Finder is committed to editorial independence. While we receive compensation when you click links to partners, they do not influence our content.
Airbnb stock is now available to purchase on the Nasdaq. Here’s how you can invest in South Africa.
Note: all dollar amounts on this page are in US dollars unless otherwise stated.
To invest in Airbnb, you’ll need a brokerage account to invest. Here’s a breakdown of the investment process:
On August 19, 2020, Airbnb confidentially filed a draft registration statement for an IPO with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). On November 16, 2020, it released its S-1 filing to the public.
Airbnb launched to the public on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol ABNB on December 10. Helming the deal were Citigroup, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, among others. Airbnb mentioned in its prospectus that it planned to set aside up to 9.2 million shares of non-voting stock for Airbnb hosts.
The vacation rental platform could raise up to $3 billion from its offering, potentially valuing the company at the $42 billion mark. The projected price per share was $56 to $60, but the stock launched at $146 per share on its first day at market.
In 2019, Airbnb was valued at $35 billion. This year saw that figure sink to $18 billion. In fact, the Wall Street Journal reports that the company had to reach for a $1 billion loan in April 2020 from private investors to make up its shortfall. And in May 2020, Airbnb laid off 25% of its staff — nearly 2,000 employees — in an effort to cut costs and weather the economic downturn.
But the year hasn’t been a total write-off. Airbnb bookings began to rebound in July 2020. Instead of the Q2 67% booking decline from the prior-year period, bookings were down just 28% in Q3 2020. In fact, the company actually turned a profit of $219 million in the third quarter.
That said, Airbnb anticipates another drop in bookings and revenue through Q4 in response to the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
Like many travel companies, Airbnb has been heavily affected by COVID-19. And at this point, it’s too early to say what a recovery might look like, or when it could happen.
On the flip side, Airbnb’s popularity could help its stock market debut. It’s a household name and even speculation of an IPO launch has gotten heavy media coverage, with Bloomberg, the Wall Street Journal, CNN and countless others covering the announcement. That coverage could help the IPO gain interest.
Pre-pandemic, many investors would have jumped at the opportunity to claim a slice of the Airbnb pie. But its impossible to predict whether the platform’s popularity will be enough to help it overcome doubt cast by recent financial decisions. If you’re considering investing, it’s worth more research into the company’s financials before deciding if it’s worth the risk.
Few companies have been unaffected by the coronavirus pandemic — and Airbnb’s financial reports prove that the vacation rental giant is no exception.
With the release of Airbnb’s public listing, we got a better look at its financials. For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, Airbnb reported $3.6 billion in revenue and a net loss of $322 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, its revenue dropped to $2.5 billion and it reported a net loss of $696 million.
These financials show us that in 2020, Airbnb was hit with the same falling revenue and rising losses experienced by many in the travel industry. But prior to the pandemic, the company was growing. From 2018 to 2019, Airbnb saw revenue growth of 32% — from $3.7 billion to $4.8 billion. And 2020 hasn’t been a complete write-off for the company: Airbnb saw a profit of $219 million in Q3 2020 as domestic bookings began to rebound.
The bottom line? Investors should review the entirety of Airbnb’s financial performance to get an accurate picture of how the company has performed long-term.
Airbnb was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California. Through its online platform, it connects hosts in over 191 countries with travelers seeking local accommodations. Travelers can search for places to stay by numerous filters and metrics, relying on listing details and the feedback of fellow travelers to narrow down their options.
Airbnb is not an accredited business with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), from which it receives an F rating for failing to respond to customer feedback. The company has racked up 2,111 complaints in the last 12 months and its lack of responsiveness has led to a BBB alert being placed on the company. The Better Business Bureau states that Airbnb’s unresponsiveness is due to company layoffs and that outstanding complaints may continue to go unanswered for the foreseeable future.
Airbnb’s poor reputation with the Better Business Bureau is echoed by its disappointing TrustScore of 1.6 out of 5 after 6,213 reviews on Trustpilot. Many negative reviews target Airbnb’s cancellation policy in response to COVID-19, with many guests worldwide failing to receive a refund for canceled trips following government-imposed travel restrictions.
As of August 12, 2020, Airbnb’s official policy on trip refunds states that bookings made after March 14, 2020 are not eligible for the company’s extenuating circumstances policy.
To buy stock, you’ll need to open a brokerage account. Compare your options using the table below to find the best fit.
What’s the best way to invest money in South Africa? Find out about robo advisors, index funds, cryptocurrency and more in this guide.
Steps to owning and managing N/A, with 24-hour and historical pricing before you buy.
Bitcoin ETFs are coming to market. Here’s how you can invest in them.
What you need to know about investing in OnlyFans from South Africa.
Steps to owning and managing N/A, with 24-hour and historical pricing before you buy.
Steps to owning and managing Coinbase shares.
South Africans can’t access WeBull, so here are six affordable alternatives if you want to trade US stocks at low prices.
You can’t access Robinhood in South Africa, so here are five low-cost alternatives to trade US stocks.
Steps to owning and managing Nokia Corp ADR, with 24-hour and historical pricing before you buy.
Steps to owning and managing AMC, with 24-hour and historical pricing before you buy.