With inflation operating scorching, the Federal Reserve mountain climbing rate of interest to get the scenario underneath management, and considerations that 2023 will endure an financial downturn, progress shares have been underneath strain recently.
Regardless of sturdy enterprise efficiency, rental specialist Airbnb‘s (ABNB 5.96%) share value has tumbled about 52% from its excessive. In the meantime, e-commerce participant Wayfair (W 13.42%) has seen a fair greater valuation pullback. Its inventory is down a dizzying 84% from its peak.
Which of those shares is healthier positioned to bounce again and put up massive positive aspects for long-term shareholders? Learn on to see why two Motley Idiot contributors have differing takes on which inventory is extra more likely to ship nice returns for traders.

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Airbnb is a good firm buying and selling at an incredible value
Keith Noonan: Alongside most key enterprise metrics, Airbnb has been serving up a stellar efficiency over the previous yr. Clearly, the inventory efficiency has been one other matter, however that is largely as a result of difficult macroeconomic backdrop. And it bears repeating simply how sturdy of a yr 2022 was for the corporate.
With the lessening of pandemic-related headwinds, Airbnb proved that it might ship extremely worthwhile progress. Aided by a 29% year-over-year soar in gross sales within the third quarter and an 86% gross margin, the rental specialist’s internet earnings jumped 46% yr over yr to hit $1.2 billion in Q3. In the meantime, free money move (FCF) surged greater than 80% to achieve $960 million, bringing the corporate’s trailing-12-month FCF complete to $3.3 billion.
With Airbnb’s market capitalization pushed right down to roughly $66 billion following latest sell-offs, the corporate is valued at roughly 20 instances trailing FCF — a stage that leaves room for long-term traders to financial institution probably unbelievable returns with the inventory. The corporate’s versatile, asset-light enterprise mannequin is placing up nice outcomes, and the 41% trailing FCF margin that the enterprise has posted appears to be like downright unbelievable, contemplating that Airbnb continues to be very a lot in progress mode.
Granted, the corporate is anticipating some progress deceleration within the face of a tougher macroeconomic backdrop. However midpoint steerage for gross sales progress of roughly 20% in final yr’s This autumn and the probability that 2023’s sales-expansion fee will lag final yr’s efficiency are hardly deal breakers so far as I am involved.
Like most firms, Airbnb will see efficiency ebb and move along side macrotrends, however I’ve a excessive stage of conviction that the inventory will ship wins for long-term shareholders.
Wayfair might supply long-term acquire for short-term ache
Parkev Tatevosian: If you are going to have a furnishings enterprise, it is best to have it on-line. Renting or proudly owning sufficient ground area to show outsized, cumbersome gadgets is dear. That is exactly what Wayfair has constructed — a web-based furnishings enterprise that has grown gross sales from $601 million in 2012 to $13.7 billion in 2021.
The corporate highlighted its potential in the course of the first yr of the pandemic in 2020. That yr, Wayfair grew gross sales by 55% to $14.1 billion, and generated an working earnings of $360 million and earnings per share of $1.86. It was the one yr within the final decade when it was worthwhile on the underside line, and it proved to traders that this enterprise mannequin might ship earnings in the precise circumstances.
W PS Ratio information by YCharts
Admittedly, the close to time period is a difficult one for Wayfair. Shoppers are unleashing pent-up demand for away-from-home experiences, spending much less cash on dwelling items. Moreover, inflation is pinching budgets, leaving much less disposable earnings for many who need to replace their dwelling decor. Nonetheless, many of the headwinds might already be priced into Wayfair’s inventory. Buyers should buy shares of Wayfair at a price-to-sales ratio of lower than 0.5, close to the bottom it has traded for within the final a number of years.
Which inventory do you have to purchase?
For starters, traders ought to contemplate whether or not they would like to have publicity to the journey rental trade or the e-commerce trade. Wayfair has seen a fair greater valuation pullback than Airbnb and will have extra room for explosive restoration, however its near-term progress outlook could also be extra fraught.
Then again, Airbnb has been posting sturdy enterprise outcomes during the last yr, however the firm is dealing with macroeconomic headwinds, and its a lot bigger market cap suggests it might have extra draw back danger or a more durable path to explosive positive aspects. Every firm affords each alternative and challenges in the present day.