Online travel agency Booking Holdings (NASDAQ:BKNG) reported revenue ahead of Wall Street’s expectations in Q2 CY2025, with sales up 16% year on year to $6.80 billion. Its non-GAAP profit of $55.40 per share was 10.1% above analysts’ consensus estimates.
Risk appetite took a breather Tuesday, with major U.S. stock indices retreating modestly from record highs as investors braced for a pivotal stretch of earnings and macro events.
While the S&P 500 (^GSPC) includes industry leaders, not every stock in the index is a winner.
Some companies are past their prime, weighed down by poor execution, weak financials, or structural headwinds.
Since July 2020, the S&P 500 has delivered a total return of 93.1%. But one standout stock has more than doubled the market - over the past five years, Booking has surged 233% to $5,702 per share. Its momentum hasn’t stopped as it’s also gained 21.7% in the last six months thanks to its solid quarterly results, beating the S&P by 17.6%.
While the Nasdaq 100 (^NDX) is filled with cutting-edge technology and consumer companies, not all are on solid footing.
Some are dealing with declining demand, high costs, or regulatory pressures that could limit future upside.
While strong cash flow is a key indicator of stability, it doesn’t always translate to superior returns.
Some cash-heavy businesses struggle with inefficient spending, slowing demand, or weak competitive positioning.
Large-cap stocks have the power to shape entire industries thanks to their size and widespread influence.
With such vast footprints, however, finding new areas for growth is much harder than for smaller, more agile players.
The Consumer Competition Claims Foundation (CCC) and the Consumers' Association allege that the U.S. travel company violated the region’s competition law.
