Airbnb Inc. experienced a sharp decline in its stock during extended trading on Tuesday as a result of its quarterly results. The vacation-property rentals company reported a net loss of $349 million, equivalent to 55 cents a share, for the fiscal fourth quarter. This is in contrast to the net income of $319 million, or 50 cents a share, that the company had recorded in the same quarter the previous year.
Despite the loss, Airbnb was able to show a positive side in its financial report. The company’s sales increased by 17%, reaching $2.22 billion in the quarter, up from $1.9 billion in the year-ago period. This exceeded the analysts’ forecasts of adjusted earnings of 66 cents a share on revenue of $2.165 billion.
Airbnb also provided its first-quarter sales guidance, which fell within analysts’ expectations. The company projected its sales to range from $2.03 billion to $2.07 billion for the current quarter.
Initially, Airbnb’s shares spiked by 17% following the announcement. Unfortunately, this surge was short-lived and the stock quickly declined, ending after-hours trading down 4%. In regular trading, the company’s stock decreased by nearly 2%, closing at $150.82.
Despite the disappointing stock performance, Airbnb remains optimistic. The company stated that it is at an inflection point and ready to embark on its next chapter. This positive outlook is further supported by the fact that over the past year, Airbnb’s shares have increased by 25%, outperforming the broader S&P 500 index’s growth of 20%.
Overall, while Airbnb’s quarterly results may have initially disappointed investors, the company’s ability to exceed revenue estimates and its positive long-term performance provide hope for the future.
