business model compared to Priceline's original "name-your-own-price" approach [33][43] - The company initially struggled with cash flow due to the agency model, where hotels were paid after guests checked in, contrasting with the merchant model used by competitors like Expedia [40][41][42] - Booking's growth was facilitated by its ability to aggregate a large inventory of hotels, providing consumers with more choices and better visibility [44][53] Group 2: Business Model and Market Dynamics - The agency model allowed Booking to scale quickly by requiring minimal upfront commitments from hotels, which was crucial in a fragmented European market [45][53] - The company has adapted its payment systems to accommodate various payment methods, enhancing customer experience and hotel partnerships [50][51] - Booking's competitive advantage lies in its ability to provide value to both consumers and hotel partners, ensuring a fair transaction that benefits both sides [69][70] Group 3: Relationship with Google and Marketing Strategy - Booking Holdings has historically been one of the largest spenders on Google ads, adapting its strategy in response to changes in Google's search algorithms [61][64] - The company emphasizes the importance of ROI in its marketing expenditures, ensuring that hotel partners understand the value generated through their collaboration [71][72] Group 4: Industry Challenges and Opportunities - The emergence of Airbnb is viewed as an opportunity rather than a crisis, with Booking successfully capturing a significant share of the alternative accommodations market [82][83] - The company continues to innovate and improve its offerings, focusing on enhancing customer experience and expanding its service portfolio [90][91]

Group 1 - The European Commission plans to inquire about major tech companies like Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Booking.com regarding their measures to prevent online financial fraud [1][2] - Henna Virkkunen, the European Commission's technology affairs chief, stated that financial fraud has become a new priority for the Commission, aiming to ensure that tech companies are doing their utmost to detect and prevent fraudulent activities [2] - The inquiry will focus on how Apple and Google manage fake applications in their app stores, how Google and Microsoft handle false search results, and how Booking.com addresses fake property listings [2] Group 2 - The European Commission is currently requesting information but may proceed with investigations and impose fines, with the Digital Services Act allowing fines up to 6% of a company's global annual revenue [2]

Core Insights - The current market presents a challenge for investors seeking safe places to allocate new capital, as the S&P 500 is experiencing record highs and significant rallies [1] - There are still opportunities to find relatively inexpensive stocks with above-average growth potential, particularly within the S&P 500 [2] Stock Selection - A screen identified 104 S&P 500 stocks with above-average growth and below-average price multiples, narrowing down to 86 after excluding energy and materials sectors [3][4] - T-Mobile is highlighted for its expected 19.4% earnings growth next year, trading at just over 18 times next year's earnings [4] - Royal Caribbean and Expedia are noted as strong travel stocks, with Expedia projected to grow earnings by 18% next year while trading at 13 times earnings, significantly cheaper than Booking Holdings [5] - Dollar Tree is identified as a consumer staples stock with a 15% growth rate, trading at less than 15 times next year's earnings, making it a favorable option [6] Financial Sector Opportunities - The financial sector is experiencing favorable conditions, with 34 of the 86 identified stocks coming from this sector [7] - Capital One Financial is projected to have nearly 14% earnings growth next year, trading at roughly 11 times next year's earnings [8] - American Express is expected to grow earnings by 12.6% next year, trading at less than 20 times earnings, which is cheaper than the overall S&P [9] - Citigroup is highlighted for its strong recovery under CEO Jane Fraser, with expected growth of 28% next year while trading at just 10.5 times earnings [10] - Keycorp, a regional bank, is expected to grow at 22% next year, trading at just under 11 times next year's earnings [11] Other Notable Stocks - Charles Schwab is recognized as a strong retail brokerage, while Apollo is noted for its leadership in private equity and private credit with projected earnings growth of 19% [12][13] - Insight, a biopharma company, stands out in the healthcare sector with expected earnings growth of 19% and trading at just under 12 times next year's earnings [14] - Caterpillar is noted for its strong performance, with an expected 18% earnings growth and trading at 22 times next year's earnings [15] - Dell Technologies is mentioned as a core player in AI infrastructure, while BXP, a real estate company, has rebounded after trimming its dividend to focus on growth projects [18][19] - Energy, a utility company, is highlighted for its growth potential due to infrastructure projects, including a $10 billion data center by Meta [20]

Core Insights - Carnival Corporation & plc (CCL) achieved record customer deposits in Q2 2025, increasing by over $250 million year-over-year, indicating strong underlying demand and effective cash inflow management ahead of sailings [1][8] - The company reported a 6.5% year-over-year growth in net yields, surpassing guidance by 200 basis points, driven by extended booking windows and a focus on same-ship revenue growth [2][8] - CCL improved its net debt-to-EBITDA ratio to 3.7x from 4.1x, supported by record operating results and refinancing, enhancing its balance sheet and liquidity [3][8] Booking and Revenue Strategy - The increase in deposits reflects CCL's successful strategy of extending the booking window, allowing for better yield management and pricing optimization as sailings approach [2] - Upcoming product catalysts, including a new private destination in the Caribbean, are expected to further boost deposits and enhance revenue visibility [4] Competitive Landscape - Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) reported strong forward bookings for 2025, with both volume and pricing exceeding last year's levels, contributing to higher advance cash collections [5] - Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) also noted record Advanced Ticket Sales (ATS) of approximately $4 billion, indicating robust demand and serving as a strategic funding source for debt reduction [6] Financial Performance and Valuation - CCL's stock has increased by 32.1% over the past three months, outperforming the industry growth of 13.4% [7] - The forward price-to-earnings ratio for CCL stands at 14.04X, significantly lower than the industry average of 18.63X, suggesting potential undervaluation [10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate projects a year-over-year earnings increase of 41.6% for fiscal 2025 and 14.1% for fiscal 2026, with EPS estimates having risen in the past 60 days [11]

Group 1 - Booking Holdings Inc. is recognized as a promising stock for beginners, with plans to expand its market presence and enhance customer experiences through technology [1] - The company is focusing on artificial intelligence to personalize travel planning and is exploring collaborations with tech giants like OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft to develop advanced AI tools [2] - Booking Holdings reported 8.4 million listings in alternative accommodations at the end of Q2, reflecting an 8% year-over-year growth, indicating a strong focus on combining traditional and alternative accommodations [3] Group 2 - Booking Holdings operates as a global online travel services provider, offering a range of services including accommodations, flights, and car rentals through brands like Booking.com, Priceline, Agoda, and KAYAK [4]

Group 1 - OpenTable has launched a new marketplace to simplify the booking of private and group dining experiences, benefiting both diners and restaurants by consolidating the booking process into a single hub [1][6] - A survey indicates that U.S. consumers spend an average of 17 hours booking venues for private dining, and the new platform addresses this by providing a user-friendly city discovery page with transparent pricing [2][6] - The platform features instant booking, allowing diners to secure reservations quickly and view real-time availability, which is expected to increase large booking leads for restaurants [3][6] Group 2 - Consumer preferences are shifting, with 72% of respondents favoring restaurant-hosted group dinners over home gatherings, and 66% willing to spend more per person for private dining [4][6] - This trend presents significant opportunities for the restaurant industry as more consumers choose dining out for events such as birthdays and corporate gatherings [4][6] Group 3 - Booking Holdings Inc. has a current stock price of $5,518.60, reflecting a 0.80% increase, with a market capitalization of approximately $178.9 billion [5]

It has been a few months since my coverage of Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG ) with the analysis “this travel titan quietly prints cash.” I believe the title sums up my thesis at the time: a leading company in its sector, with very strong cashEquity Research Analyst with a broad career in the financial market, covered both Brazilian and global stocks. As a value investor, my analysis is primarily fundamental, focusing on identifying undervalued stocks with growth potential. Feel free to reach out for collab ...