Barry Diller's $1.4B Expedia Acquisition Driven by Long-Term Vision
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 06 2026
0mins
Should l Buy IAC?
Source: CNBC
- Leadership Philosophy: Media mogul Barry Diller asserts that even successful executives often start without sufficient competence, advocating for 'faking it' to seize opportunities and avoid the pitfalls of overthinking, which can lead to missed chances.
- Creative Conflict: Diller emphasizes that passionate debates around an idea, termed 'creative conflict', can lead to optimal decisions, warning that cynicism can stifle this creativity, thus he encourages maintaining an open mindset and listening to diverse perspectives.
- Secret to Execution: He points out that great ideas often stall due to insufficient push, highlighting 'blind willfulness' as crucial for turning ideas into reality, where leaders must fully commit and overcome obstacles to achieve their goals.
- Long-Term Belief: Following 9/11, despite a collapse in air travel, Diller proceeded with a $1.4 billion acquisition of Expedia in 2001, driven by a belief in the long-term potential of the travel industry, showcasing his commitment to investing during crises.
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Analyst Views on IAC
Wall Street analysts forecast IAC stock price to rise
9 Analyst Rating
7 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 34.850
Low
39.00
Averages
48.11
High
60.00
Current: 34.850
Low
39.00
Averages
48.11
High
60.00
About IAC
IAC Inc. is engaged in building companies. The Company's segments include Dotdash Meredith, Care.com, Search, and Emerging & Other. Its Dotdash Meredith segment consists of its digital and print businesses. Through its digital businesses, it provides original and engaging digital content in a variety of formats, including articles, illustrations, videos, and images. Its print business is a magazine publisher, which has published over 18 magazines, as well as 370 special interest publications. Its Search segment consists of Ask Media Group, a collection of Websites providing general search services and information, and a Desktop business, which includes business-to-business partnership operations and direct-to-consumer downloadable desktop applications. Its Care.com primarily provides online consumer matching and consumer payment solutions for families searching for care, among others. Its Emerging & Other segment includes Vivian Health, The Daily Beast and IAC Films.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
IAC Inc. Reports Strong Q4 2025 Earnings with Strategic Focus
- Digital Revenue Growth: IAC achieved a 14% increase in digital revenue in Q4 2025, with advertising revenue rising 9% despite a 13% decline in core sessions, demonstrating the company's robust performance amid AI disruptions and enhancing its market competitiveness.
- Share Buyback Plan: IAC plans to repurchase $337 million worth of shares in 2026, reducing its share count by 10%, indicating confidence in its intrinsic value and a commitment to evaluating buyback opportunities to enhance shareholder returns.
- Strategic Transformation: The company aims to invert traditional content businesses into entirely new consumer ventures, launching new products like Southern Tea, Food & Wine, and Travel & Leisure, with the goal of diversifying its business through unique sales methods.
- Annual Guidance Adjustment: IAC is shifting from quarterly to annual guidance, expecting mid- to high single-digit growth in digital revenue and adjusted EBITDA for People Inc., reflecting a focus on long-term value creation.
See More
IAC Reports Q4 Earnings with Mixed Results and 2026 Outlook
- Earnings Performance: IAC's Q4 GAAP EPS of -$0.99 missed expectations by $1.70, indicating challenges in profitability; however, revenue of $646 million, down 10.5% year-over-year, beat estimates by $4.99 million, suggesting some resilience in revenue generation.
- 2026 Outlook: People Inc. expects digital revenue and Digital Adjusted EBITDA to grow in the mid-to-high single digits in 2026, although corporate expenses are projected to exceed Print Adjusted EBITDA by $15 million due to estimated Google litigation costs, indicating future financial pressures.
- Care.com Recovery: Care.com is expected to return to revenue growth in 2026, suggesting a rebound in market demand in this segment, which could positively impact overall performance.
- Search Business Uncertainty: The future of IAC's search business remains uncertain due to disruptions in the search ecosystem and potential changes to Google contracts, which may affect the company's long-term strategy and market positioning.
See More
IAC Releases Fourth Quarter 2025 Financial Results
- Financial Results Release: On February 3, 2026, IAC published its fourth quarter financial results on its investor relations website, reflecting the company's operational performance and financial health over the past quarter.
- Conference Call Scheduled: IAC will host a conference call on February 4, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. EST, where company executives will discuss the financial results and answer investor questions, enhancing transparency and investor confidence.
- Executive Participation: The call will feature Barry Diller, Chairman and Senior Executive of IAC, Christopher Halpin, COO and CFO, and Neil Vogel, CEO of People Inc., ensuring investors receive comprehensive information.
- Company Background: Founded nearly three decades ago, IAC has evolved into 10 independent publicly traded companies and holds strategic equity positions in MGM Resorts International and Turo Inc., demonstrating its ongoing commitment to diversified investments and innovation.
See More
IAC Announces Fourth Quarter Financial Results for 2025
- Financial Results Release: IAC posted its fourth quarter financial results on February 3, 2026, available on its investor relations website, demonstrating the company's commitment to financial transparency.
- Conference Call Scheduled: The company will host a conference call on February 4, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. EST, where IAC executives will discuss the financial results and answer investor questions, enhancing engagement with stakeholders.
- Executive Participation: The call will feature Barry Diller, Chairman, and other executives, indicating the leadership's focus on financial performance and investor relations.
- Company Background: Founded nearly three decades ago, IAC has evolved into a conglomerate with 10 independent publicly traded companies, showcasing its ongoing ability to innovate and acquire new products and brands, reflecting its leadership position in the market.
See More
Major Earnings Reports Expected After Tuesday's Close
- Earnings Preview: Major earnings reports are expected after Tuesday's close from companies like Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Super Micro Computer (SMCI), and Amgen (AMGN), which will provide crucial performance data for investors and impact market sentiment.
- Industry Diversity: In addition to large tech firms, other companies such as Enphase Energy (ENPH) and Lumen Technologies (LUMN) are also set to report earnings, indicating that financial performances across various sectors will be under scrutiny, potentially influencing trading strategies for related stocks.
- Market Reaction: Investors will closely monitor the results of these earnings, particularly from industry leaders like AMD and Amgen, as their performances could trigger market volatility and affect overall investment confidence.
- Comprehensive Earnings Calendar: Seeking Alpha offers a full earnings season calendar, allowing investors to access more information to better navigate market dynamics.
See More
U.S. Parents Face Caregiving Crisis as Stress Peaks
- Escalating Care Pressure: The 2026 Cost of Care Report from Care.com reveals that 90% of parents suffer from sleep loss due to caregiving challenges, with 89% feeling burnt out and 88% sacrificing other life goals, indicating the profound impact of care demands on family life.
- Mental Health Crisis: The report highlights that 54% of parents have discussed caregiving challenges with a therapist, and 34% have considered suicide or self-harm, a 5% increase from last year, reflecting the severe threat caregiving pressure poses to mental health and the potential for more parents to exit the workforce.
- Heavy Financial Burden: Parents report spending an average of 20% of their annual income on child care, with 78% of families spending over 10% of their household income on child care, and 20% of families exceeding $30,000 annually, showcasing the significant financial strain caregiving costs impose on families.
- Mothers Bear Greater Burden: Data shows that 60% of mothers feel overwhelmed by balancing care and career, compared to 42% of fathers, and 85% of mothers focus almost every waking hour on others, reflecting the greater emotional and career impact on mothers in caregiving responsibilities.
See More
IAC Inc. Reports Strong Q4 2025 Earnings with Strategic Focus
- Digital Revenue Growth: IAC achieved a 14% increase in digital revenue in Q4 2025, with advertising revenue rising 9% despite a 13% decline in core sessions, demonstrating the company's robust performance amid AI disruptions and enhancing its market competitiveness.
- Share Buyback Plan: IAC plans to repurchase $337 million worth of shares in 2026, reducing its share count by 10%, indicating confidence in its intrinsic value and a commitment to evaluating buyback opportunities to enhance shareholder returns.
- Strategic Transformation: The company aims to invert traditional content businesses into entirely new consumer ventures, launching new products like Southern Tea, Food & Wine, and Travel & Leisure, with the goal of diversifying its business through unique sales methods.
- Annual Guidance Adjustment: IAC is shifting from quarterly to annual guidance, expecting mid- to high single-digit growth in digital revenue and adjusted EBITDA for People Inc., reflecting a focus on long-term value creation.
See More
IAC Reports Q4 Earnings with Mixed Results and 2026 Outlook
- Earnings Performance: IAC's Q4 GAAP EPS of -$0.99 missed expectations by $1.70, indicating challenges in profitability; however, revenue of $646 million, down 10.5% year-over-year, beat estimates by $4.99 million, suggesting some resilience in revenue generation.
- 2026 Outlook: People Inc. expects digital revenue and Digital Adjusted EBITDA to grow in the mid-to-high single digits in 2026, although corporate expenses are projected to exceed Print Adjusted EBITDA by $15 million due to estimated Google litigation costs, indicating future financial pressures.
- Care.com Recovery: Care.com is expected to return to revenue growth in 2026, suggesting a rebound in market demand in this segment, which could positively impact overall performance.
- Search Business Uncertainty: The future of IAC's search business remains uncertain due to disruptions in the search ecosystem and potential changes to Google contracts, which may affect the company's long-term strategy and market positioning.
See More
IAC Releases Fourth Quarter 2025 Financial Results
- Financial Results Release: On February 3, 2026, IAC published its fourth quarter financial results on its investor relations website, reflecting the company's operational performance and financial health over the past quarter.
- Conference Call Scheduled: IAC will host a conference call on February 4, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. EST, where company executives will discuss the financial results and answer investor questions, enhancing transparency and investor confidence.
- Executive Participation: The call will feature Barry Diller, Chairman and Senior Executive of IAC, Christopher Halpin, COO and CFO, and Neil Vogel, CEO of People Inc., ensuring investors receive comprehensive information.
- Company Background: Founded nearly three decades ago, IAC has evolved into 10 independent publicly traded companies and holds strategic equity positions in MGM Resorts International and Turo Inc., demonstrating its ongoing commitment to diversified investments and innovation.
See More
IAC Announces Fourth Quarter Financial Results for 2025
- Financial Results Release: IAC posted its fourth quarter financial results on February 3, 2026, available on its investor relations website, demonstrating the company's commitment to financial transparency.
- Conference Call Scheduled: The company will host a conference call on February 4, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. EST, where IAC executives will discuss the financial results and answer investor questions, enhancing engagement with stakeholders.
- Executive Participation: The call will feature Barry Diller, Chairman, and other executives, indicating the leadership's focus on financial performance and investor relations.
- Company Background: Founded nearly three decades ago, IAC has evolved into a conglomerate with 10 independent publicly traded companies, showcasing its ongoing ability to innovate and acquire new products and brands, reflecting its leadership position in the market.
See More
Major Earnings Reports Expected After Tuesday's Close
- Earnings Preview: Major earnings reports are expected after Tuesday's close from companies like Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Super Micro Computer (SMCI), and Amgen (AMGN), which will provide crucial performance data for investors and impact market sentiment.
- Industry Diversity: In addition to large tech firms, other companies such as Enphase Energy (ENPH) and Lumen Technologies (LUMN) are also set to report earnings, indicating that financial performances across various sectors will be under scrutiny, potentially influencing trading strategies for related stocks.
- Market Reaction: Investors will closely monitor the results of these earnings, particularly from industry leaders like AMD and Amgen, as their performances could trigger market volatility and affect overall investment confidence.
- Comprehensive Earnings Calendar: Seeking Alpha offers a full earnings season calendar, allowing investors to access more information to better navigate market dynamics.
See More
U.S. Parents Face Caregiving Crisis as Stress Peaks
- Escalating Care Pressure: The 2026 Cost of Care Report from Care.com reveals that 90% of parents suffer from sleep loss due to caregiving challenges, with 89% feeling burnt out and 88% sacrificing other life goals, indicating the profound impact of care demands on family life.
- Mental Health Crisis: The report highlights that 54% of parents have discussed caregiving challenges with a therapist, and 34% have considered suicide or self-harm, a 5% increase from last year, reflecting the severe threat caregiving pressure poses to mental health and the potential for more parents to exit the workforce.
- Heavy Financial Burden: Parents report spending an average of 20% of their annual income on child care, with 78% of families spending over 10% of their household income on child care, and 20% of families exceeding $30,000 annually, showcasing the significant financial strain caregiving costs impose on families.
- Mothers Bear Greater Burden: Data shows that 60% of mothers feel overwhelmed by balancing care and career, compared to 42% of fathers, and 85% of mothers focus almost every waking hour on others, reflecting the greater emotional and career impact on mothers in caregiving responsibilities.
See More
