In this article, we discuss 11 best travel stocks to buy right now. If you want to see more stocks in this selection, check out 5 Best Travel Stocks To Buy Right Now.
The Travel & Tourism Economic Impact report for 2022 by the London-based World Travel & Tourism Council indicated that tourism revenue in 2020 declined about 59% in the Asia-Pacific as compared to 2019 levels, which was the highest global drop. Recovery initiatives in the region were dull in 2021, as most countries maintained tight border restrictions. However, the report by World Travel & Tourism Council demonstrates that the Asia-Pacific is forecasted to bridge the gap this year, and travel revenue contribution to the economy will increase by nearly 71%. Travel restrictions were first lifted in India and Australia, followed by Malaysia, Thailand, and other Southeast Asian countries. Later, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan also opened up.
The report suggests ongoing gains to Asia-Pacific’s travel sector in 2023, and the year after that is also expected to bring positive growth in the industry. By 2025, travel revenue will provide 32% more to the Asian GDP than it did pre-pandemic.
As per a Bloomberg report dated December 13, China’s swift reopening and easing of Covid Zero policies has initiated a solid rebound in the world’s largest domestic air travel market, which is a positive catalyst for the ‘Big Three’ Chinese airlines, which have suffered billions of dollars in losses since the beginning of the pandemic. Despite a slowing global economy, pent up travel and leisure demand makes it a good idea to pick up some of the best travel stocks like The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS), MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM), and Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS).
Our Methodology
We selected the following travel stocks based on positive analyst coverage, strong business fundamentals, and market visibility. We have assessed the hedge fund sentiment from Insider Monkey’s database of 920 elite hedge funds tracked as of the end of the third quarter of 2022. The list is arranged according to the number of hedge fund holders in each firm.
Photo by Artur Voznenko on Unsplash
Best Travel Stocks To Buy Right Now
11. Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE:CUK)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 14
Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE:CUK) is a Florida-based leisure travel company that operates ships which visit approximately 700 ports under the Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises (Australia), Seabourn, Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK), and Cunard brands.
On November 16, Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE:CUK) announced a private offering of $1 billion aggregate principal amount of its 5.75% convertible senior notes due 2027 as part of the company’s 2024 refinancing plan with potential cash redemption feature. The notes will pay interest bi-annually on June 1 and December 1 of each year, beginning on June 1, 2023, at a rate of 5.75% per year. The convertible notes will mature on December 1, 2027.
Investment advisory UBS on November 14 raised the firm’s price target on Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE:CUK) to 1,219 GBp from 588 GBp and kept a Buy rating on the shares. Analyst Robin Farley issued the ratings update.
According to Insider Monkey’s Q3 data, 14 hedge funds were bullish on Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE:CUK), with collective stakes worth $116.2 million, compared to 13 funds in the prior quarter worth $100.8 million. Robert Henry Lynch’s Aristeia Capital is the biggest position holder in the company, with 11.2 million shares worth nearly $70 million.
Like The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS), MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM), and Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS), Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE:CUK) is one of the best travel stocks to invest in.
10. Wynn Resorts, Limited (NASDAQ:WYNN)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 23
Wynn Resorts, Limited (NASDAQ:WYNN) was founded in 2002 and is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The company designs, develops, and operates integrated resorts, offering private gaming salons, casinos, luxury hotel towers, health clubs, spas, salons, and pools. Wynn Resorts, Limited (NASDAQ:WYNN) is one of the best travel stocks to invest in. On December 16, the company announced that Wynn Resorts Macau has signed a 10-year agreement with the Macau government for the renewal of its gaming concession.
On December 7, Stifel analyst Steven Wieczynski raised the price target on Wynn Resorts, Limited (NASDAQ:WYNN) to $109 from $85 and maintained a Buy rating on the shares, citing his belief that Wynn Resorts, Limited (NASDAQ:WYNN) “represents one of the most compelling ideas under our coverage given the massive underperformance over the last 24 months coupled with benign investor expectations.” He believes Macau-centric stocks such as Wynn Resorts, Limited (NASDAQ:WYNN) could present investors with “an interesting way to play the China reopening story” heading into 2023.
According to Insider Monkey’s data, 23 hedge funds were bullish on Wynn Resorts, Limited (NASDAQ:WYNN) at the end of September 2022, compared to 26 funds in the prior quarter. Ken Griffin’s Citadel Investment Group is a prominent stakeholder of the company, with 662,502 shares worth $41.75 million.
In its Q3 2021 investor letter, Baron Funds, an asset management firm, highlighted a few stocks and Wynn Resorts, Limited (NASDAQ:WYNN) was one of them. Here is what the fund said:
“In the most recent quarter, we exited the Fund’s holdings in Wynn Resorts, Limited (NASDAQ:WYNN) due to: (i) ongoing COVID-19-related travel restrictions in China, Macau, and Singapore; and (ii) the Macau government’s announcement to tighten its casino regulatory oversight.”
9. Travel + Leisure Co. (NYSE:TNL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 35
Travel + Leisure Co. (NYSE:TNL) is a Florida-based provider of hospitality services and products in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments – Vacation Ownership, and Travel and Membership. It is one of the best travel stocks to buy. On November 16, Travel + Leisure Co. (NYSE:TNL) declared a $0.40 per share quarterly dividend, in line with previous. The dividend is payable on December 30, to shareholders of the company as of December 15. The dividend yield on December 21 came in at 4.49%.
On December 14, Truist analyst C. Patrick Scholes maintained a Buy recommendation on Travel + Leisure Co. (NYSE:TNL) but lowered the price target on the shares to $60 from $72 as part of a broader research note on vacation ownership names.
According to Insider Monkey’s third quarter database, Travel + Leisure Co. (NYSE:TNL) was part of 35 hedge fund portfolios, compared to 31 funds in the prior quarter. The collective stakes in Q3 2022 amounted to $423.5 million, up from $408 million in Q2.
Here is what Baron Real Estate Fund has to say about Travel + Leisure Co. (NYSE:TNL) in its Q1 2022 investor letter:
“Following strong quarterly business results, the shares of Travel + Leisure Co. (TNL), a leading timeshare and hospitality company, performed well in the most recent quarter. We participated in the company’s investor day in September 2021 and remain encouraged by management’s four-year growth plan, which includes expectations to grow earnings at a compound annual growth rate of 17% to 22%. Management also expects to generate approximately $3 billion of cumulative cash flow in the next four years that can be used for dividends, share repurchases, strategic mergers and acquisitions, and reinvesting in the business. We believe the shares are attractively valued at only 12.5 times estimated 2022 earnings per share and offer compelling prospects for strong shareholder returns over the next few years.”
8. United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:UAL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 37
United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:UAL) was incorporated in 1968 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The company provides air transportation services in North America, Asia, Europe, Africa, the Pacific, the Middle East, and Latin America. United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:UAL) transports passengers and cargo through its mainline and regional fleets. It is one of the premier travel stocks to invest in. On December 13, the company announced an agreement to buy up to 200 787 Dreamliners while outlining its capital expenditure goals. United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:UAL) expects delivery of the new planes between 2024 and 2032.
On December 16, Goldman Sachs analyst Catherine O’Brien initiated coverage of United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:UAL) with a Buy rating and a $51 price target. While optimistic about the backdrop for airlines, the analyst noted that the economic outlook is uncertain. In this environment, she favors stocks with “idiosyncratic earnings drivers, relatively more recovery tailwinds remaining, or characteristics that reduce downside risk.” She is positive on United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:UAL) given its exposure to end markets that are still rebounding and its growth plans “that are boosted by reactivation of the 777 fleet.”
According to Insider Monkey’s data, 37 hedge funds were bullish on United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:UAL) at the end of the third quarter of 2022, compared to 35 funds in the last quarter. Israel Englander’s Millennium Management is the biggest stakeholder of the company, with approximately 4 million shares worth $126.6 million.
7. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 38
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH) is based in Miami, Florida, and the company operates the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises in North America, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, and internationally. On December 9, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH) announced that it extended the maturities of nearly $1.4 billion of its operating credit facility by one year to January 2025. The company is actively looking at alternatives to deal with the remaining debt associated with the operating credit facility that will mature in January 2024.
On December 15, after Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH) announced that they were letting go about 9% of their shore side employee base and making executive leadership changes at two of their brands, Stifel analyst Steven Wieczynski said he has received “numerous questions from investors” about this news and its potential impact. The analyst, who believes that when Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH) offers “real” cost guidance in early 2023 it will be “better than what’s embedded in investors’ minds right now,” kept a Buy rating and a $26 price target on the shares.
According to Insider Monkey’s data, 38 hedge funds were bullish on Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH) at the end of the third quarter of 2022, compared to 28 funds in the earlier quarter. John W. Rogers’ Ariel Investments is the largest position holder in the company, with 7.13 million shares worth $81 million.
Ariel Investment made the following comment about Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH) in its Q3 2022 investor letter:
“Cruise ship operator Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH) also aided relative performance in the period. Onboard spending has been stronger than management expectations and forward booking commentary remains encouraging with both trends and pricing for 2023 ahead of pre-pandemic levels. Though questions persist around the macro backdrop, NCLH has an experienced executive management team at its helm, a young average fleet and solid liquidity position. Over the long-term, we believe the current headwinds travel and leisure are experiencing will soften and expect NCLH’s fundamentals will prove resilient in the face of adversity. At today’s valuation, NCLH is currently trading at a -70% discount to our estimate of private market value.”
6. Trip.com Group Limited (NASDAQ:TCOM)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 42
Trip.com Group Limited (NASDAQ:TCOM) is a Shanghai-based travel service provider that offers accommodation reservation, transportation ticketing, packaged tours, corporate travel management, and other travel-related services in China and internationally. On December 14, Trip.com Group Limited (NASDAQ:TCOM) reported a Q3 non-GAAP EPS of $0.22 and a revenue of $968 million, outperforming Wall Street estimates by $0.04 and $58.05 million, respectively.
On December 16, UBS analyst Wei Xiong upgraded Trip.com Group Limited (NASDAQ:TCOM) to Buy from Neutral with a price target of $41, up from $28. The recent easing of COVID policies in China, a potentially faster-than-anticipated outbound travel recovery, and ongoing momentum in international markets offers better visibility on improving fundamentals, said the analyst, who lifted 2023 and 2024 revenue and earnings estimates for Trip.com Group Limited (NASDAQ:TCOM).
Among the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey, Richard S. Pzena’s Pzena Investment Management is the leading position holder in Trip.com Group Limited (NASDAQ:TCOM) as of September 2022, with more than 10 million shares worth $278 million.
In addition to The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS), MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM), and Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS), Trip.com Group Limited (NASDAQ:TCOM) is one of the premier travel stocks to invest in.
Harding Loevner made the following comment about Trip.com Group Limited (NASDAQ:TCOM) in its Q3 2022 investor letter:
“Our other new Chinese holding is a familiar one: Trip.com Group Limited (NASDAQ:TCOM) , which we’ve previously held, is responsible for half of China’s online travel bookings. Among its more than 50,000 travel partners are many upscale hotels, and this abundance of choice continues to attract a vast user base. Trip.com’s international footprint has broadened through its subsidiary Skyscanner, a UK platform, and a partnership with TripAdvisor of the US. The company’s leadership has experience successfully guiding the business through highly competitive conditions. Increasing travel demand in a post-COVID-19 world opens the door to accelerated growth.”
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Disclosure: None. 11 Best Travel Stocks To Buy Right Now is originally published on Insider Monkey.