Trip.com-S (09961) shares surged more than 4% in early trading, last changing hands at HK$363.20, up 4.01%, with a turnover of HK$442 million.
Morgan Stanley released a research report noting that the market may interpret the weak performance of Trip.com-S in the second half of the year as structural damage from antitrust rectification. However, the bank believes the weakness is primarily cyclical, and regulatory changes are altering the commercial form of monetization rather than harming Trip.com's profitability.
The bank stated that the antitrust fine is a known, measurable, and largely one-time impact, with its business transformation effects also being temporary. Meanwhile, UOB Kay Hian believes the penalty decision formally concludes the antitrust investigation, removing the core regulatory uncertainty surrounding the company. Although compliance adjustments and related operational changes may cause short-term disruptions to domestic business, leading to a 3% to 8% year-on-year revenue growth slowdown in the second quarter of 2026, the overall impact on core profitability is relatively limited given that overseas business continues to maintain high growth of over 30%.
Comments