Airbnb Stock Moves Higher As Q4 Sales Top Estimates, Deutsche Bank Lifts Rating To Buy

Airbnb Inc (NASDAQ:ABNB) is trading higher Friday amid a notable analyst upgrade following better‑than‑expected fourth‑quarter revenue and upbeat quarter-one guidance.

• Airbnb stock is showing exceptional strength. Why is ABNB stock surging?

What Are The Numbers Showing?

Airbnb reported earnings of 56 cents per share, missing the 65‑cent estimate, but revenue came in strong at $2.78 billion, topping the $2.72 billion consensus.

Gross booking value reached $20.4 billion, up 13% from last year, while nights and experiences booked rose 10% to 121.9 million — a sign that underlying demand remains solid despite the earnings miss.

For the first quarter, Airbnb guided for revenue between $2.59 billion and $2.63 billion, comfortably above the Street's $2.53 billion estimate.

Deutsche Bank Upgrade Adds Fuel To The Rally

Deutsche Bank's Lee Horowitz upgraded Airbnb from Hold to Buy and raised his price target to $154 from $128, implying roughly 33% upside, according to CNBC.

The analyst highlighted two newer initiatives that are already showing up in the numbers: Airbnb's Reserve Now Pay Later (RNPL) option and its simplified host fee structure. Together, those changes added more than 200 basis points of growth in the quarter and are expected to remain a tailwind into 2026.

Horowitz also pointed to a healthy product pipeline heading into 2026 and 2027, including growth in Airbnb's hotel business, AI‑driven search improvements that boost conversion, smarter host pricing tools and longer‑term opportunities in Sponsored Ads and Experiences.

Horowitz acknowledged that Airbnb isn't immune to AI disruption but argued the company is better insulated than many peers because of its fragmented supply base.

ABNB Price Action: Airbnb shares were up 3.81% at $120.31 at the time of publication on Friday, according to Benzinga Pro.

Image: Boumen Japet/Shutterstock