Airbnb(ABNB) - 2025 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q3 2025 was $4.1 billion, representing a 10% year-over-year increase [19] - Adjusted EBITDA reached over $2 billion, marking the highest quarterly figure ever, with a 50% EBITDA margin [19] - Gross booking value (GBV) grew 14% year-over-year to $22.9 billion, driven by strong growth in both bookings and pricing [18] - Net income was $1.4 billion, with earnings per share (EPS) of $2.21, reflecting a 4% year-over-year growth [19] - Free cash flow for Q3 was $1.3 billion, contributing to a total of $4.5 billion over the past 12 months, resulting in a free cash flow margin of 38% [20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Nights and seats booked increased by 9% year-over-year, with a two-point sequential acceleration from Q2 [18] - International expansion markets saw average nights booked grow at double the rate of core markets, with first-time bookers up over 20% in Japan and nearly 50% in India [8][9] - Service and experiences received an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars, with nearly half of experience bookers not having an associated Airbnb stay [9][10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Nights growth across major regions remained steady or accelerated, with Latin America growing in the low 20s and Asia-Pacific in the mid-teens [18] - The U.S. market showed significant acceleration, partly due to the launch of the Reserve Now, Pay Later payment offering [18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on four key growth areas: improving service quality, expanding globally, diversifying offerings, and integrating AI into the app [5][12] - The launch of hotels on the platform aims to fill gaps in supply-constrained markets, with a focus on boutique and independent hotels [11][54] - The integration of AI is seen as a major transformation, with plans for smarter customer support and personalized search experiences [12][77] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in continued momentum into Q4, expecting revenue growth of 7%-10% year-over-year [21] - The company anticipates a sequential acceleration in growth from Q3 to Q4, despite tougher year-over-year comparisons [22] - Management emphasized the importance of maintaining strong margins while investing in growth initiatives for 2026 [22] Other Important Information - The company repurchased $857 million of common stock during the quarter, with a total of over $3.5 billion repurchased in the trailing 12 months [20] - A one-time $213 million valuation allowance impacted net income due to changes in tax legislation [19] Q&A Session Summary Question: What percentage of the acceleration in the U.S. has come from the Reserve Now, Pay Later offering? - About 70% of those offered the Reserve Now, Pay Later option accepted it, and while there are increased cancellations, the net impact is a lift to net bookings [25][26] Question: How should investors think about the duration of execution and investment needed for international market expansion? - Each market takes a different timeline, with significant market share gains seen in Latin America and promising progress in Japan [30][32] Question: Is the events and experiences segment contributing to revenue, and what are the retention signs? - Experiences are bringing new audiences to Airbnb, with about half of experience bookers not having an associated stay [36][38] Question: How should hotels be layered on in markets where Airbnb is shut out? - Hotels are seen as a promising opportunity, with pilots underway in key markets, and the company believes there is significant demand for hotels on the platform [46][50] Question: What are the long-term ambitions for hotel merchandising and booking experience? - The company envisions becoming a one-stop shop for travel, with a focus on boutique and independent hotels, and plans to expand offerings based on customer intent [54][56] Question: What can be expected regarding AI-powered search and milestones for service experiences? - The AI strategy includes testing natural language input for search and aims to integrate AI across the app for a seamless user experience [74][77]