Core Insights - Expedia Group and Affirm have announced an expanded multi-year partnership, making Affirm the exclusive provider of BNPL installment payment methods for lodging and packages across Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo [1] - The partnership will also extend to Canadian travelers on select properties in the near future [1] Payment Options - Eligible travelers can receive real-time approval decisions and choose customized monthly payment plans of up to 24 months when shopping for hotels and packages [2] - In the US, eligible travelers can access 0% APR offers on three- or six-month plans [2] Strategic Vision - The partnership aims to empower travelers by providing clarity and confidence in payment options, enhancing their ability to plan meaningful experiences [3] - The integration of payment choice and transparency is becoming increasingly important in the booking experience, especially with the rise of AI-powered tools [3] Market Position - Affirm has been a partner of Expedia Group for a decade, indicating a long-standing relationship that adapts to changing consumer preferences regarding payment methods [4] - Expedia Group is part of a network of nearly 420,000 merchants globally that trust Affirm for flexible payment options, including major brands like Amazon and Costco [4]

Core Insights - Affirm Holdings, Inc. and Expedia Group, Inc. have expanded their travel payment partnership, making Affirm the exclusive Buy Now, Pay Later option for lodging and packages on major travel brands [1] Group 1: Expanded US Coverage - Under the new agreement, Affirm's installment payment option will be the only Buy Now, Pay Later method for travelers booking hotels and vacation packages on Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo in the U.S. [2] - Eligible customers will receive real-time approval decisions and customized monthly payment plans that can extend up to 24 months [2] - Affirm plans to expand its Buy Now, Pay Later service to Canadian travelers on select properties in the near future [2] Group 2: Payment Options - In the U.S., eligible buyers can select three- or six-month plans with 0% APR, with no compounding interest or late fees, and all terms are visible before checkout [3] - The Vice President of Global Payments at Expedia Group emphasized that clear payment choices help individuals pursue meaningful travel experiences [3] Group 3: Adapting to New Booking Habits - Expedia Group is evolving consumer trip planning with tools like AI-powered itinerary discovery, which integrates payment decisions earlier in the booking process [4] - The Senior Vice President of Revenue at Affirm noted that travelers are now considering payment options alongside their destination choices, reflecting the integration of payment flexibility in modern trip planning [4] - Affirm collaborates with nearly 420,000 merchants globally, including major retail brands, to enhance customer access and increase average order value for businesses [5]

Core Insights - Affirm has become the exclusive provider of buy now, pay later (BNPL) payment options for Expedia Group brands in the U.S. [1] - The partnership will soon extend to Canadian travelers, enhancing payment flexibility for customers [2][3] Partnership Details - The collaboration between Affirm and Expedia Group is part of a multi-year expansion [2] - Affirm is now among nearly 420,000 merchants globally that offer flexible payment options [4] Customer Experience - Affirm's BNPL offerings are designed to provide clarity and confidence in payment selection for customers [3] - The partnership aims to enhance the travel planning experience by integrating payment considerations with travel choices [5] Recent Developments - Affirm reported record volumes and profitable growth in Q1 of fiscal 2026, supported by demand for transparent credit options [5] - Recent partnerships include collaborations with Bolt, Esusu, and Gr4vy to expand BNPL services and flexible payment options [6] Technology and Innovation - Expedia Group is leveraging AI, automation, and partner connectivity to meet growing travel demand [7] - The company's technology systems are designed to create a connected experience for travelers and supply partners [7]

A variety of roles will be impacted, including product managers, software development engineers, user experience designers, data engineers, content designers, and others. ...

Company Overview - Expedia Group, Inc. (EXPE) has a market cap of $32.7 billion and operates as a global online travel company across B2C, B2B, and trivago segments, offering various travel products and services through brands like Expedia, Hotels.com, Vrbo, and Orbitz [1] Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, EXPE stock has increased by 57.7%, outperforming the S&P 500 Index, which rose by 16.1%. However, year-to-date, shares are down 5.9%, while the S&P 500 has returned 1.9% [2] - In comparison to the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY), which rose by 6.1% over the same period, EXPE has shown stronger performance [3] Recent Financial Results - Following the Q3 2025 results released on November 6, shares of Expedia surged by 17.6%. The company reported adjusted EPS of $7.57 and revenue of $4.41 billion, both exceeding Wall Street forecasts. Key growth metrics included 11% growth in room nights, 12% growth in gross bookings, 9% revenue growth, and a 26% increase in B2B bookings, along with a 208 basis points expansion in adjusted EBITDA margin [4] Future Earnings Expectations - For the fiscal year ending December 2025, analysts project EXPE's EPS to grow by 35.6% year-over-year to $12.76. The company's earnings surprise history is mixed, with three out of the last four quarters beating consensus estimates [5] Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Among 36 analysts covering EXPE, the consensus rating is a "Moderate Buy," consisting of 12 "Strong Buy" ratings, one "Moderate Buy," and 23 "Holds" [5] - Wells Fargo has raised its price target on Expedia to $329 while maintaining an "Equal Weight" rating. The mean price target of $280.82 indicates a 5.3% premium to current price levels, while the highest price target of $370 suggests a potential upside of 38.7% [6]

ClearBridge Investments, an investment management company, released its “ClearBridge Mid Cap Strategy” Q4 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. During the quarter, the ClearBridge Mid Cap Strategy reported underperformance versus the Russell Midcap Index, which returned 0.16% during the period, as narrow market leadership and sentiment-driven trading weighed on results. Weakness in information technology and real estate holdings pressured returns, while gains in select consumer ...

Core Insights - The stock market experienced a significant increase as Wall Street enters a crucial week for fourth-quarter earnings, with major tech companies like Apple, Meta, Microsoft, and Tesla set to report their quarterly results [1] Group 1: Market Outlook - The long-term outlook for stocks is expected to remain bullish through 2026, driven by improving earnings across all sectors, marking the first time since 2018 that all 16 Zacks sectors are projected to expand their earnings [2] - Investors are encouraged to continue purchasing stocks in early 2026, focusing on those that have already performed well in 2025 rather than on underperforming stocks [3] Group 2: Stock Screening Strategy - A screening method using the Research Wizard identifies Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) stocks, narrowing down to those with upward price momentum and trading within 20% of their 52-week highs [5][6] - The screening criteria include a PEG ratio of less than or equal to 1, a Price/Sales ratio of less than or equal to 3, and a percentage change in price over the last 12 weeks [10] Group 3: Company Spotlight - Expedia Group, Inc. (EXPE) - Expedia is highlighted as a strong long-term growth stock, benefiting from a booming travel market, with a reported 7% growth in 2024 and an average revenue growth of 37% from 2021 to 2023 [11] - The company is projected to grow its adjusted earnings by 27% in 2025 and 20% in 2026, increasing from $12.11 in 2024 to $18.39 in 2026, with revenue expected to reach $15.56 billion in FY25 and FY26 [14] - EXPE stock has increased by 55% over the past 12 months, with a notable 434% rise over the past 15 years, and a recent pullback of 10% presents a buying opportunity [15]

I have been working in the logistics sector for almost two decades. I have been into stock investing and macroeconomic analysis for almost a decade. Currently, I focus on ASEAN and NYSE/NASDAQ Stocks, particularly in banks, telco, logistics, and hotels. Since 2014, I have been trading on the PH stock market. I focus on banking, telco, and retail sectors. A colleague encouraged me to engage in the stock market as part of my portfolio diversification instead of putting all my savings in banks and properties. ...

Core Viewpoint - Expedia is undergoing organizational changes by eliminating certain roles while simultaneously creating new ones to align with future skill requirements and streamline its structure [2][4]. Group 1: Organizational Changes - The company is simplifying its structure and reducing organizational layers to enhance speed and accountability [2]. - Specific details regarding the number of affected employees or the divisions impacted by the layoffs remain unclear [2]. Group 2: Employee Reactions - Several employees have publicly shared their experiences of being laid off on LinkedIn, expressing gratitude for their time at the company and optimism for the future [3]. - Despite the layoffs, Expedia is promoting over 250 open roles, indicating ongoing recruitment efforts [3]. Group 3: Industry Context - Expedia's actions are part of a broader trend among companies, including Citi and T-Mobile, that are cutting roles to flatten organizational structures and prepare for future challenges [4].

Online posts indicate that the layoffs impacted workers around the Seattle region and other locations. ...