Daily newsletter · Fri 6 Nov 2026
Airbnb grew revenue 19% and authorised another US$12 billion of buybacks
Airbnb reported revenue of US$4.87 billion for the September quarter, up 19% on a year earlier. Analysts had expected about US$4.75 billion. Earnings came in at US$3.16 a share against the US$2.85 forecast.
That 19% is the fastest Airbnb has grown in more than three years. Revenue grew 10% in the same quarter last year. Guests booked 155 million nights and seats, up 16%, and the value of those bookings rose 21% to US$27.7 billion.
Margins went with it. Adjusted earnings before interest, tax and depreciation, a rough measure of operating profit, reached US$2.51 billion. That is 52% of revenue, up from 50% a year earlier. Net income rose 38% to US$1.89 billion.
The forecast did the rest. Airbnb now expects full-year revenue growth in the high teens, up from the mid-teens or better it had been guiding to. December-quarter revenue is guided to between US$3.22 billion and US$3.28 billion.
The share price told two stories. Airbnb fell about 3.5% during the session as the market sold everything, then rose about 10% once the numbers were out.
the average nightly rate rose 4% to US$179, so part of that 19% is price rather than more guests. I'd want to see nights and seats still growing at 16% next year, when the comparisons get harder.
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