Shares of TRIP.COM-S (09961) soared 5.04% during intraday trading on Wednesday, as investors reacted positively to the formal resolution of the company's antitrust investigation and a wave of bullish broker assessments.
The rally was driven by the State Administration for Market Regulation's penalty decision, which analysts widely view as removing a major regulatory uncertainty. Morgan Stanley stated that the fine is a known, measurable, and largely one-time impact, and that regulatory changes are modifying the commercial form of monetization without damaging the company's profitability. UOB Kay Hian and Daiwa both raised their target prices and maintained "Buy" ratings, anticipating that the valuation discount will gradually narrow and pave the way for a re-rating as the regulatory probe concludes.
While compliance adjustments and operational changes are expected to cause short-term disruptions to domestic business, analysts noted that the overall impact on core profitability remains relatively limited. The company's international business continues to maintain a strong growth trajectory of over 30%, providing a buffer against any near-term domestic revenue slowdown.
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