New York, Jan 15, 2026, 14:10 ET — Regular session
- After a sharp drop on Wednesday, Booking Holdings shares remained flat in afternoon trading.
- Washington’s decision to suspend immigrant visa processing for 75 countries starting Jan. 21 is hitting travel stocks hard.
- Traders are focused on policy details and demand trends ahead of Booking’s upcoming earnings report later this quarter.
Booking Holdings Inc. common stock held steady Thursday after slipping the previous day, as investors weighed the U.S. move to suspend immigrant visa processing for dozens of countries and its potential hit to travel demand.
This issue is especially urgent now, with online travel agencies playing a key role in cross-border travel. Any shift in U.S. entry, work, or settlement policies can ripple through airline routes, hotel reservations, and the wider travel system.
The timing has put inbound travel rules under the microscope with the 2026 World Cup looming across North America. Markets are wrestling to separate long-term immigration policies from the immediate effects on leisure travel.
Booking shares edged down about 0.1% to $5,183.21 in afternoon trading. The stock fell 2.4% on Wednesday, closing at $5,187.02, and now sits roughly 11% below its 52-week high hit in July. (MarketWatch)
Peers painted a mixed picture. Expedia climbed about 2.1%, while Airbnb slipped nearly 0.3%, and Trip.com dropped roughly 2.5%. The S&P 500 tracker SPY and the consumer-discretionary ETF XLY both added close to 0.5% for the day.
On Wednesday, the Trump administration said it would stop processing immigrant visas — those for permanent residency — from 75 countries starting Jan. 21. Visitor visas won’t be affected. The decision has ramped up scrutiny of U.S. entry policies ahead of major international events. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the pause is meant to review procedures. At the same time, David Bier of the Cato Institute warned this move could “ban nearly half of all legal immigrants.” (Reuters)
Pressure on the sector is mounting from abroad. China’s market regulator has opened an antitrust investigation into Trip.com, alleging monopolistic practices. The case highlights how quickly regulatory risks can hit travel platforms. Under China’s anti-monopoly law, companies found guilty face fines between 1% and 10% of their previous year’s revenue. Trip.com said it is “actively” cooperating with the probe. (Reuters)
Booking, the parent company of Booking.com, Priceline, and Kayak, told investors it’s still riding “continued momentum with steady travel demand trends” as it heads into Q4. But it also flagged uncertainty linked to macroeconomic and geopolitical issues. (Reuters)
Booking is also grappling with regulatory challenges. Its most recent quarterly report shows that France’s DGCCRF consumer agency has issued a final order requiring changes to some of Booking.com’s business practices by January 2026, though discussions on how to proceed are ongoing. The company also noted a competition probe launched last year in Greece focusing on specific Booking.com operations. (SEC)
With Jan. 21 drawing near, traders are watching closely for fresh updates from the State Department. They’re also waiting to hear when Booking will announce earnings; Nasdaq’s calendar lists Feb. 19 as a tentative date, though that could still change. (Nasdaq)
