Airbnb: Compelling Buy on Long-Term Growth Optionality, Asian Expansion, and AI-Driven Upside

Bernstein analyst Richard Clarke maintained a Buy rating on Airbnb today and set a price target of $168.00.

Richard Clarke has given his Buy rating due to a combination of factors tied to Airbnb’s long‑term growth potential and optionality. He highlights management’s view that revenue can grow above 20% by scaling the core short‑term rental business, deepening penetration in high‑growth Asian markets, expanding hotel supply on the platform, and building out adjacent verticals such as services and longer‑term stays.

While his base case assumes more modest low‑double‑digit growth, Clarke argues that structural tailwinds in global lodging and Airbnb’s relatively low exposure in Asia make sustained expansion plausible. He also sees artificial intelligence as an incremental driver that can improve conversion and support entry into new categories, noting that this upside scenario could yield materially higher EPS and an attractive valuation, making the risk‑reward profile compelling for investors.

According to TipRanks, Clarke is a 2-star analyst with an average return of 0.1% and a 47.22% success rate. Clarke covers the Consumer Cyclical sector, focusing on stocks such as Airbnb, TUI AG, and Booking Holdings.

In another report released on March 27, Evercore ISI also maintained a Buy rating on the stock with a $145.00 price target.