Airbnb shares jumped 17.4% on Friday, closing at their highest level in more than four years following a strong second-quarter earnings report.
The home-sharing platform posted revenue of $3.61 billion, reflecting 17% growth year-over-year, which topped analyst estimates of $3.58 billion.
On a currency-neutral basis, revenue growth came in at 13%, demonstrating solid underlying demand even against foreign exchange headwinds.
Nights and experiences booked, the company’s core growth metric, rose 10% to 148.3 million, signaling continued momentum in travel demand across its platform.
Gross booking value climbed 16% to $27.2 billion, suggesting guests are paying higher prices on average for their stays.
Adjusted EBITDA rose 21% to $1.3 billion, with the adjusted EBITDA margin expanding to 35%, reflecting improving operational efficiency across the business.
GAAP earnings per share increased from $1.03 to $1.37, beating the consensus estimate of $1.22 and benefiting from revenue growth, margin expansion, and share buybacks.
For the full year, Airbnb now expects mid-teens revenue growth and an adjusted EBITDA margin of at least 35.5%, an upgrade from prior guidance that investors welcomed.
Third-quarter revenue guidance of $4.69 billion to $4.77 billion also came in ahead of the $4.61 billion consensus, adding further fuel to the post-earnings rally.
Beyond the headline numbers, Airbnb is expanding what its platform can do for travelers, moving well beyond its home-sharing roots.
The company’s AI assistant now resolves nearly 45% of customer issues without human intervention, and Airbnb plans to introduce an AI voice assistant later this year to handle phone-based support.
Airbnb has been partnering with boutique and independent hotels to broaden its inventory, targeting customers who do not typically book home-sharing properties.
New services added to the platform include car rentals, airport pickups, luggage storage, and grocery delivery, positioning Airbnb as a more comprehensive travel solution.
The FIFA World Cup provided a meaningful boost during the quarter, with more than 150,000 homes across host cities listed on Airbnb for the first time, and the company says it is building a repeatable playbook for major global events.
CEO Brian Chesky’s push to expand beyond the core business appears to be gaining traction, and broader geopolitical disruptions such as the war in Iran have not visibly slowed the company’s growth trajectory.
