Expedia vs. Airbnb: How a $10,000 Bet Played Out Over 3 Years
As seen on the 24/7 Wall St. homepage on August 24, 2026.
Three years ago, $10,000 in Expedia is now $32,395. The same money in Airbnb: $15,251. Owning the disruptor cost you more than $17,000 versus owning the incumbent.
Continue ReadingShow less
Ignoring the incumbent cost investors dearly: the same $10,000 placed on August 24, 2023 grew to $32,395 in Expedia versus $15,251 in Airbnb.
Both stocks tested holders along the way, with Expedia dipping back toward its starting point and Airbnb trading below its own for extended stretches. Anyone who exited during those patches locked in losses instead of the gains that followed.
Disclosure
*$149 for two years (or $1.43 per week) is an introductory promotion for new members only. 62% discount based on the current list price of Stock Advisor of $199/year. Membership will renew at the then-current list price at the end of the membership term. Stock Advisor returns are 930% as compared to the S&P 500 returns of 185% as of April 7, 2026.
The same investor newsletter that told subscribers to buy Amazon in 2002, Netflix in 2004, and Nvidia in 2005 still publishes two new stock picks every month. Over 23 years, Motley Fool's Stock Advisor has more than quadrupled the S&P 500. New members get this month's picks, the Top 10 Rankings, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Click here to unlock their next top stocks while new members are still being accepted.
The incumbent online travel agency returned 3.24x over three years against the disruptor's 1.53x. Competitive storylines and investment returns do not always align.
Expedia's advantage widened in the closing stretch, leaving Airbnb less than halfway to its ending value. Investors in the travel-booking battle should judge whether that divergence holds.