AI
Airbnb, Inc. (ABNB)·Q1 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q1 2025 revenue was $2.27B (+6% y/y; +11% ex-FX/calendar), modestly above S&P consensus; diluted EPS $0.24 beat by ~$0.005. Adjusted EBITDA was $417M (18% margin); net income $154M (7% margin), pressured by higher SBC, investment write-downs, and lower interest income .
- Guidance: Q2 2025 revenue $2.99–$3.05B (+9–11% y/y) with ~2ppt Easter benefit; ADR ~flat y/y; Adjusted EBITDA up y/y but margin flat-to-slightly down. FY 2025 Adjusted EBITDA margin reiterated “at least 34.5%” with $200–$250M investments to launch new businesses (Summer Release May 13) .
- Mix and geography: Nights grew 8% to 143.1M despite tough comps; strength in Latin America (low-20s growth), APAC (mid-teens), EMEA (mid-single digits), and softer U.S., with shorter lead-time bookings and macro caution noted on the call .
- Strategic catalysts: App rebuild and AI customer service rollout (50% of U.S. users; 15% fewer escalations) underpin conversion and reliability; Summer Release to expand beyond stays; hotel distribution to fill network gaps—key medium-term narrative drivers .
- Capital return: $807M repurchases in Q1; TTM FCF $4.36B (39% margin). Cash and equivalents plus short-term investments $11.5B; funds held on behalf of guests $9.2B .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Nights & Experiences Booked rose 8% to 143.1M; GBV grew 7% to $24.5B (9% ex-FX) despite Leap Day/Easter timing headwinds. App bookings increased 17% y/y to 58% of nights, aiding conversion .
- Latin America and APAC outperformed; Brazil origin nights +27% y/y; first-time bookers >30%. Japan domestic nights +20%+ post brand campaign, highlighting success of localized product/marketing .
- Management reaffirmed FY 2025 Adjusted EBITDA margin ≥34.5% while investing in new offerings; Q2 revenue guide calls for 9–11% growth and higher implied take rate due to calendar effects .
- Quote: “We rebuilt the app from the ground up… now we can innovate faster and offer much more than homes… On May 13, Airbnb will go beyond places to stay.” — Brian Chesky .
What Went Wrong
- Net income fell to $154M (7% margin) from $264M amid higher SBC, investment write-downs, and lower interest income; Adjusted EBITDA down slightly to $417M vs. $424M prior year .
- ADR declined 1% reported (up 1% ex-FX); U.S. trends relatively softer with longer-lead bookings weaker—consumers waiting to book summer travel; no broad “trading down” observed .
- Management flagged marketing expense to grow faster than revenue in Q2 due to Summer Release and growth initiatives, implying near-term margin pressure; full-year margin tailwind from FX is partially hedged and offset by Latin America headwinds .
Financial Results
KPIs
Other Operating/Capital Metrics
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “We had a strong start to 2025… our model is inherently adaptable… we rebuilt the app on a new technology stack… On May 13, Airbnb will go beyond places to stay.” — Brian Chesky .
- “Revenue was $2.3B, up 6% y/y; excluding FX and calendar, +11%. Adjusted EBITDA $417M (18%). Q2 revenue $2.99–$3.05B; ADR approximately flat y/y; FY 2025 Adjusted EBITDA margin at least 34.5% with $200–$250M of investments.” — Ellie Mertz .
- “We think hotels are a massive opportunity… bring more great hotels onto Airbnb… distribution channel for hoteliers.” — Brian Chesky .
- “Driving down prices is often compensated by increased volume… our pricing tools aim to get hosts to the best price to drive more bookings.” — Ellie Mertz .
- “AI customer service agent… 50% of U.S. users now using the agent… 15% reduction in needing live agents.” — Brian Chesky .
Q&A Highlights
- U.S. demand: softness concentrated in longer lead times; near-term bookings healthy; higher-income cohort stable; not seeing trading down; inbound-to-U.S. corridor is only ~2–3% of business and guests are choosing different destinations (e.g., Mexico, Brazil, Japan) .
- ADR/pricing flexibility: hosts have greater flexibility than hotels; tools (compare listings, weekly/monthly discounts, price tips) help competitive pricing; elasticity supports volume when prices adjust .
- Marketing/margins: ability to flex by market/channel; Q2 marketing to grow faster than revenue; FY margin guidance maintained despite FX shifts and investments .
- Hotels and adjacency: growing hotel supply via HotelTonight and Airbnb app; cross-credits to drive conversion; broader distribution strategy .
- Expansion markets: LATAM momentum accelerating; localized product (payments like Pix) and brand campaigns drive first-time bookers; unit economics attractive across ADR ranges .
Estimates Context
Values retrieved from S&P Global.
Note: S&P Global “EBITDA” may differ from company-reported “Adjusted EBITDA,” which excludes SBC, taxes, FX/investment impacts, and other items; see non-GAAP reconciliations .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Q1 modest beat on revenue/EPS despite ~3ppt calendar and ~2ppt FX headwinds; underlying demand resilient, especially in LATAM and APAC; ADR pressure largely FX-driven .
- Near-term setup: Q2 revenue guide +9–11% with favorable Easter comp and higher implied take rate; expect flat-to-down margin on higher marketing tied to Summer Release; traders should watch May 13 launch narrative and incremental marketing ROI .
- U.S. caution: longer-lead bookings soft; monitor re-acceleration as summer approaches; mix shift toward short lead times and higher ADR cohorts could support conversion .
- Medium-term thesis: app-led conversion, AI-supported service, quality curation (Guest Favorites; removal of low-quality supply) and localized expansion (Brazil/Japan) underpin nights growth and share gains .
- Pricing elasticity and host tools create room for affordability improvements without sacrificing volume—supports competitive stance vs hotels; hotel distribution will fill network gaps .
- Strong cash generation funds buybacks; $807M repurchases in Q1; TTM FCF $4.36B (39% margin) provides optionality for investing while returning capital .
- Watch FX and Latin America dynamics: partial revenue hedging limits tailwinds; LATAM ADRs pressured by FX, but volume strength offsets; margins sensitive to 2H investment timing .
Appendix: Additional Details
- Non-GAAP definitions and reconciliations for Adjusted EBITDA and FCF are provided in the shareholder letter .
- Q2 guidance details: ADR ~flat y/y; Nights growth moderates vs Q1; implied take rate higher due to favorable Easter timing; marketing grows faster than revenue; FY Adjusted EBITDA margin ≥34.5% maintained .
- Corridor commentary: inbound-to-U.S. travel low-single-digit share; Canada-to-U.S. softer in late Q1; Canadians reallocated travel to Mexico/Brazil/Japan/Europe, illustrating platform adaptability .
Citations: 8-K Q1 2025 and Shareholder Letter ; Earnings Call Q1 2025 ; Prior quarters Q4 2024 8-K ; Q2 2024 8-K .