Airbnb, Inc.

Сильный индекс, незначительно упал. Быки в растерянности.

Strong index, slightly down. The bulls are confused.

Сильный индекс, без изменений. Рынок не поддерживает быков.

Strong index, flat. The market does not support the bulls.

Сильный индекс, без изменений. Отток средств из лонгов на высоком уровне.

Strong index, flat. Outflow of funds from longs at a high level.

Key Points
Coupang currently looks stronger on revenue, generating consistently higher quarterly totals than Airbnb across the past eight quarters without displaying the extreme seasonal peaks and valleys seen in the lodging company's financial results.
Over the last eight quarters, Coupang demonstrated a mostly steady quarter-over-quarter upward trajectory in revenue, while Airbnb recorded a predictable, repetitive pattern of quarter-over-quarter volatility.
Investors should monitor whether the revenue gap between the two companies continues to widen over time, or if the trend lines narrow in upcoming reporting quarters.
Airbnb: Cyclical Fluctuations in Quarterly Revenue
Airbnb (NASDAQ:ABNB) manages a global digital lodging marketplace that operates by seamlessly connecting independent property hosts offering short-term private rooms, primary residences, and vacation homes with travelers seeking unique temporary stays and localized experiences.
Airbnb recently integrated its extensive inventory of property listings directly into the American Express travel booking system, and it introduced new social networking features alongside advanced artificial intelligence search tools.
Coupang: Steady Expansions in Quarterly Revenue
Coupang (NYSE:CPNG) operates a diverse retail business that provides direct e-commerce shopping, specialized fresh grocery delivery, online video streaming, luxury fashion marketplaces, financial technology activities, and rapid restaurant food ordering services to its international customer base.
It established new product distribution agreements with several American food and sports nutrition exporters to bring foreign goods into South Korea, while navigating an ongoing regulatory review conducted by the Korea Fair Trade Commission regarding a number of concerns, including shifting discount costs to suppliers.
Why Revenue Matters for Investors
Revenue gives investors a comprehensive look at the total amount of capital flowing directly into the company from all of its global sales activities before any operating expenses, overhead costs, or corporate taxes are subtracted. This metric reveals whether an organization is successfully attracting customers and growing its overall business volume over time.
Airbnb vs. Coupang Revenue over the last 8 quarters.
Quarterly Revenue for Airbnb and Coupang
Calendar quarter
Airbnb Revenue
Coupang Revenue
Q3 2024
$3.7 billion (quarter ended Sept. 30, 2024)
$7.9 billion (quarter ended Sept. 30, 2024)
Q4 2024
$2.5 billion (quarter ended Dec. 31, 2024)
$8.0 billion (quarter ended Dec. 31, 2024)
Q1 2025
$2.3 billion (quarter ended March 31, 2025)
$7.9 billion (quarter ended March 31, 2025)
Q2 2025
$3.1 billion (quarter ended June 30, 2025)
$8.5 billion (quarter ended June 30, 2025)
Q3 2025
$4.1 billion (quarter ended Sept. 30, 2025)
$9.3 billion (quarter ended Sept. 30, 2025)
Q4 2025
$2.8 billion (quarter ended Dec. 31, 2025)
$8.8 billion (quarter ended Dec. 31, 2025)
Q1 2026
$2.7 billion (quarter ended March 31, 2026)
$8.5 billion (quarter ended March 31, 2026)
Q2 2026
$3.6 billion (quarter ended June 30, 2026)
$8.9 billion (quarter ended June 30, 2026)
Data source: Financial Modeling Prep. Data as of Oct. 22, 2026.
Foolish Take
Airbnb experiences seasonal sales fluctuations typical of the travel industry. The summer months are popular for travelers, and so, the company's revenue tends to spike in the third quarter. Even so, Airbnb has maintained consistent year-over-year sales growth, demonstrating it remains a top lodging provider.
As an e-commerce site, Coupang's revenue has been steadier than Airbnb's, but its sales trend reveals that could be changing. In 2025, the company suffered a massive data breach that came to light in November of that year. This put a stain on its reputation, and the South Korean government fined Coupang over $400 million in that country's largest data breach penalty.
South Korea represents Coupang's primary source of sales, accounting for a reported 84% to 90% of income. Moreover, the South Korean government named Coupang's founder the de facto controlling entity of the company. This can ​subject it to stricter regulatory scrutiny.
These factors contributed to Coupang's sales growth declining sequentially over the past several quarters. For instance, in Q3 of 2025, revenue rose 18% year over year. That dropped to 11% in Q4 as the data breach was publicized. In Q1 of 2026, year-over-year sales growth slowed to 8%, then dropped to 4% in Q2. This suggests Coupang is struggling to gain customers, and it could be some time before it can recover from the data breach's damage to its reputation.
Should you buy stock in Airbnb right now?
Before you buy stock in Airbnb, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Airbnb wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $355,124!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,296,254!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 901% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 210% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of October 25, 2026.
American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Robert Izquierdo has positions in Airbnb. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Airbnb and American Express. The Motley Fool recommends Coupang. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Airbnb vs. Coupang: Cyclical Volatility vs. Steady Scale in Revenue

Key Points
Advance Auto Parts operates a vast network of stores serving both professional repair shops and individual car owners.
Airbnb manages a global travel marketplace with over 5.5 million hosts and listings in nearly every country.
Which consumer-focused stock is the better addition to your portfolio for the coming years?
Investors often weigh stable, brick-and-mortar retailers against high-growth digital platforms. Choosing between Advance Auto Parts (NYSE:AAP) and Airbnb (NASDAQ:ABNB) depends on whether you prioritize value or growth in your portfolio.
Advance Auto Parts focuses on the essential automotive repair market through a vast physical network. Airbnb operates a capital-light digital platform that revolutionized the hospitality industry. While they belong to the same consumer discretionary sector, their business models offer very different paths for long-term investors.
The case for Advance Auto Parts
Advance Auto Parts operates as a major provider in the automotive aftermarket, selling parts and accessories to a diverse customer base. The company splits its business between professional installers and do-it-yourself (DIY) customers, with professional sales accounting for approximately 50% of revenue in 2025. It remains a fixture among retail stocks by operating 4,311 stores and supporting nearly 800 independently owned Carquest locations. In January 2026, the company expanded its private-label offerings by launching Argos, a brand designed to capture value-conscious shoppers.
Financial performance has faced headwinds recently as the company navigates a changing retail landscape. According to its latest annual report filed for FY 2025, revenue reached about $8.6 billion, representing a decrease of approximately 5.4% compared to the prior year. Despite the dip in sales, the company reported net income of roughly $44 million for the period. This resulted in a net margin, which measures the percentage of revenue kept as profit, of approximately 0.5%.
As of its January 2026 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio was roughly 2.4x. This ratio measures financial leverage by comparing total debt to shareholder equity. Its current ratio, which indicates how easily a company can pay its short-term bills using its assets, stood at approximately 1.7x. Free cash flow for the fiscal year was negative, at minus-$298.0 million. Free cash flow equals cash flow from operations minus capital expenditures and represents the cash a business generates after accounting for investments in its physical assets.
The case for Airbnb
Airbnb manages a global marketplace that connects hosts with travelers seeking unique stays and experiences. The company does not own the properties listed; instead, it provides the digital infrastructure for more than 5 million hosts to list their homes. This capital-light model allows the platform to scale rapidly across 220 countries and regions. By focusing on a two-sided network, the company benefits from a self-sustaining cycle where more hosts attract more guests, and vice versa.
Growth remains a central theme for the travel leader as it expands its international footprint. In FY 2025, revenue reached about $12.3 billion, which indicates a growth rate of approximately 10.3% over the previous year. The company reported net income of roughly $2.5 billion for the same period. This led to a net margin of approximately 20.4%, showing that the company retains a significant portion of its sales as profit after all expenses are paid.
As of its December 2025 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio was approximately 0.3x. This indicates a conservative level of debt relative to equity. Its current ratio was roughly 1.4x, suggesting the company maintains sufficient liquidity to meet its near-term obligations. Free cash flow reached nearly $4.6 billion in FY 2025. Note that stock-based compensation (SBC) represented roughly 34% of operating cash flow, which inflates reported cash generation since SBC is a non-cash expense added back in the cash flow statement.
Risk profile comparison
Advance Auto Parts faces significant competitive threats from national automotive retailers like AutoZone Inc. (NYSE:AZO) and O'Reilly Automotive Inc. (NASDAQ:ORLY), as well as mass merchandisers like Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN). The company is currently exposed to operational risks from its ongoing restructuring efforts, including potential costs from lease terminations and store closures. Furthermore, cybersecurity remains a concern following a previous data breach settlement, while global logistics disruptions and trade tariffs could impact its supply chain stability.
Airbnb is subject to high competitive pressure in the travel industry from search engines and hotel chains, as well as online travel agencies like Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG). The platform faces ongoing regulatory risks as various local and international governments implement short-term rental bans or restrictions. Additionally, the company is exposed to financial risks from its dependence on cloud hosting infrastructure and ongoing legal disputes with tax authorities regarding the valuation of its intellectual property.
Valuation comparison
Airbnb carries a much higher valuation reflecting its double-digit growth, while Advance Auto Parts trades at a deep discount amid its business turnaround.
Metric
Advance Auto Parts
Airbnb
Forward P/E
14.6x
32.4x
P/S ratio
0.3x
7.8x
Valuation metrics include those sourced from Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) and may differ from those of other data providers.
Which stock would I buy in 2026?
Advance Auto Parts is in the midst of turning around the struggles it has experienced over the past few years around sales growth, margins, and market share. The aftermarket auto parts business has been in a slump, due largely to a mix of factors: weak do-it-yourselfer demand, vehicle electrification, intense competition, and general pocketbook pressures on consumers.
Company management has been addressing the business' issues by rolling out a new multi-year turnaround program. That started in late 2024, including closing stores, optimizing store footprints, and overhauling its supply chain. To date, the program has produced mixed results. First-quarter fiscal 2026 results that were much better than expected, with revenue of $2.6 billion and net income of $25 million. But the second quarter disappointed the street, and shares plunged as revenue fell short of consensus at $2 billion, even as net income and other metrics beat expectations.
Analysts see full-year 2026 sales a little lower at $8.57 billion, with net income improving to $167 million, roughly four times 2025.
Airbnb reported an excellent second quarter of fiscal 2026, rallying shares sharply after results. The business beat consensus revenue estimates by $100 million, reporting $3.6 billion in sales, up 17% from the same period in 2025, driven by a strong increase in booked nights. Foreign markets like India and Latin America, two markets in which Airbnb is seeking growth, were exceptionally strong. The third quarter should see sales close to $4.8 billion and net income around $1.7 billion.
The business is finding ways to expand its popular travel business, embracing features like buy now, pay later (BNPL) on reservations, a form of short-term lending. The network advantage of Airbnb's history, over 2 billion guest arrivals since 2008, and the lack of host presence on AI (meaning a competitor using AI has little data and information to scrape in order to form a competing product) give it a competitive moat.
For the full year, management expects sales of $14.1 billion with net income of $3.2 billion.
So which stock to choose? In the highly competitive retail sector, Advance Auto Parts is by no means guaranteed success despite its strong efforts to recover. Airbnb's capital-light model also means it has far fewer competitive moats. But it's the healthier and faster-growing business of the two, and until the company can't execute and competitors catch up, it appears to be a long-term buy.
Should you buy stock in Advance Auto Parts right now?
Before you buy stock in Advance Auto Parts, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Advance Auto Parts wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $391,581!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,334,780!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 936% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 213% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of October 17, 2026.
Brendan Coffey has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Airbnb, Amazon, and Booking Holdings. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Advance Auto Parts vs. Airbnb: Which Consumer Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?

Fintel reports that on October 2, 2026, Keybanc upgraded their outlook for Airbnb (NASDAQGS:ABNB) (XTRA:6Z1) from Sector Weight to Overweight. Prior to this rating action, the stock closed at $160.47 on October 1, 2026. This latest close of $160.47 represents a price change of +6.00% over one week, compared to a baseline close of $151.39 on September 24, 2026. Over a one-month period, the stock experienced a price change of -12.09% from a baseline close of $182.54 on September 1, 2026.
As of September 15, 2026, the current consensus target mean for Airbnb was $186.56, with a median target of $193.51, representing an implied change of +16.26% from the stock's price. This consensus target mean reflects a revision of +2.75% from the prior consensus target mean of $181.57 recorded on August 28, 2026. In terms of aggregate analyst recommendations, the current period as of September 1, 2026, showed a total of 51 recommendations, consisting of 10 strong buy, 20 buy, 19 hold, 2 sell, and 0 strong sell ratings. This current recommendation breakdown represents 58.8% positive, 37.3% hold, and 3.9% negative ratings. In comparison, the prior recommendation period as of August 1, 2026, had a total of 50 recommendations, with 9 strong buy, 19 buy, 20 hold, 2 sell, and 0 strong sell ratings, representing 56.0% positive, 40.0% hold, and 4.0% negative ratings.
Airbnb reported its latest earnings on August 6, 2026, posting an actual EPS of 1.37, which exceeded the estimated EPS of 1.2769, representing an EPS surprise of +7.29%. The company's actual revenue for the quarter was $3,608,000,000.00, compared to an estimated revenue of $3,647,509,463.00. Airbnb, Inc., based in the United States, operates in the global travel and hospitality industry, primarily serving as an online marketplace for lodging and experiences. The company enables homeowners to list their properties for short and long-term rentals, providing travelers with unique accommodation options beyond traditional hotels. Key initiatives have included expanding into luxury travel and experiences, enhancing host and guest protections, and implementing advanced AI technologies to improve booking and management processes.
Other recent analyst activities preceding Keybanc's upgrade include RBC Capital reiterating an Outperform rating on September 21, 2026, and Citizens maintaining a Market Outperform rating on September 18, 2026. Truist Securities maintained a Hold rating on September 10, 2026. On September 8, 2026, Raymond James upgraded the stock from Market Perform to Outperform, while Baird maintained an Outperform rating on the same day.
Recent analyst actions
Recent analyst upgrades, downgrades, initiations, and maintained ratings
Date
Analyst
Prior
Latest recommendation
Action
October 2, 2026
Keybanc
Sector Weight
Overweight
upgrade
September 21, 2026
RBC Capital
Outperform
Outperform
reiterated
September 18, 2026
Citizens
Market Outperform
Market Outperform
maintained
September 10, 2026
Truist Securities
Hold
Hold
maintained
September 8, 2026
Raymond James
Market Perform
Outperform
upgrade
September 8, 2026
Baird
Outperform
Outperform
maintained
Fintel is one of the most comprehensive investing research platforms available to individual investors, traders, financial advisors, and small hedge funds.
Our data covers the world, and includes fundamentals, analyst reports, ownership data and fund sentiment, options sentiment, insider trading, options flow, unusual options trades, and much more. Additionally, our exclusive stock picks are powered by advanced, backtested quantitative models for improved profits.
This story originally appeared on Fintel.

Keybanc Upgrades Airbnb to Overweight from Sector Weight

Key Points
Travel demand has held up even in an inflationary environment.
As personal AI agents gain use, Airbnb has an advantage over traditional OTAs.
The home-sharing giant can cash in on higher interest rates.
After years of trading sideways, Airbnb (NASDAQ:ABNB) is finally having a breakout moment.
The stock surged following its last earnings report after it topped expectations, and key metrics like growth in nights booked accelerated. Airbnb's investments in AI seem to be paying off, and it also raised its guidance for the year.
Missed AI’s "Act 1"? Act 2 Could Be 15x Bigger. Most investors think they missed the AI boat because they didn't buy Nvidia in 2005. But according to our analysts, we’re only at the end of "Act 1"—the R&D phase. "Act 2" is the global rollout. Continue »
Shares of Airbnb have since cooled off, but the post-earnings pop shows investors that the stock finally has the potential to rally after years of being stuck in neutral due to a combination of its valuation and only moderate growth.
Beyond the momentum from its last earnings report, there are more reasons to buy Airbnb. Here are three of them.
Image source: Getty Images.
1. The travel market remains strong
While consumers around the world are struggling with inflation and higher fuel costs, travel spending hasn't slowed, remaining robust since the pandemic ended.
Consumer discretionary companies like Nike and Lululemon, as well as restaurant chains, are feeling the impact of tightening wallets, but the travel market continues to outgrow the global economy.
There's no single reason for this, but there are several contributing factors. Spending by baby boomers, who have wealth from the stock market and real estate, is supporting the growth of the travel market. Additionally, spending on experiences rather than goods has been a trend among younger adults for some time, and those with disposable income are more likely to spend it on travel rather than, say, a home improvement project.
This trend is lifting all travel stocks, but Airbnb is uniquely positioned to capitalize on the long-term growth of the travel market, as its homes cover a wider range of use cases than traditional online travel agencies do, and rising travel demand should encourage more hosts to come online.
2. It's best positioned to benefit from AI personal agents
Meta Platforms shook up the stock with the launch of its Muse AI personal agent, which handles tasks like scheduling, booking travel, and even negotiating over bills, among others.
Online travel agency stocks like Expedia and Booking Holdings fell on the news, and Airbnb sold off as well, but the homesharing specialist has an advantage over the traditional OTAs. These stocks fell because Muse and other agents have the ability to search for the cheapest or best way to book. They can effortlessly go to a hotel website and book a room, rather than doing so through a platform like Booking or Expedia.
Airbnb doesn't have that vulnerability since most of its inventory is unique to its platform, or at least cannot be booked directly with the host. If Expedia and Booking get disrupted by Muse, that is likely to benefit Airbnb over the long term.
3. Airbnb benefits from higher interest rates
Most companies prefer lower interest rates. Higher interest rates act as a brake on the economy and raise borrowing costs.
However, if you're a company with cash on the balance sheet, higher interest rates are a tailwind, and Airbnb's unique business allows it to earn a significant amount of interest income.
When you book an Airbnb, you pay at the time of your booking, even though your trip could be months later. During that time, Airbnb earns interest on the cash it's holding.
As of the end of the second quarter, the company had $12.2 billion in funds receivable and amounts held on behalf of customers, in addition to $6.8 billion in cash and equivalents. Through the first half of the year, it earned $363 milion in interest income, equal to more than half of its operating income, and that was before the Fed started raising rates and treasury yields started to spike. Between rising rates and the growth of the business, Airbnb could soon have $1 billion in annual interest income.
All three of these factors are a reminder that Airbnb is more resilient than the market seems to think. It may take time for those tailwinds to play out, but Airbnb is well-positioned to benefit over the long term as the travel market expands and it flexes its advantage over Booking and Expedia. The stock is a smart buy now.
Don’t miss this second chance at a potentially lucrative opportunity
Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you’ll want to hear this.
On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a “Double Down” stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you’re worried you’ve already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it’s too late. And the numbers speak for themselves:
Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you’d have $594,989!*
Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you’d have $64,552!*
Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you’d have $373,352!*
Right now, we’re issuing “Double Down” alerts for three incredible companies, available when you join Stock Advisor, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon.
*Stock Advisor returns as of September 29, 2026.
Jeremy Bowman has positions in Airbnb. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Airbnb and Booking Holdings. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Founded in 1993 in Alexandria, VA., by brothers David and Tom Gardner, The Motley Fool is a multimedia financial-services company dedicated to building the world's greatest investment community. Reaching millions of people each month through its website, books, newspaper column, radio show, television appearances, and subscription newsletter services, The Motley Fool champions shareholder values and advocates tirelessly for the individual investor. The company's name was taken from Shakespeare, whose wise fools both instructed and amused, and could speak the truth to the king -- without getting their heads lopped off.

3 Reasons To Buy Airbnb Now

The U.S. economy is in the grip of “funflation,” and consumers are responding by spending more, not less, on the things they love. Evidently, Bank of America card data shows hobby spending jumped 7.9% year over year in August 2026 — more than double the 3.4% growth in transaction volume.
The beneficiaries span consumer discretionary heavyweights like Amazon AMZN to specialized entertainment and music companies riding on the hobby economy wave. As these companies outperform, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) holding them are capturing the upside.
Before identifying these funds, it is crucial to understand what “funflation” means, how it differs from the inflationary environment witnessed during the pandemic, and which stocks are affected by it.
What Is Funflation, and How Is This Cycle Different?
Funflation refers to the rising cost of leisure and entertainment — a phenomenon where consumers absorb higher prices for experiences they value.
What distinguishes this cycle from the post-COVID reopening surge is its durability and its roots in the “hobby economy.”
The 2021-2022 experience economy boom was fueled by pent-up demand after lockdowns.
Today’s funflation is more structural and has transitioned into a steady rise in digital subscriptions, at-home leisure, and localized hobbies as consumers adjust to higher prices they've been seeing for quite some time now.
As a result, sales at sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, and book stores rose 10.7% in the 12 months through August, outpacing the 6% increase in total U.S. retail and food-services sales over the same period, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Advance Monthly Retail Trade Report.
Stocks Riding on the Hobby Economy Wave
The funflation trend is supporting a broad range of companies.
For instance, Live Nation Entertainment LYV, the world’s largest live entertainment company, sits at the intersection of concerts, festivals and premium experiences. It reported solid year-over-year sales growth of 9% in the second quarter of 2026, while its shares have gained 15% over the past six months.
Spotify Technology SPOT has been benefiting from the audio streaming boom driven by music discovery and fandom engagement. Its second-quarter 2026 sales rose 15% year over year, while the stock has rallied 7.4% over the past six months.
In travel and experiences, Expedia Group EXPE and Airbnb ABNB have also been benefiting from the wave of consumers redirecting budgets toward domestic and experience-focused getaways even as international travel costs rise. Expedia generated a 14% year-over-year revenue increase in the second quarter, while Airbnb experienced 17% top-line growth. EXPE has risen 16.6%, while ABNB has surged 27.9% over the past six months.
Traditional consumer discretionary stalwarts also booked in solid revenue growth and share price performance lately. For example, Marriott International MAR, the hotel giant, saw 4.8% revenue growth in the second quarter, while its stock moved up 10.3% over the past six months.
ETFs Riding the Funflation Wave
The recreation index, which includes video and audio, pets and pet services, sporting goods, photography, and recreational reading, rose 2.7% in the 12 months through August (as per the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index data).
That captures the price side of funflation: consumers are paying more for the leisure categories they value and absorbing those costs rather than cutting back. Higher prices on steady volumes mean higher revenues for the companies exposed to these categories — the same names held by the ETFs below.
Against that backdrop, the following ETFs have been rising in the recent past:
Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund XLY
This fund, with assets under management (AUM) worth $21.76 billion, offers exposure to 47 companies in specialty retail; broadline retail; hotels, restaurants and leisure; textiles, apparel and luxury goods; household durables; automobiles; automobile components; distributors; leisure products; and diversified consumer services. AMZN holds the first spot in this fund, with 23.11% weightage, while MAR holds the 10th position with 2.07% weightage.
XLY has gained 4.6% over the past six months and charges 8 basis points (bps) in fees.
MUSQ Global Music Industry Index ETF MUSQ
This fund, with net assets worth $20.8 million, tracks 25 companies with a core business interest in the global music industry. SPOT holds the first position in this fund, with 9.60% weightage, while LYV holds the second position with 8.75% weightage.
MUSQ has rallied 7.5% over the past six months and charges 76 bps in fees.
Invesco Leisure and Entertainment ETF PEJ
This fund, with a market value of $356.1 million, offers exposure to 31 U.S. leisure and entertainment companies that are principally engaged in the design, production or distribution of goods or services in the leisure and entertainment industries. Delta Airlines holds the first position in this fund, with 5.57% weightage, while LYV holds the fourth position with 5.02% weightage. ABNB holds the seventh position in this fund, with 4.53% weightage, while EXPE holds the eighth position with 4.28% weightage.
PEJ has soared 11.4% over the past six months and charges 58 bps in fees.
Amplify Travel Tech ETF AWAY
This fund, with net assets worth $22.7 million, includes 29 technology-focused companies within the global travel and tourism industry. Sabre Corp holds the first position in this fund, with 4.71% weightage, while EXPE holds the sixth position with 4.36% weightage. ABNB holds the eighth position with 4.25% weightage.
AWAY has risen 8.7% over the past six months and charges 75 bps in fees.
Boost Your Portfolio with Our Top ETF Insights
Zacks' exclusive Fund Newsletter delivers actionable information, top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, straight to your inbox every week.
Don’t miss out on this valuable resource. It’s free!
Get it now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

Forget Inflation: Funflation Is Here and These ETFs Are Riding on It

Among the underlying components of the S&P 500 index, we saw noteworthy options trading volume today in Fair Isaac Corp (Symbol: FICO), where a total of 1,946 contracts have traded so far, representing approximately 194,600 underlying shares. That amounts to about 49.7% of FICO's average daily trading volume over the past month of 391,640 shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $920 strike call option expiring November 20, 2026, with 186 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 18,600 underlying shares of FICO. Below is a chart showing FICO's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $920 strike highlighted in orange:
JPMorgan Chase & Co (Symbol: JPM) options are showing a volume of 34,784 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 3.5 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 48.3% of JPM's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 7.2 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $345 strike call option expiring September 25, 2026, with 4,226 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 422,600 underlying shares of JPM. Below is a chart showing JPM's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $345 strike highlighted in orange:
And Airbnb Inc (Symbol: ABNB) saw options trading volume of 21,134 contracts, representing approximately 2.1 million underlying shares or approximately 47.3% of ABNB's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 4.5 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $150 strike put option expiring September 25, 2026, with 2,609 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 260,900 underlying shares of ABNB. Below is a chart showing ABNB's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $150 strike highlighted in orange:
For the various different available expirations for FICO options, JPM options, or ABNB options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
Further FICO Research:

Notable Wednesday Option Activity: FICO, JPM, ABNB

Key Points
Most IPOs underperform the market over a three-year period.
Some new issues, like SpaceX, are often overhyped and crash after an initial pop.
Other stocks go public with little fanfare and deliver steady growth.
IPO stands for initial public offering.
This is the process by which most companies enter the public markets, meaning their stock can be owned by a willing buyer. Start-ups and private companies typically go public with the help of investment banks, which underwrite the offering. The process takes several weeks. First, a company files a detailed prospectus, also known as an S-1, with the SEC, and then goes on a roadshow to pitch the IPO to investors.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
Shortly before the offering, a listing price, or what the IPO buyers are paying, is set based on investor demand, and then the stock begins trading publicly. Once it's listed on an exchange, it can be bought and sold like any other stock.
Should you buy an IPO?
The traditional investing advice is to avoid IPOs. IPO stocks, typically defined as stocks that have gone public within the last year, are more volatile than the broad market, and they also underperform the S&P 500 on average. Historically, IPOs jump about 19% on their first day of trading, according to research shared in The Wall Street Journal. However, the average return of an IPO held from the end of its first trading day for three years is 21% lower than a comparable market index.
A lot of IPOs enter the market overhyped at high valuations and crash after an initial pop. We saw this recently with Space Exploration Technologies (NASDAQ: SPCX), which is now trading slightly above its IPO price of $135 but lost more than 50% of its value from peak to trough after popping out of the gate.
There's a slew of other IPOs that went public during the pandemic, only to crash in the 2022 bear market. Some of those have bounced back to new heights, while others have struggled.
My contrarian take on buying an IPO
In general, I think investors should steer clear of IPOs. I think that's especially true of overhyped issues like SpaceX, which typically crash after an initial pop. We saw something similar with Figma, another recent high-profile IPO, which is now trading below its IPO price even as it more than tripled in its initial trading days.
If you are going to buy this kind of IPO, you should wait until the initial hype cycle has completed, as the initial pop is almost always followed by a pullback. Some IPO stocks, like Airbnb, remain significantly above their IPO price but still underperform the market. Don't chase a hot IPO, and remember that valuation always matters over the long term.
However, other less-hyped IPOs don't have an initial pop and do go on to be big winners. With the benefit of two decades of hindsight, we can see that Netflix would have been a great IPO purchase. The streaming stock, which went public in 2002 when the market was still reeling from the dot-com bust, jumped just 12% on its opening day and then headed lower over the following months. Since then, it's been one of the best-performing stocks this century with market cap growth of roughly 1,000x. Netflix has a higher price-to-sales ratio now than it did when it went public.
Chipotle, which went public in 2006, doubled on its opening day but then delivered only modest growth over the next year. Additionally, the stock traded at a price-to-earnings ratio similar to levels we've seen in recent years, suggesting investors were ignoring its growth potential.
More recently, I think Viking Holdings (NYSE: VIK), the parent of the cruise line of Viking Cruises, is a good example of a winning IPO. The company went public with little fanfare, but had a strong business model, differentiated positioning in its industry, and a reasonable valuation.
The stock rose a modest 9% on its opening day and has continued to march higher since then, as the chart below shows.
What it means for investors
Overall, IPOs are best treated with caution, especially in an era when so much of the gains accrue to the company before it goes public, as we saw with SpaceX, and are likely to see with OpenAI and Anthropic, which are aiming to go public in the coming months.
However, there are still winners to be found. Look for companies that have reasonable valuations, competitive advantages, and relatively little media attention as they go public. Viking Holdings won't be the last steady IPO winner.
Should you buy stock in Viking right now?
Before you buy stock in Viking, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Viking wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $414,015!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,385,459!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 960% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 213% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of September 9, 2026.
Jeremy Bowman has positions in Airbnb, Figma, and Netflix. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Airbnb, Figma, Netflix, and Viking. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

What Is an IPO, and Should You Buy One? My Contrarian Take After 15 Years at The Fool.

Key Points
Airbnb continues to generate substantial free cash flow from its global host network and unique property listings.
Shopify has maintained rapid revenue growth by providing essential multi-channel infrastructure for millions of global merchants.
Which of these high-growth technology leaders is a better addition to your portfolio for 2026?
Deciding between a leader in travel and a titan of e-commerce requires comparing two distinct business models. Both Airbnb Inc (NASDAQ:ABNB) and Shopify Inc (NASDAQ:SHOP) represent powerful trends in the digital economy.
Airbnb revolutionized the travel industry by connecting homeowners with travelers, focusing on unique experiences. Shopify provides the underlying software that allows businesses to sell products across various online and physical channels. While they serve different markets, both compete for growth-oriented capital in a changing economic landscape.
The case for Airbnb
Airbnb operates a massive global marketplace that connects over 5 million hosts with guests seeking unique accommodations. As a major player among consumer discretionary stocks, the company facilitates bookings in more than 220 countries and regions. The business relies on a two-sided network where high-quality listings attract guests, and the platform uses artificial intelligence to enhance customer service and fraud detection.
In its latest annual report, filed Feb. 12, 2026, the company showed significant financial progress. In FY 2025, revenue reached nearly $12.2 billion, which represented a growth rate of roughly 10.3% over the prior year. The company reported net income of approximately $2.5 billion for the period, resulting in a net margin of close to 21%.
As of its December 2025 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio, which compares total debt to shareholder equity, stood at approximately 0.3x. The so-called current ratio, which measures the ability to cover short-term debts with short-term assets, was roughly 1.4x. Free cash flow reached nearly $4.6 billion, though stock-based compensation represented roughly 34% of operating cash flow, which inflates reported cash generation since it is a non-cash expense.
The case for Shopify
Shopify provides the essential internet infrastructure for modern commerce through an all-in-one platform. It enables millions of merchants to sell across online stores, social media, and physical retail locations. The company offers both subscription-based services and merchant solutions, such as payment processing, serving a diverse customer base, with 44% of merchants located in the United States.
In FY 2025, revenue reached approximately $11.6 billion, indicating a robust growth rate of roughly 30%. While the company is focused on scaling its platform, it reported net income of more than $1.2 billion for the fiscal year. This resulted in a net margin of approximately 11%, reflecting the costs of its aggressive expansion and investments in merchant solutions.
As of its December 2025 balance sheet, Shopify reported a debt-to-equity ratio of zero, as total liabilities did not exceed shareholders' equity to the extent that traditional debt would be required. The so-called current ratio was exceptionally high at roughly 6x, suggesting a very strong liquidity position. Free cash flow for the year was slightly more than $2 billion, and stock-based compensation represented roughly 22% of operating cash flow, which also inflates reported cash generation.
Risk profile comparison
Airbnb faces significant risks from the shifting regulatory environment for short-term rentals, particularly as cities like New York implement restrictive legislation. The company is also involved in high-stakes tax litigation with the IRS regarding international intellectual property, with potential assessments exceeding $1.3 billion. Furthermore, it faces intense competition from established travel giants like Booking Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:BKNG) and Expedia Inc (NASDAQ:EXPE).
Shopify deals with legal risks involving class action lawsuits related to consumer data collection and intellectual property disputes in international markets. The company operates in a highly competitive software market, facing pressure from well-resourced technology companies like Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL). Additionally, Shopify is dependent on third-party cloud providers and faces reputational risks if merchants use the platform for illegal or fraudulent activities.
Valuation comparison
Airbnb appears to be the more conservatively valued option for investors based on both revenue and future earnings estimates. Here is how the two companies compare.
Forward P/E
31.5x
59.6x
P/S ratio
8.6x
14.3x
Valuation metrics sourced from Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) and may differ from other data providers.
Which stock would I buy in 2026?
Airbnb reported an excellent second-quarter fiscal 2026, rallying shares sharply over the past four weeks of trading. The business beat consensus revenue estimates by $100 million, reporting $3.6 billion in sales, up 17% from the same period in 2025, driven by a strong increase in booked nights. Foreign markets like India and Latin America, two markets in which Airbnb is seeking growth, were exceptionally strong.
The business is finding ways to expand its popular travel business, embracing features like buy now, pay later (BNPL) on reservations, a form of short-term lending. The network advantage of Airbnb's history, over 2 billion guest arrivals since 2008, and the lack of host presence on AI (meaning a competitor using AI has little data and information to scrape in order to form a competing product), give it a competitive moat.
For the full year, management expects sales of $14.1 billion with net income of $3.2 billion.
Shopify, meanwhile, is also coming off an excellent quarterly report, tallying third quarter fiscal 2026 of $3.58 billion, up 34% year over year. It's the business's third-ever quarter of more than $3 billion in revenue, a mark it first chalked up in 2025. It is interesting to note that the business is growing much faster than the retail industry it serves.
Shopify appears ready to benefit from the age of agentic AI merchandising, which is just getting off the ground. Shopify supports Google's UCP, designed to enable agentic AI commerce by allowing AI agents to interact with merchant systems throughout the shopping journey. That and other trends have management projecting low-30% annual revenue growth for the current year. Long-term, management aims to expand in Europe to drive additional growth.
So, which is the best tech-driven consumer services platform to buy? Here, we have to go with pricing, seeing as Airbnb has a more reasonable P/S and forward P/E ratios than Shopify. Buying a good business at a reasonable price is one way to ensure one's investment turns out profitable in the long haul.
Should you buy stock in Airbnb right now?
Before you buy stock in Airbnb, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Airbnb wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $421,997!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,413,876!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 978% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 213% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of September 7, 2026.
Brendan Coffey has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Airbnb, Alphabet, Booking Holdings, and Shopify. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Airbnb vs. Shopify: Which Consumer Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?

Key Points
Airbnb maintains a high net margin while expanding its global network of unique listings.
Spotify Technology recently achieved meaningful net income while growing its massive audio streaming user base.
Which of these digital marketplace leaders is the better pick for your portfolio?
Choosing between a travel powerhouse and an audio streaming leader involves balancing profitability and growth. Investors are asking whether Airbnb (NASDAQ:ABNB) or Spotify Technology (NYSE:SPOT) offers more value today.
Airbnb dominates the short-term rental market through its unique host network, while Spotify has evolved from a music platform into a diversified audio ecosystem. Both companies rely on digital marketplaces to scale efficiently. This comparison evaluates their financials and risks to help you decide which stock fits your strategy.
The case for Airbnb
In its latest annual report, filed for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, Airbnb explains how it operates an online marketplace connecting millions of hosts with guests. The company is a prominent player among consumer discretionary stocks, facilitating travel experiences in 220 countries and regions. Airbnb generates revenue primarily by charging service fees on bookings and continues to innovate with AI-powered customer support.
In FY 2025, revenue reached nearly $12.2 billion, representing a growth rate of approximately 10.3% compared to the previous year. The company reported net income of close to $2.5 billion, which resulted in a net margin of roughly 20.5%. Revenue growth continues to be driven by a recovery in international travel and increased host listings across almost every country across the globe.
Regarding the balance sheet, the December 2025 data shows a debt-to-equity ratio of approximately 0.3x, which measures total debt relative to shareholder equity. The current ratio, measuring a company's ability to pay short-term debts with short-term assets, was roughly 1.4x. Airbnb generated free cash flow of about $4.6 billion, though stock-based compensation represented roughly 34.3% of operating cash flow, which inflates reported cash generation since SBC is a non-cash expense.
The case for Spotify Technology
In its latest annual report, filed for the fiscal year 2025, Spotify highlights how it provides audio streaming for music and podcasts to 777 million users. The company offers both ad-supported and premium subscription tiers to its global audience, including over 300 million premium subscribers. By expanding into audiobooks and video podcasts, it aims to become a central hub for all digital audio content.
In FY 2025, revenue reached approximately $20.1 billion, a 9.7% increase over the previous fiscal period. Spotify achieved net income of close to $2.6 billion, a significant rise that led to a net margin of roughly 12.9%. The company has focused on controlling operating costs while steadily increasing its average revenue per user through price adjustments and new tier offerings.
As of its December 2025 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio was roughly 0.3x, showing a similar leverage profile to its peers. The current ratio stands at approximately 1.7x, suggesting the company maintains a healthy cushion of liquid assets. Spotify reported free cash flow of nearly $3.4 billion, which is the cash remaining after the business pays for its operations and capital investments.
Risk profile comparison
Airbnb faces a fragmented global regulatory landscape, including strict rules or bans in major cities. The company is also managing significant tax audits, including a $1.3 billion dispute with the U.S. IRS regarding international intellectual property valuation. Competitive pressure remains high from online travel agencies like Booking Holdings (NASDAQ:BKNG), which can impact market share and booking volume.
Spotify faces intense competition from large technology firms like Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) and Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) that offer competing audio services. The company must also manage the rising costs of licensing content from music labels and creators, which can pressure its net margin. Additionally, the business remains sensitive to broader economic trends that could affect consumer spending on monthly entertainment subscriptions.
Valuation comparison
Spotify currently offers a lower P/S ratio, though both companies trade at nearly identical Forward P/E multiples relative to their future earnings estimates.
Metric
Airbnb
Spotify Technology S.A.
Forward P/E
36.0x
36.9x
P/S ratio
9.2x
5.5x
Valuation metrics sourced from Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) and may differ from other data providers.
Which stock would I buy in 2026?
Spotify generates impressive revenue from its 777 million monthly active users, including 300 million Premium subscribers. Revenue, margins, and free cash flow have all been improving. However, Spotify operates in a highly competitive audio market, facing major rivals such as Apple and Amazon, as well as smaller music, podcast, and audiobook platforms. Its long-term success will depend on maintaining subscriber growth while preserving the royalty economics that shape its margins.
Airbnb has become a popular alternative to traditional hotels and has built a highly scalable, asset-light marketplace. Because it does not own most of the properties listed on its platform, the company can grow without the capital requirements of a hotel operator. That model has supported strong margins and free cash flow, while the company continues to expand both domestically and internationally. Airbnb still faces meaningful competition from Booking Holdings and other travel platforms, as well as a significant regulatory risk: Cities can restrict short-term rentals, limiting available listings in key markets.
Even with those risks, I would choose Airbnb. Its marketplace model, strong balance sheet, and durable free-cash-flow generation give it an attractive foundation for long-term compounding. Spotify's recent improvement is encouraging, but Airbnb appears to offer the more resilient combination of profitability, capital efficiency, and growth potential.
Should you buy stock in Airbnb right now?
Before you buy stock in Airbnb, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Airbnb wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $446,157!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,377,357!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 984% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 212% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of September 3, 2026.
Pamela Kock has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Airbnb, Amazon, Apple, Booking Holdings, and Spotify Technology. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Airbnb vs. Spotify Technology: Which Consumer Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the iShares MSCI USA Quality GARP ETF (Symbol: GARP) where we have detected an approximate $221.4 million dollar inflow -- that's a 7.4% increase week over week in outstanding units (from 35,700,000 to 38,350,000). Among the largest underlying components of GARP, in trading today Airbnb Inc (Symbol: ABNB) is up about 0.1%, Arista Networks Inc (Symbol: ANET) is off about 3%, and Royal Caribbean Group (Symbol: RCL) is lower by about 0.8%. For a complete list of holdings, visit the GARP Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of GARP, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, GARP's low point in its 52 week range is $61.025 per share, with $85.47 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $82.50. Comparing the most recent share price to the 200 day moving average can also be a useful technical analysis technique -- learn more about the 200 day moving average ».
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) trade just like stocks, but instead of ''shares'' investors are actually buying and selling ''units''. These ''units'' can be traded back and forth just like stocks, but can also be created or destroyed to accommodate investor demand. Each week we monitor the week-over-week change in shares outstanding data, to keep a lookout for those ETFs experiencing notable inflows (many new units created) or outflows (many old units destroyed). Creation of new units will mean the underlying holdings of the ETF need to be purchased, while destruction of units involves selling underlying holdings, so large flows can also impact the individual components held within ETFs.
Further GARP Research:

Airbnb, Inc.

Sign up and unlock all the capabilities of the AI-screener