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Expedia Group, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 3 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Gross Bookings and revenue both rose: Gross Bookings rose 11% to $34,008 million and revenue rose 12% to $4,938 million, year over year. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up 17%, margin 34.2%: Adjusted EBITDA rose 17% to $1,689 million, a 34.2% margin, up 135 basis points from 32.9% a year earlier. Source
  • Diluted and Adjusted EPS grew: Diluted GAAP EPS was $8.42, up 15%; Adjusted EPS was $9.39, up 24%. Adjusted net income was $1,148 million, up 19%. Source
  • B2B revenue up 23%: B2B revenue was $1,708 million, up 23%, and B2B Gross Bookings were $11,146 million, up 19%. B2C revenue was $3,065 million, up 6%. Source
  • B2C margin rose 273 basis points: B2C Adjusted EBITDA was $1,331 million, up 13%, with a 43.5% margin. Source
  • Quarterly operating cash flow was negative: Operating cash flow was $(1,157) million in the quarter, against $(497) million a year earlier; free cash flow was $(1,399) million, against $(686) million. Source
  • Repurchased about 2 million shares: The company repurchased approximately 2 million shares for $576 million in the third quarter, against about 880 thousand shares for $200 million in the second quarter. Source

“We exceeded the high end of our guidance in the quarter, reflecting resilient travel demand and strong execution,”

Ariane Gorin, CEO of Expedia Group

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Gross Bookings SourceFourth quarter 2026$27.9 - $28.4B +3.3-5.2%New
Revenue SourceFourth quarter 2026$3.69 - $3.75B +4.0-5.7%New
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFourth quarter 2026$830 - $880MNew
Gross Bookings SourceFull year 2026$131.4 - $131.9B +10%Raised from $129.5 - $130.8B +8-9%
Revenue SourceFull year 2026$16.37 - $16.43B +11-12%Raised from $16.05 - $16.22B +9-10%
Adjusted EBITDA margin expansion SourceFull year 2026+1.8 - 2.0ptsRaised from +1.5 - 1.75pts

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 guidance raised for Gross Bookings, revenue and Adjusted EBITDA margin expansion. Source
  • New guidance: Quarterly guidance given for fourth quarter 2026; the August release had given third-quarter guidance. Source
  • Ended: Third-quarter 2026 guidance from the August release ended with this quarter's results.

Results and growth drivers

  • Gross Bookings and revenue both rose: Gross Bookings rose 11% to $34,008 million and revenue rose 12% to $4,938 million, year over year. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up 17%, margin 34.2%: Adjusted EBITDA rose 17% to $1,689 million, a 34.2% margin, up 135 basis points from 32.9% a year earlier. Source
  • Operating income rose 28%: Operating income was $1,326 million, against $1,036 million; GAAP net income attributable to Expedia Group rose 7% to $1,030 million. Source
  • Diluted and Adjusted EPS grew: Diluted GAAP EPS was $8.42, up 15%; Adjusted EPS was $9.39, up 24%. Adjusted net income was $1,148 million, up 19%. Source

Segments and regions

  • B2B revenue up 23%: B2B revenue was $1,708 million, up 23%, and B2B Gross Bookings were $11,146 million, up 19%. B2C revenue was $3,065 million, up 6%. Source
  • B2C margin rose 273 basis points: B2C Adjusted EBITDA was $1,331 million, up 13%, with a 43.5% margin. Source
  • B2B margin declined 134 basis points: B2B Adjusted EBITDA was $470 million, up 17%, with a 27.5% margin, down 134 basis points from a year earlier. Source
  • Other segment loss of $112 million: Other, comprising trivago, corporate and intercompany eliminations, had an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $112 million, against $127 million a year earlier. Source
  • U.S. and non-U.S. revenue both rose: Revenue from U.S. points of sale was $2,845 million, up 12%; non-U.S. points of sale revenue was $2,093 million, up 12%. Source

“AI is opening further opportunities across our business, enhancing internal productivity and creating new sources of growth.”

Ariane Gorin, CEO of Expedia Group

Products and customers

  • Lodging revenue rose 11%: Lodging revenue was $3,991 million, up 11%; lodging Gross Bookings were $24,875 million, up 10%. Source
  • Merchant bookings rose 15%: Merchant Gross Bookings were $21,653 million, up 15%; agency Gross Bookings were $12,355 million, up 4%. Source
  • Other revenue rose 28%: Other revenue, which includes insurance, car rental, destination services and cruise, was $483 million, up 28%. trivago revenue was $165 million, up 20%. Source
  • Air revenue fell 7%: Air revenue was $93 million, down 7%. Source
  • Expedia Group advertising revenue rose 7%: Expedia Group advertising revenue was $206 million, up 7%. Source

Costs

  • Direct selling and marketing up 10%: Direct selling and marketing was $2,184 million, up 10%, against $1,976 million a year earlier. Source
  • B2B direct selling and marketing rose 23%: B2B direct selling and marketing was $1,048 million, up 23%, against $855 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted overhead was $627 million: Total adjusted overhead expenses were $627 million, against $620 million a year earlier. Source
  • Stock-based compensation rose: Stock-based compensation was $120 million, against $90 million a year earlier. Source
  • Restructuring charges were $35 million: Restructuring and related reorganization charges were $35 million, against $6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Legal reserve line was $13 million: Legal reserves, occupancy tax and other was a $13 million charge, against $86 million a year earlier. Source
  • Income tax provision rose: Provision for income taxes was $264 million, against $167 million a year earlier. Source

“Our progress and the results we delivered demonstrate the differentiation of our platform and reinforce our confidence in our ability to deliver value for all our stakeholders.”

Ariane Gorin, CEO of Expedia Group

Margins and pricing

  • Revenue margin up 16 basis points: Revenue as a percentage of Gross Bookings was 14.5%, up 16 basis points from 14.4% a year earlier. Source
  • Net income margin was 20.9%: Net income margin was 20.9%, against 21.8% a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted cost of revenue rose 11%: Adjusted cost of revenue was $415 million, up 11%, and 8.4% of revenue. Source

Demand and the order book

  • Deferred merchant bookings rose: Deferred merchant bookings were $12,579 million at September 30, 2026, against $10,428 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Deferred bookings added to operating cash: Changes in deferred merchant bookings added $2,076 million to nine-month operating cash flow, against $2,569 million a year earlier. Source
  • Accounts receivable rose this year: Accounts receivable, net, were $5,513 million at September 30, 2026, against $4,166 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Cash flow

  • Quarterly operating cash flow was negative: Operating cash flow was $(1,157) million in the quarter, against $(497) million a year earlier; free cash flow was $(1,399) million, against $(686) million. Source
  • Nine-month free cash flow rose: Nine-month free cash flow was $3,627 million, against $2,991 million, and operating cash flow was $4,252 million, against $3,576 million. Source
  • Capital expenditures rose: Third-quarter capital expenditures were $242 million, against $189 million; nine-month capital expenditures were $625 million, against $585 million. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Repurchased about 2 million shares: The company repurchased approximately 2 million shares for $576 million in the third quarter, against about 880 thousand shares for $200 million in the second quarter. Source
  • Nine-month share buybacks and dividends: Treasury stock purchases were $1,727 million in the nine months, against $1,603 million; dividends paid were $173 million, against $151 million. Source
  • Quarterly dividend held at $0.48: The company paid a $0.48 quarterly dividend on September 17, 2026, and declared another $0.48 quarterly dividend on November 4, 2026. Source
  • Cash balances at quarter end: Cash and cash equivalents were $5,040 million at September 30, 2026, against $5,413 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Long-term debt rose: Long-term debt, excluding current maturities, was $4,711 million, against $4,469 million; current maturities were $749 million, against $1,692 million. Source
  • Diluted share count lower: Diluted weighted average shares were 122,280 thousand in the quarter, against 131,014 thousand a year earlier. Source

Strategy and investment

  • One-stop platform for B2B partners: Management said it is advancing its strategy to build a one-stop travel platform for B2B partners. Source
  • Personalization and supply improvements: Management said it aims to deliver traveler value through more personalized, rewarding product experiences and to improve supply across the marketplace. Source
  • Acquisitions and other investing outflow: Net cash used in investing activities was $1,844 million for nine months, against $332 million, including $727 million of acquisitions and other, net. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 November 2026

  • Dividend payable December 10: The $0.48 quarterly dividend is payable December 10, 2026, to holders of record at the close of business on November 18, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Booked room nights (volume) Source115.7 million, up 7%
Booked air tickets (volume) Source13.6 million, down 6%
Average Daily Rate (ADR) booked Source$215.0, up 2%

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Management said it cannot predict certain items, including foreign exchange and minority investment gains or losses, which affect the Adjusted EBITDA forecast. Source
  • Regulatory: Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS exclude certain transactional tax items, which may ultimately be settled in cash. Legal reserves and other charges were $13 million this quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said the quarter exceeded the high end of the company's guidance. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.