Gen Z is Redefining Luxury — Will KLXY and FINE ETFs Adapt?
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Sep 20 2025
0mins
Should l Buy IHG?
Source: Benzinga
Gen Z's Impact on Luxury: Gen Z is reshaping the luxury market by prioritizing sustainability, digital culture, and affordable prestige over traditional logos and heritage brands, as highlighted by a Reuters survey.
ETF Performance Comparison: The KraneShares Global Luxury Index ETF (KLXY) has shown better performance with an 11.5% return since its September 2023 debut, while the Themes European Luxury ETF (FINE) has remained flat and lost 3.6% over the past year, indicating KLXY's broader appeal to Gen Z's preferences.
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Analyst Views on IHG
Wall Street analysts forecast IHG stock price to fall
1 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 145.730
Low
135.00
Averages
135.00
High
135.00
Current: 145.730
Low
135.00
Averages
135.00
High
135.00
About IHG
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is a United Kingdom-based global hospitality company. The Company has a diverse portfolio of differentiated brands. With 20 hotel brands and IHG One Rewards, which is a hotel loyalty program, the Company has approximately 6,600 open hotels in more than 100 countries, and a development pipeline of over 2,200 properties. The Company’s brands include Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, Regent Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Vignette Collection, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo, voco hotels, HUALUXE Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, EVEN Hotels, Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts, Garner hotels, avid hotels, Atwell Suites, Staybridge Suites, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Candlewood Suites, Iberostar Beachfront Resorts, and Ruby. Ruby brand operates approximately 20 hotels (3,483 rooms) in cities across Europe and has another 10 pipeline hotels (2,235 rooms).
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.
CarMax's CEO Change Sparks 12% Stock Drop
- CEO Transition Impact: CarMax's announcement of replacing interim CEO David McCreight with Keith Barr resulted in a 12% drop in stock price during midday trading, reflecting strong investor dissatisfaction with the leadership change.
- Leadership Background: New CEO Barr, coming from the hotel industry, is described by CarMax as a 'proven leader' capable of driving transformational growth and operational excellence; however, his non-automotive background may raise concerns among investors.
- Sales Decline Challenge: With three consecutive years of declining sales, the board seems to believe a transformation is necessary to improve the company's image, yet investors are worried this may signal a poor self-image and could affect future market confidence.
- Market Expectations: Despite CarMax's market capitalization of $5.9 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio below 13, analysts predict only a 7% growth rate over the next five years, indicating a lack of optimism regarding the company's recovery prospects.
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CarMax Appoints New CEO Without Automotive Background.
- New Leadership: CarMax is appointing a CEO from outside the auto industry.
- Turnaround Strategy: The new CEO is expected to help initiate a turnaround for the company.
See More
InterContinental Hotels Group's Recovery and Expansion Strategy
- Market Recovery: InterContinental Hotels Group has rapidly bounced back from the 2020 pandemic crisis, planning to open over 1,400 hotels across more than 200 cities in Greater China, demonstrating its strong expansion intent in fast-growing markets.
- Technological Innovation: The company appointed Wei Manfredi as its AI executive, aiming to optimize IT architecture and enhance operational efficiency through AI technology, thereby improving customer experience and driving repeat business.
- Brand Strategy: InterContinental is focused on expanding the global presence of its Holiday Inn brand, particularly in the Chinese market, with plans to broaden its footprint beyond tier-1 cities to meet the diverse needs of younger consumers.
- Competitive Advantage: New regional chief development officer Mark Sergot will drive the development of more luxury and premium properties, helping InterContinental enhance its market position against Marriott and Hilton, thereby increasing its appeal in the Americas market.
See More
InterContinental Hotels' Recovery and Expansion Strategy
- Market Recovery: InterContinental Hotels has rebounded sharply post-COVID-19, demonstrating market adaptability and brand resilience despite strong growth from competitors like Marriott and Hilton, indicating a positive outlook for future performance.
- Expansion in China: With over 1,400 hotels in Greater China and plans for further openings across more than 200 cities, InterContinental aims to capitalize on the travel demands of a young consumer class, thereby enhancing its market share in a key growth region.
- Technological Innovation: The appointment of Wei Manfredi as AI executive is set to drive the company's AI strategy, optimizing IT architecture and operational efficiency, with expectations that AI applications will improve customer experiences and increase repeat business.
- Luxury Market Focus: The new regional chief development officer, Mark Sergot, will prioritize luxury and premium properties, aiming to enhance InterContinental's competitiveness in the Americas market against established players like Marriott and Hilton, which could lead to improved market positioning.
See More
InterContinental Hotels Group's Financial Recovery and Growth
- Pandemic Impact and Financial Restructuring: InterContinental Hotels Group saw its revenue cut in half in 2020 compared to 2019 due to the pandemic, resulting in a $260 million loss that forced the company to adjust its cost structure, although initial efforts did not lead to profitability.
- Strong Recovery and New Records: By 2022, InterContinental's revenue rebounded to $4.92 billion with a profit of $628 million, or $3.90 per share, while the first half of 2025 saw record earnings of $469 million, reflecting robust market demand and effective operational strategies.
- Acquisition Expansion Strategy: In February 2025, InterContinental acquired the Ruby hotel brand for approximately $116 million, expanding into urban center markets primarily in Germany, Austria, the U.K., and Switzerland, thereby enhancing its competitiveness in the mid-to-high-end market.
- Future Growth Expectations: InterContinental anticipates that both its existing hotel chains and acquisitions will support substantial future growth, and while acquisition prices may seem generous, they represent a key value proposition in its M&A decisions based on current property valuations.
See More
InterContinental Hotels Group's Recovery and Expansion
- Pandemic Impact and Recovery: In 2020, InterContinental Hotels Group's revenue was halved compared to 2019, resulting in a $260 million loss; however, as pandemic restrictions lifted, revenue began to rebound in 2021, and by 2022, the company set new revenue records, indicating strong market recovery potential.
- Strong Financial Performance: In 2024, InterContinental achieved $4.92 billion in revenue with a net profit of $628 million, or $3.90 per share, and in the first half of 2025, profits hit a record $469 million, demonstrating robust growth momentum in the post-pandemic era.
- Acquisition Strategy: In February 2025, InterContinental acquired the Ruby hotel brand for approximately $116 million, expanding into urban center markets primarily in Germany, Austria, the U.K., and Switzerland, enhancing its competitive edge in diverse lodging options.
- Future Growth Expectations: InterContinental anticipates that both its existing hotels and acquisitions will support substantial future growth; despite seemingly high acquisition prices, they are viewed as strategic investments based on potential market expansion and brand value.
See More
CarMax's CEO Change Sparks 12% Stock Drop
- CEO Transition Impact: CarMax's announcement of replacing interim CEO David McCreight with Keith Barr resulted in a 12% drop in stock price during midday trading, reflecting strong investor dissatisfaction with the leadership change.
- Leadership Background: New CEO Barr, coming from the hotel industry, is described by CarMax as a 'proven leader' capable of driving transformational growth and operational excellence; however, his non-automotive background may raise concerns among investors.
- Sales Decline Challenge: With three consecutive years of declining sales, the board seems to believe a transformation is necessary to improve the company's image, yet investors are worried this may signal a poor self-image and could affect future market confidence.
- Market Expectations: Despite CarMax's market capitalization of $5.9 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio below 13, analysts predict only a 7% growth rate over the next five years, indicating a lack of optimism regarding the company's recovery prospects.
See More
CarMax Appoints New CEO Without Automotive Background.
- New Leadership: CarMax is appointing a CEO from outside the auto industry.
- Turnaround Strategy: The new CEO is expected to help initiate a turnaround for the company.
See More
InterContinental Hotels Group's Recovery and Expansion Strategy
- Market Recovery: InterContinental Hotels Group has rapidly bounced back from the 2020 pandemic crisis, planning to open over 1,400 hotels across more than 200 cities in Greater China, demonstrating its strong expansion intent in fast-growing markets.
- Technological Innovation: The company appointed Wei Manfredi as its AI executive, aiming to optimize IT architecture and enhance operational efficiency through AI technology, thereby improving customer experience and driving repeat business.
- Brand Strategy: InterContinental is focused on expanding the global presence of its Holiday Inn brand, particularly in the Chinese market, with plans to broaden its footprint beyond tier-1 cities to meet the diverse needs of younger consumers.
- Competitive Advantage: New regional chief development officer Mark Sergot will drive the development of more luxury and premium properties, helping InterContinental enhance its market position against Marriott and Hilton, thereby increasing its appeal in the Americas market.
See More
InterContinental Hotels' Recovery and Expansion Strategy
- Market Recovery: InterContinental Hotels has rebounded sharply post-COVID-19, demonstrating market adaptability and brand resilience despite strong growth from competitors like Marriott and Hilton, indicating a positive outlook for future performance.
- Expansion in China: With over 1,400 hotels in Greater China and plans for further openings across more than 200 cities, InterContinental aims to capitalize on the travel demands of a young consumer class, thereby enhancing its market share in a key growth region.
- Technological Innovation: The appointment of Wei Manfredi as AI executive is set to drive the company's AI strategy, optimizing IT architecture and operational efficiency, with expectations that AI applications will improve customer experiences and increase repeat business.
- Luxury Market Focus: The new regional chief development officer, Mark Sergot, will prioritize luxury and premium properties, aiming to enhance InterContinental's competitiveness in the Americas market against established players like Marriott and Hilton, which could lead to improved market positioning.
See More
InterContinental Hotels Group's Financial Recovery and Growth
- Pandemic Impact and Financial Restructuring: InterContinental Hotels Group saw its revenue cut in half in 2020 compared to 2019 due to the pandemic, resulting in a $260 million loss that forced the company to adjust its cost structure, although initial efforts did not lead to profitability.
- Strong Recovery and New Records: By 2022, InterContinental's revenue rebounded to $4.92 billion with a profit of $628 million, or $3.90 per share, while the first half of 2025 saw record earnings of $469 million, reflecting robust market demand and effective operational strategies.
- Acquisition Expansion Strategy: In February 2025, InterContinental acquired the Ruby hotel brand for approximately $116 million, expanding into urban center markets primarily in Germany, Austria, the U.K., and Switzerland, thereby enhancing its competitiveness in the mid-to-high-end market.
- Future Growth Expectations: InterContinental anticipates that both its existing hotel chains and acquisitions will support substantial future growth, and while acquisition prices may seem generous, they represent a key value proposition in its M&A decisions based on current property valuations.
See More
InterContinental Hotels Group's Recovery and Expansion
- Pandemic Impact and Recovery: In 2020, InterContinental Hotels Group's revenue was halved compared to 2019, resulting in a $260 million loss; however, as pandemic restrictions lifted, revenue began to rebound in 2021, and by 2022, the company set new revenue records, indicating strong market recovery potential.
- Strong Financial Performance: In 2024, InterContinental achieved $4.92 billion in revenue with a net profit of $628 million, or $3.90 per share, and in the first half of 2025, profits hit a record $469 million, demonstrating robust growth momentum in the post-pandemic era.
- Acquisition Strategy: In February 2025, InterContinental acquired the Ruby hotel brand for approximately $116 million, expanding into urban center markets primarily in Germany, Austria, the U.K., and Switzerland, enhancing its competitive edge in diverse lodging options.
- Future Growth Expectations: InterContinental anticipates that both its existing hotels and acquisitions will support substantial future growth; despite seemingly high acquisition prices, they are viewed as strategic investments based on potential market expansion and brand value.
See More
