Thursday's news reveals that Airbnb (NASDAQ:ABNB), the widely used accommodation platform, is grappling with increasing regulation and restriction of short-term rentals in cities where rental prices are skyrocketing and tourism is high. This comes in spite of the company's robust growth in recent years, even amidst economic inflation.
New York City has recently implemented stricter rules on short-term rentals due to housing shortage issues. As of September 10, data from the travel website Skift suggests a significant impact, with a 77% decrease in Airbnb listings in the city compared to June 4. The new regulations require hosts to register with the city before offering short-term accommodations, and for stays less than 30 days, the host is required to be present. Additionally, there is a cap of two guests per stay. Airbnb has voiced opposition to these policies, stating they effectively inhibit short-term rentals in New York City.
Cities worldwide are considering similar restrictions on short-term rentals as they grapple with rising rent costs and over-tourism. These limitations could potentially increase housing availability for renters and help reduce rental prices. Florence, Italy, recently announced its intention to ban short-term rentals due to overtourism issues. Other locations like Austria and Paris are also implementing limits on the number of days a property can be rented annually.
Despite these regulatory challenges, Airbnb's performance remains strong. The company projects year-over-year revenue growth between 14% and 18% for the quarter ending on September 30. Its revenue growth rate is still nearing 20%, demonstrating resilience amidst inflation. However, it remains uncertain how the reduction in New York City listings might affect this growth rate.
Airbnb's stock performance this year doesn't reflect these potential headwinds. The stock has increased by 67% in 2023 alone, making it one of the most successful travel stocks this year. It trades at 42 times its trailing earnings, a substantial premium, but considering the company's ongoing growth and the strength of the travel industry, further ascent of the growth stock wouldn't be surprising.
However, it is still too early to predict how restrictions on short-term rentals will impact Airbnb's business. The New York City regulations will serve as a significant test for the company. Potential investors might want to wait for a few quarterly reports to gauge the extent of the impact these restrictions have on Airbnb's business before investing in the stock. Current investors should not panic yet but should keep an eye on any updated guidance in the next earnings report.
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