Use The Airbnb Stock Implosion to Your Advantage

Digital lodging platform Airbnb NASDAQ: ABNB shares took a plunge on its Q3 2022 earnings release as the forward guidance was tepid. The Company was “born” in 2007, as a digital booking and home rental platform connecting hosts with guests to rent out their property for days to weeks at a time. It’s an asset-light business model very much like Uber NYSE: UBER, Door Dash NYSE: DASH, and Lyft NASDAQ: LYFT where Airbnb plays the role of the middleman connecting both sides and taking a commission on the transaction. Unlike Uber and LYFT, Airbnb is actually profitable on a GAAP basis. It joins the ranks of other travel hosting services including Booking.com NASDAQ: BKNG, Expedia NYSE: EXPE, and TripAdvisor NASDAQ: TRIP. Airbnb has made a stunning recovery into the black and in GAAP form since 2021. The Company felt the sting of a strong U.S. dollar, but still remained firmly profitable. However, the U.S. dollar impacts are expected to continue to be a headwind in the near-term future with impacts to its ADR starting in Q4. So far, the effects of higher inflation and waning consumer discretionary spending haven’t had an impact on earnings.

Recessions Bolster New Host Growth

Airbnb was born during the 2007 housing bubble. The Company noted how its New Hosts on Airbnb was growing rapidly just as in the 2008 recession as homeowners become more eager for additional income. It’s important to note that its hosting supply rises during weaker economic times mean more inventory at virtually no cost to the Company. Airbnb is rolling out an “all-new, super easy way for millions of people to Airbnb their homes” in a 2022 Winter Release.

A Look at the Numbers

On Nov. 1, 2022, Airbnb released its fiscal third-quarter 2022 results for the quarter ending Sept 2022. The Company reported a GAAP earnings-per-share (EPS) profit of $1.79 excluding non-recurring items versus consensus analyst estimates for a profit of $1.50, beating estimates by $0.29. Net income of $1.2 billion was improved by 31% YoY with a 42% margin, up from 37%. Revenues rose 28.9% year-over-year (YOY) to $2.88 billion beating analyst estimates for $2.85 billion. Nights and Experiences booked rose 25% YoY to 100 million. Gross booking value (GBV) rose to $15.6 billion, up 31% YoY. Adjusted EBITDA grew 32% YoY $1.5 billion.

A Sign of Normalization to Come?

Airbnb noted that one month into its current Q4 2022, the Company has seen cancellations stabilize, renewed interest in urban stays, and a strong backlog of future bookings. They provided Q4 2022 revenue guidance to come in between $1.80 to $1.88 billion versus $1.86 billion consensus analyst estimates. Nights and Experiences booked growth to “moderate slightly” relative to Q3. This is the part that spooked investors and caused shares to collapse post-market.

Are Investors Paranoid?

Although this was a record quarter, investors fear the good times may already be turning. The slight slowdown in bookings using the phrase “moderate slightly from Q3” spooked investors that took it as a sign that the next quarter might be the tipping point for normalization to trigger. However, Airbnb claims it’s just up against tough year-over-year comparisons for Q4, and that they haven’t noticed a material change in consumer spending as demand remains strong. They also stated that new tailwinds such as long-term stays and non-urban travel are “here to stay” stemming from the flexibility of remote work and the elastic office. Most importantly, they saw the recovery of both urban and cross-border travel, which comprised the majority of its business pre-pandemic. Guests are continuing to stay longer (28 days and more), which makes up 20% of total gross nights booked. Are investors overreacting to the possibility of normalization? As long as shares stay above the $100 level, the market believes so.

Here’s What the Chart Says About ABNB Stock

The weekly downtrend on ABNB triggered on the neckline breakdown of the head-and-shoulders (HS) pattern through $141.50 in May 2022. This caused the weekly 20-period exponential moving average (EMA) to fall creating a widening channel away from the weekly 50-period MA, which are now at $113.45 and $133.46, respectively. Both MAs are upside resistances that are still falling. ABNB shares collapsed on earnings to hit a low of $91.27 on very heavy selling volume indicating potential capitulation. Shares managed to rally the following week propelled by the weekly market structure low (MSL) buy trigger on the breakout through $97.69. The upside-falling channel resistance sits just above the weekly 20-period MA around $116.35. Key pullback supports levels to watch sit at the $97.69 weekly MSL trigger, $91.27 post-earnings low, $86.75 swing low, $80.57, $75.43, and $67.64 wish list price level.