Airbnb’s (ABNB) Chief Financial Officer, Elinor Mertz, recently sold the company’s shares worth $4 million. Mertz sold 25,000 shares on February 14 at a price of $160 per share. The sale comes weeks after the homestay and rental company reported strong Q4 results. With a market capitalization of $101.3 billion and impressive profit numbers, ABNB stock has gained 20% year-to-date.
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The transaction was conducted under a pre-established Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted on May 31, 2024. Notably, Rule 10b5-1 plans let company insiders set up a schedule to buy or sell stock in advance. This helps them avoid any trouble with insider trading rules.
Despite the latest Informative Sell transaction, Mertz still retains ownership of 459,988 shares in Airbnb.
Analysts’ Opinions Post Q4 Results
The timing of Mertz’s stock sale coincides with positive analyst sentiment. Yesterday, John Staszak of Argus Research upgraded Airbnb’s rating to Buy from Hold, setting a $190 price target.
The firm sees Airbnb in a great spot to grow, thanks to its big brand, and 5 million hosts. He expects Airbnb to generate strong cash flow and sees continued revenue and earnings growth in the near future.
Similarly, Shyam Patil of Susquehanna increased his target to $200 and maintained a Buy rating. Patil remains bullish on Airbnb’s growth potential and market opportunity. He left its 2025 revenue estimate unchanged and raised EPS by 6%. For 2026, the firm expects 10% revenue growth, 35% EBITDA margins, and $6.00 EPS.
Insider Sentiment for ABNB Stock Is Currently Positive
Overall, TipRanks’ Insider Trading Activity Tool shows that insider confidence in ABNB stock is currently Positive. Corporate insiders have bought shares worth $29.5 million over the last three months.
Therefore, based on the analysts’ opinions and positive investor sentiment, insider sales don’t necessarily signal trouble for the company. Instead, it could be a part of routine financial management.
Investors could keep close track of these notable insider activities, as they reflect the perceptions of key insiders about the company’s prospects. Interestingly, TipRanks offers daily insider transactions as well as a list of top corporate insiders. It also provides a list of hot stocks that boast either a Very Positive or Positive insider confidence signal.
Is ABNB Stock a Buy?
The stock of Airbnb has a consensus Hold rating among 32 Wall Street analysts. That rating is based on 10 Buy, 18 Hold, and four Sell recommendations issued in the last three months. The average ABNB price target of $161.33 implies 2.12% downside from current levels.
