Expedia Raises Full-Year Bookings and Revenue Forecast
The travel company lifted its annual outlook while moderating its fourth-quarter revenue forecast amid geopolitical and election-related uncertainty.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Economic Indicators
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Expedia Group raised its full-year gross bookings forecast to $131.4 billion to $131.9 billion and its annual revenue forecast to $16.37 billion to $16.43 billion. The company also reported third-quarter adjusted profit of $9.39 per share, ahead of Wall Street estimates.
Why it matters
The raised outlook reflects steady demand for international travel despite persistent inflation and affluent consumer spending. A more cautious fourth-quarter revenue forecast signals that the company sees near-term pressure from political and geopolitical events.
Expedia's new annual gross bookings forecast of $131.4 billion to $131.9 billion exceeds the prior range of $129.5 billion to $130.8 billion and analysts' average expectation of $130.22 billion. Third-quarter revenue rose about 12% to $4.94 billion, but the fourth-quarter revenue midpoint of about $3.72 billion sits below the $3.74 billion analyst estimate.
The players
Expedia Group
Expedia Group is a Seattle-headquartered online travel company that operates booking platforms for lodging, flights, and vacation packages worldwide.
Booking Holdings
Booking Holdings is a major online travel company that owns Booking.com and other travel brands and is a principal competitor to Expedia.
The details
Expedia Group reported third-quarter revenue up about 12% to $4.94 billion and adjusted profit of $9.39 per share. The company attributed a moderated fourth-quarter forecast to the US midterm elections and unrest in the Middle East and Europe, while Booking Holdings separately cited travel disruptions and elevated airfares.
Timeline
September 30, 2026: Expedia's third quarter ended.
November 3, 2026: Booking Holdings reported travel disruption impacts.
November 4, 2026: Expedia raised its full-year forecasts.
Fourth quarter 2026: Expedia's forecast period for revenue of $3.69 billion to $3.75 billion.
Market Dynamics
Expedia's guidance echoes the travel disruptions and elevated airfares that Booking Holdings cited in its own recent results. Together, the two companies' outlooks suggest that the Middle East conflict and higher airfares are weighing on the sector even as underlying international travel demand holds up.
Investors tracking online travel stocks may see the raised annual outlook as a signal of resilient demand, but the softer fourth-quarter revenue midpoint is a reminder that near-term guidance remains sensitive to events. Shareholders should weigh the upgraded full-year numbers against the cautious near-term commentary before adjusting positions.
The takeaway
Strong full-year guidance can coexist with a cautious quarter-ahead outlook, so the two numbers are worth reading together rather than in isolation. Watching how airfares and regional disruptions evolve will help gauge whether travel demand holds through the end of the year.
What happens next
Expedia's fourth-quarter results are the next scheduled checkpoint against the revenue forecast of $3.69 billion to $3.75 billion.
Further reading
For broader context on the macroeconomic data behind travel demand, explore Economic Indicators.
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