Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ: ABNB) reported third-quarter revenue of $4.87 billion on November 5, up 19% from a year earlier and its fastest growth in more than three years, and raised its full-year 2026 forecast as bookings picked up across every region.
Revenue came in above the $4.75 billion analysts had expected, according to LSEG data, and earnings per share also topped estimates. The San Francisco-based company now expects 2026 revenue growth in the high teens, up from at least the mid-teens, its third increase to full-year guidance.
The forecast stands apart from the wider travel industry. Online travel agencies Booking Holdings and Expedia have been cautious about the fourth quarter due to higher airfares linked to the Iran war and unrest in parts of Europe. Airbnb shares rose more than 10% on Friday, the day after the results.
"It's rare for a marketplace of our size to reaccelerate growth, but that's exactly what we're doing," co-founder and Chief Executive Brian Chesky told analysts on a conference call.
#Airbnb Nights Booked Rise 16% as Every Region Grows by Double Digits
Nights and Seats Booked, which counts stays plus seats on services and experiences, rose 16% to 155 million, up from 10% growth in the second quarter. Gross booking value, the total value of bookings on the platform, rose 21% to $27.7 billion, helped by a 4% rise in the average daily rate to $179.
North America grew at a low-double-digit rate, which the company said was its highest growth in four years, while EMEA grew in the mid-teens and Latin America and Asia Pacific each grew more than 20%. First-time bookers rose 13%, the highest rate since early 2022.
Airbnb runs an online marketplace where hosts list homes, experiences and services for travelers. The company says it has more than 5.5 million hosts worldwide.
Net income rose 38% to $1.89 billion, or $3.16 per diluted share, from $1.37 billion a year earlier. Part of the gain came from a lower tax charge, as the year-earlier quarter included a $213 million valuation allowance on tax credits. Adjusted EBITDA rose 22% to $2.51 billion, lifting its margin to 52% from 50%.
The implied take rate, revenue divided by gross booking value, fell to 17.6% from a year earlier. The company attributed the drop mainly to Reserve Now, Pay Later, an option that lets guests book early and pay closer to their stay, which adds to booking value before revenue is recorded.
#Airbnb Adds $12 Billion Buyback and Plans AI Agent Rollout in 2027
Airbnb authorized the repurchase of up to an additional $12 billion of its Class A stock, on top of $2.7 billion remaining under its earlier program at the end of September. It bought back $700 million of shares in the quarter and generated free cash flow of $1.43 billion.
The company said AI is helping lower costs. About 40% of customer support issues were resolved without a human agent in the quarter, up from a third in the second quarter, and support cost per booking fell more than 17%. Airbnb plans to start rolling out its own AI trip-planning agent to guests in the first half of 2027.
"Airbnb is back in growth mode, and it's here to stay," Chesky said at the end of the call.
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#Airbnb Forecasts Fourth-Quarter Revenue of Up to $3.28 Billion
For the fourth quarter, Airbnb expects revenue of $3.22 billion to $3.28 billion, or growth of 16% to 18%, including about two percentage points of benefit from currency moves. It expects booking value growth in the mid-teens and an adjusted EBITDA margin slightly below last year's, partly due to the timing of marketing spending.
The company said underlying global travel demand remains healthy but that it is closely monitoring developments in EMEA. Chief Financial Officer Ellie Mertz said Airbnb does not expect a material impact this quarter from unrest in France or the conflict in the Middle East, but is watching both regions.
Supply is also growing more slowly than demand. Active listings rose at a high-single-digit rate, in line with recent quarters, and Airbnb said it is focusing new supply on markets where demand is strongest.
For the full year, Airbnb expects revenue growth in the high teens and an adjusted EBITDA margin of about 36%, though developments in EMEA, regulation that could limit hosts' listings and broader economic conditions remain key risks to the outlook.