Booking Holdings Reports 8.1% Revenue Growth to $7.35 Billion in Q2 2026

Booking Holdings Inc. reported its financial results for the second quarter of 2026, revealing a total revenue of $7.35 billion, an increase of 8.1% compared to $6.80 billion in the same period last year. The company's net income for the quarter was $1.95 billion, up from $895 million in the prior year, resulting in a net income per diluted share of $2.53, compared to $1.10 in the previous year. The growth in revenue was primarily driven by a 15% increase in merchant revenues, which reached $5.13 billion, while agency revenues decreased by 6.9% to $1.90 billion.

In terms of operational metrics, Booking Holdings experienced a 5.3% increase in room nights booked, totaling 325 million for the quarter. The company also noted a shift from agency to merchant bookings, with merchant gross bookings rising by 14.5% year-over-year to $36.99 billion. This shift contributed to a decrease in agency gross bookings, which fell to $13.96 billion. The overall total gross bookings for the quarter increased by 9% to $50.96 billion, reflecting a positive impact from foreign currency exchange rates.

Strategically, Booking Holdings has been focusing on enhancing its service offerings and expanding its market presence. The company reported that approximately 73% of its total gross bookings were generated on a merchant basis, up from 69% in the previous year. The company also continues to invest in its "Connected Trip" vision, which aims to provide a seamless travel experience through its various platforms, including Booking.com, Priceline, and Agoda. The total number of properties listed on Booking.com increased to approximately 4.7 million, up from 4.3 million a year earlier.

The company’s total liabilities increased to $40.47 billion as of June 30, 2026, compared to $34.84 billion at the end of 2025, largely due to an increase in deferred merchant bookings, which rose to $10.12 billion. Booking Holdings also reported a stockholders' deficit of $10.78 billion, reflecting the impact of share repurchase activities and other financial adjustments. The company has a remaining authorization of $14.5 billion for its share repurchase program, which is part of its strategy to return value to shareholders.

Looking ahead, Booking Holdings remains optimistic about its growth trajectory, despite potential challenges from geopolitical events and market conditions. The company plans to continue investing in technology and marketing to enhance its service offerings and improve operational efficiency. The ongoing transformation program is expected to yield annual run-rate savings of approximately $650 million by 2027, which will support the company's long-term strategic goals.