BTIG Keeps Buy Rating on TripAdvisor with $15 Price Target
BTIG keeps a Buy rating on TripAdvisor (TRIP) with a $15 price target after the company announced a deal to sell TheFork to American Express (AXP) for $700M. This equates to $4.60 per share to TripAdvisor after taxes, the analyst tells investors in a research note. BTIG says the deal values TheFork at 18times 2026 EBITDA, modestly above its estimated valuation of $635M. While the remainder of TripAdvisor includes the "struggling" metasearch business, the company still retains Viator, and commentary in the today's release suggests the company is not exploring alternatives for the unit, adds the firm. BTIG sees the sale of TheFork as a plus, saying it unlocks hidden value. However, talk of using the proceeds to fund ongoing investment in the experiences business could be an area of investor pushback as it suggests no plans to explore options at this point for Viator, the firm contends. TripAdvisor in morning trading is up 9% to $13.49.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Analyst Views on TRIP
About TRIP
About the author

- Price Target Increase: DA Davidson raised Tripadvisor's price target from $10.50 to $15.50, implying a 23% upside from the last close, indicating market optimism regarding the company's future growth prospects.
- Enhanced Flexibility: The $700 million sale of TheFork provides Tripadvisor with cash that enhances its flexibility for shareholder returns and growth investments, further solidifying the investment case for its core operations.
- Value Unlocked: BTIG maintained a 'Buy' rating on Tripadvisor, asserting that the sale of TheFork reveals value not fully reflected in Tripadvisor's stock, estimating a per-share value of approximately $4.60, which underscores market recognition of its future potential.
- Bullish Retail Sentiment: On Stocktwits, retail sentiment around Tripadvisor remains in 'bullish' territory, with a 2600% increase in message volume over the last 24 hours, reflecting investor expectations for potential management actions like share buybacks.
- Strong Market Performance: The S&P 500 rose by 1.67% and the Nasdaq 100 by 2.79%, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average hitting a new record high, reflecting optimistic market sentiment driven primarily by gains in technology stocks.
- Crude Oil Price Plunge: WTI crude oil prices fell over 5% to a three-month low due to the US-Iran peace agreement and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, easing inflation expectations and providing support for equity markets.
- Weak Economic Data: The US June Empire Manufacturing Index dropped to 5.7, below the expected 13.7, while May manufacturing production remained unchanged, and the June NAHB housing market index unexpectedly fell to 35, indicating fragility in the economic recovery that could impact future market confidence.
- Tech Stocks Lead Gains: Chipmakers and AI infrastructure stocks surged, with the iShares Semiconductor ETF up over 4% and Western Digital soaring more than 14%, demonstrating strong market confidence in the tech sector, particularly amid rising risk appetite.
- Oil Price Decline Impact: The memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran has led to a significant drop in oil prices, improving the inflation outlook and driving bond yields lower, which provides a favorable backdrop for Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh's first policy meeting, potentially allowing him to avoid a hawkish stance.
- Market Optimism: The Nasdaq's 3% rise reflects market optimism regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz; if oil exports resume, it could further lower crude prices, influencing future inflation and interest rate trajectories.
- Successful SpaceX IPO: SpaceX's initial public offering performed well, alleviating concerns about an oversupply of new stocks, thereby boosting investor confidence in the market's ability to absorb new capital, especially as geopolitical tensions ease.
- Potential Housing Market Recovery: With declining oil prices and bond yields, the housing market may see a revival, as interest rates significantly impact the homebuying process; stocks like Home Depot are gaining attention, although investors remain cautious about a rebound in the housing sector.
- SpaceX IPO Performance: SpaceX shares surged 19% on their Nasdaq debut from the IPO price of $135 per share and gained an additional 9% on the second day, reflecting strong investor confidence and raising a total of $85.7 billion, including the underwriters' greenshoe overallotment.
- Ferrari Stock Upgrade: Morgan Stanley upgraded Ferrari from equal weight to overweight with a price target of $438, resulting in a 5% stock increase, as analysts noted that the brand's decline over the past year was due to value compression rather than earnings deterioration, indicating sustained demand for its luxury models.
- Tripadvisor Strategic Sale: Tripadvisor's stock rose nearly 7% following the announcement of the sale of its European online restaurant reservation platform, The Fork, to American Express, a move driven by activist investor Starboard's push for strategic options to enhance overall company value.
- Energy Stocks Decline: Energy stocks fell sharply as U.S. oil prices dropped 5% to around $80 per barrel due to a U.S.-Iran deal, with shares of APA, Devon Energy, Marathon Petroleum, and EOG Resources all declining, reflecting market concerns about the energy sector's outlook.
- Strong Market Performance: The S&P 500 index rose by 1.62%, the Nasdaq 100 increased by 2.73%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average reached a new high, reflecting investor optimism about market prospects, particularly driven by gains in technology stocks.
- Impact of Plummeting Oil Prices: WTI crude oil prices fell over 5% to a three-month low, easing inflation expectations and pushing global bond yields lower, which provided support for the stock market, especially benefiting airline and mining stocks.
- Weak Economic Data: The US June Empire manufacturing index dropped to 5.7, below the expected 13.7, indicating signs of economic slowdown; however, the market remains optimistic about future economic recovery.
- Tech Stocks Lead Gains: Chipmakers and AI infrastructure stocks performed strongly, with the iShares Semiconductor ETF up over 4% and Western Digital soaring more than 15%, indicating a robust recovery in the tech sector and an increase in investor risk appetite.
- Futures Surge: Stocks futures are rising over 2% after the US and Iran reached a memorandum of understanding to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, indicating a positive market sentiment towards reduced geopolitical risks and potentially stimulating investor interest in related sectors.
- SpaceX IPO Performance: Following Friday's record-breaking IPO, SpaceX shares are up over 5% in premarket trading, reflecting market confidence in its future growth potential, while analysts' upgrades for Rocket Lab and FireFly indicate optimism in the space economy.
- Fox Acquires Roku: Fox Corporation announced plans to acquire Roku in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $25 billion; despite Roku's stock soaring 20% on acquisition news, Fox shares are selling off, highlighting differing investor perspectives on the transaction.
- AmEx Buys TheFork: American Express announced it will acquire TheFork, an online restaurant reservation platform, for $700 million, further strengthening its position in the European dining management market and demonstrating the company's ongoing commitment to diversifying its business portfolio.










