Expedia (NASDAQ:EXPE) shares rose more than 3% intra-day today after BofA Securities analysts upgraded the company to Buy from Neutral, raising the price target to $221 from $187. The upgrade reflected growing optimism around improving travel trends, achievable growth targets, and a discounted valuation relative to peers.
Data from RevPAR (revenue per available room) and aggregated credit and debit card transactions signal early signs of recovery in U.S. travel, supporting a more favorable outlook for 2025. With easy comparisons to previous years and achievable street estimates projecting 10% EBITDA growth for 2025, Expedia is positioned for continued financial improvement.
The appointment of a new CEO and improved messaging and execution were also highlighted as potential catalysts, attracting long-term investors back to the stock. Despite these positives, Expedia trades at a significant valuation discount compared to Booking Holdings, with an EV/EBITDA multiple of 8x versus Booking’s 19x for 2025. Both companies have similar EBITDA growth expectations of 10–12%, underscoring the relative undervaluation of Expedia shares.