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Verdict
Quantitative factor alignment verified for current market regime.
Quant Score
Rank
#2131
Positioning
Market Dominance
Services
Computer Software
$1.9B
Matthew A. Goldberg
TripAdvisor, Inc. operates in two segments, Hotels, Media & Platform; and Experiences & Dining. As of December 31, 2020, it featured 1 billion reviews and opinions on 1 billion hotels, restaurants, experiences, airlines, and cruises.
Headcount
3.1K
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X-AXIS: EV/EBITDA (LOWER = CHEAPER) | Y-AXIS: ROE (HIGHER = ELITE) | RED CIRCLE = TRIP ANALYSIS TARGET
| Stock | Rating | Score▼ | Quality | Value | Momentum | P/E | EV/EBITDA | ROE | ROA | Gross Mgn | Op Mgn | Net Mgn | Rev Growth | Div Yield | D/E | Mkt Cap | AUDIT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$YALA Yalla Group Ltd | 75 | 89 | 99 | 80 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$GRVY GRAVITY Co., Ltd. | 75 | 82 | 96 | 71 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$ISSC INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS & SUPPORT INC | 73 | 81 | 88 | 94 | 25.0x | 14.1x | 17.1% | 10.3% | 35.5% | 14.6% | 10.1% | 105.2% | 0.0% | 41.0x | $244M | VS | |
$AER AerCap Holdings N.V. | 72 | 60 | 87 | 84 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$HCSG HEALTHCARE SERVICES GROUP INC | 72 | 74 | 88 | 88 | 7.1x | 6.1x | 28.9% | 20.8% | 20.8% | 9.9% | 9.3% | 8.5% | 0.0% | 1.0x | $1.2B | VS | |
$LQDT LIQUIDITY SERVICES INC | 72 | 90 | 88 | 68 | 24.9x | 14.3x | 14.1% | 8.3% | 45.7% | 8.5% | 6.2% | 28.1% | 0.0% | 0.0x | $736M | VS | |
$TRTNpA Triton International Ltd | 71 | 70 | 89 | 70 | - | 1.7x | 0.0% | - | 97.4% | 58.0% | 37.4% | - | 8.8% | 264.0x | $2.5B | VS | |
$EDU New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. | 71 | 83 | 52 | 77 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$NTES NetEase, Inc. | 71 | 88 | 93 | 68 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$UTI UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE INC | 70 | 86 | 86 | 72 | 43.2x | 16.0x | 15.3% | 5.8% | 100.0% | 6.9% | 5.2% | 15.1% | 0.0% | 24.0x | $1.8B | VS | |
$TRIP TripAdvisor, Inc. | 49 | 67 | 85 | 33 | 10.6x | 7.5x | 18.1% | 4.5% | 92.6% | 8.3% | 5.2% | 11.3% | 0.0% | 127.0x | $1.9B | ||
| SECTOR BENCH | - | - | - | - | - | 23.7x | 11.7x | 5.7% | 2.4% | 64.6% | 4.5% | 2.8% | 8.6% | 0.0% | 0.3x | - | REF |
TripAdvisor, Inc. (TRIP) receives a "Reduce" rating with a composite score of 49.2/100. It ranks #2131 out of 7,333 stocks in our coverage universe and carries a 2-star rating. Ratings are driven by a 6-factor quantitative model measuring quality, value, momentum, investment, stability, and short interest.
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HQ Base
NEEDHAM, Massachusetts
Lagging peers — losers tend to keep underperforming
Trading at a discount to fundamentals — favorable entry valuation
High profitability & efficiency — strong quality floor supports entry
Average volatility — neutral timing signal
Moderate investment profile
Mid-range overall rating
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Relative valuation derived from Services sector benchmarks. Model weights: EV/EBITDA (40%), P/B (35%), P/S (25%). Re-calculated daily.
Projection based on user-defined inputs. Re-calculated daily against current market data.
Reverse DCF Framework — Mauboussin Methodology
Institutional-grade Reverse DCF analysis. This model identifies the growth hurdles embedded in current market prices. When implied growth is significantly lower than historical or projected rates, a margin of safety may exist. Re-audited daily.
No analyst ratings for TRIP.
View All Ratings| Factor | Global | Sector | Tilt |
|---|---|---|---|
| PROFITABILITY | 67 | 83 | -16DRAG |
| MOMENTUM | 33 | 28 | +5NEUTRAL |
| VALUATION | 85 | 93 | -8DRAG |
| INVESTMENT | 48 | 85 | -37DRAG |
| STABILITY | 41 | 39 | +2NEUTRAL |
| SHORT INT | 12 | 1 | +11ALPHA |
Global = full universe. Sector = relative to industry peers. Positive tilt indicates idiosyncratic strength.
ROE proxy 18.1% (sector 5.7%)
GM 93% vs sector 65%, OM 8% vs sector 5%
Capital turnover N/A
Rev growth 11%, 10yr history
Interest coverage 4.7x, Net debt/EBITDA -2.3x
Composite assessment of profitability, capital efficiency, and financial strength. Top-tier entities demonstrate sustainable cash flow generation and elite competitive moats.
Profit generated per dollar of shareholder equity
Efficiency of asset utilization
Pricing power and cost efficiency
Core business profitability
Bottom-line profitability
The Quality factor evaluates the persistence and magnitude of realized cash flows. Companies with scores >70 exhibit superior pricing power and structural financial resilience through diverse economic regimes.
Our uncertainty rating tracks the predictability of future cash flows and potential for permanent capital loss. Moderate visibility with standard industry cyclicality.
We rate TripAdvisor, Inc. (TRIP) as a Reduce with a composite score of 49.2/100 at a current price of $10.09. The quantitative profile shows weakness across multiple dimensions, suggesting limited upside potential.
TripAdvisor, Inc. holds a top-quartile position (#0 of 50) within the Services sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 49.2/100 places it at rank #2131 in our full universe.
Narrow
High
Poor
Undervalued
Gross margins of 93% signal strong pricing power.
Returns on equity of 18.1% exceed cost of capital.
Value factor score of 85 suggests attractive pricing.
Leverage of 127% D/E amplifies downside risk.
Weak momentum suggests persistent institutional selling pressure.
Vulnerability to macroeconomic shocks and interest rate volatility.
TripAdvisor, Inc. represents a reduce based on multi-factor quantitative performance.
TripAdvisor, Inc. receives a Reduce rating from our analysis, with a composite score of 49.2/100 and 2 out of 5 stars, ranking #2131 out of 7,333 stocks. TRIP's factor profile shows weakness across multiple dimensions, suggesting the stock may underperform going forward. Existing holders may want to consider trimming positions or tightening stop-losses.
TRIP earns a quality score of 67/100, indicating above-average business quality. The company reports a return on equity of 18.1% (sector avg: 5.7%), gross margins of 92.6% (sector avg: 64.6%), net margins of 5.2% (sector avg: 2.8%). Companies in this tier generally demonstrate consistent profitability and efficient capital deployment, though they may face some competitive pressure.
TRIP carries a solid value score of 85/100, pointing to an attractively priced stock relative to peers. Key valuation metrics include a P/E ratio of 10.60x, an EV/EBITDA of 7.54x, a P/B ratio of 1.92x. This score suggests reasonable compensation for the risks involved, with potential upside if the market recognizes the stock's underlying worth.
With an investment score of 48/100, TRIP exhibits moderate growth-oriented spending. Key growth metrics include revenue growth of 11.3% vs. a sector average of 8.6% and a return on assets of 4.5% (sector: 2.4%). The company appears to be balancing growth investments with capital returns, though the pace of investment may not be enough to accelerate top-line growth meaningfully.
TRIP is currently showing below-average momentum at 33/100, which may indicate weakening institutional interest or negative sentiment shifts. Revenue growth stands at 11.3% year-over-year, while a beta of 1.84 reflects its sensitivity to broader market moves. Investors should note that declining momentum can precede further price weakness, though contrarian opportunities sometimes emerge at these levels.
TRIP's stability score of 41/100 signals elevated volatility and/or leverage concerns. Key stability metrics include a beta of 1.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 127.00x (sector avg: 0.3x). Investors should be prepared for wider-than-average price swings and consider position sizing accordingly to manage portfolio risk.
TripAdvisor, Inc.'s short interest score of 12/100 reveals significant bearish positioning, suggesting institutional investors are actively betting against the stock. Specific risk factors include high market sensitivity (beta: 1.84), elevated leverage (D/E: 127.00x), small-cap liquidity risk. At $1.9B (small-cap), TRIP carries meaningful risk and is best suited for investors with high risk tolerance who have thoroughly evaluated the bear thesis.
TripAdvisor, Inc. is a small-cap company in the Services sector, ranked #0 of 50 in its sector (100th percentile) and #2131 of 7,333 overall (71st percentile). Key comparisons include ROE of 18.1% exceeding the 5.7% sector median and operating margins of 8.3% above the 4.5% sector average. This top-quartile standing reflects exceptional competitive strength relative to Services peers.
While TRIP currently exhibits a REDUCE profile, superior opportunities exist within the SERVICES sector. Our model identifies several "Strong Buy" candidates with higher quality scores and more attractive valuations among direct industry competitors.
View Top Services Alpha →Quant Factor Profile
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Improvement in Short Int. (12) would have the largest impact on the composite score.
EV/EBITDA 36% BELOW SECTOR MEDIAN (FAVORABLE)
ROE 216% ABOVE SECTOR MEDIAN (FAVORABLE)
Gross Margin 43% ABOVE SECTOR MEDIAN (FAVORABLE)
Above 50MA
37.18%
Net New Highs
+51081
Major M&A activity continues across multiple sectors: Starboard Value pushes TripAdvisor toward a sale, Hims & Hers acquires Eucalyptus for $1.15B to expand internationally, Danaher buys Masimo for $9.9B, Mister Car Wash goes private via Leonard Green for $3.1B, and Devon Energy completes a $21.4B merger with Coterra Energy. Meanwhile, Saks Global struggles with vendor shipments during bankruptcy, and Warner Bros. Discovery rejects Paramount's hostile bid.
B. Riley Securities analyst Naved Khan maintains Tripadvisor (NASDAQ:TRIP) with a Neutral and lowers the price target from $18 to $13.
Wellpath Holdings, a major provider of healthcare services to jails, is preparing to file for bankruptcy. Prison stocks Geo Group and CoreCivic moved positively on the news of Donald Trump's 2024 election win. Tripadvisor is exploring strategic alternatives, including a potential sale, with $1.1 billion in cash.
Tripadvisor's stock jumped 10.7% in October, but there was no clear catalyst. The company's CEO and Chief Accounting Officer sold some of their newly awarded shares, but kept the majority, which could be viewed positively. Tripadvisor's upcoming Q3 report will be crucial, as the company faces headwinds in its hotel business but has promising growth in its Viator and TheFork platforms.
Activist investors Elliott Management and Starboard Value have taken significant stakes in Norwegian Cruise Line and TripAdvisor respectively, seeking operational improvements and strategic changes. Elliott Management's Paul Singer acquired a 10% stake in Norwegian Cruise Line, calling for management changes and projecting over $4 billion in EBITDA by 2027, while Starboard Value took a 9% position in TripAdvisor, pushing for AI adoption improvements and a potential sale of the company.