5 Takeover Rumors Targeted By Short Sellers

Page 5 of 5

1. Tripadvisor, Inc. (NASDAQ:TRIP)

Short Percentage of Float: 27.77%

Tripadvisor, Inc. (NASDAQ:TRIP) is one of the takeover rumors targeted by short sellers.

On March 23, 2026, Tripadvisor announced a cooperation agreement with activist investor Starboard Value that immediately added two independent directors to the board and will add two more at the 2026 annual meeting. The company said the agreement followed discussions with Starboard and included customary standstill and voting provisions.

The board deal came after Reuters reported on February 17, 2026, that Starboard was pressing Tripadvisor to consider a sale of the entire company, while also pushing for a faster review of strategic options for restaurant-booking unit TheFork. Reuters also said analysts viewed the activist campaign as something that could increase the odds of asset sales, including Viator.

That sequence mattered because it turned takeover talk into a live governance issue. Starboard was not merely criticizing performance from the outside. By late March, it had secured board representation, giving it a direct channel to influence strategic decisions if management and the board pursue a broader review.

Tripadvisor, Inc. (NASDAQ:TRIP) operates online travel brands including Tripadvisor, Viator, and TheFork.

While we acknowledge the potential of TRIP to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than TRIP and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now.

Disclosure: None. Insider Monkey focuses on uncovering the best investment ideas of hedge funds and insiders. Please subscribe to our free daily e-newsletter to get the latest investment ideas from hedge funds’ investor letters by entering your email address below.

Page 5 of 5