TRIP.COM-S (09961) shares surged 5.25% in Friday's trading session, buoyed by a bullish research report from CICC that maintained an outperform rating and raised profit forecasts for the online travel giant.

CICC's report highlighted several positive factors driving their optimistic outlook. The firm maintained its revenue forecasts for TRIP.COM-S for fiscal years 2025/2026 but raised its 2025 non-GAAP net profit forecast by 8% to 17.7 billion yuan, citing better-than-expected marketing expense control. CICC also reiterated its target price of HK$588.5 for Hong Kong shares, representing a 15% upside potential from current share prices.

The report emphasized TRIP.COM-S's strong performance across various segments. In the second quarter of 2025, the company's revenue increased 16% year-over-year to 14.9 billion yuan, exceeding market expectations. Notably, the company's domestic hotel booking growth outpaced the industry during the summer period, while outbound tourism maintained resilience, recovering to over 120% of 2019 levels. Additionally, TRIP.COM-S's international OTA booking volume saw a significant increase of over 60% year-over-year, with the company's Trip.com brand maintaining rapid growth despite competitive pressures. These positive indicators appear to have fueled investor confidence, contributing to the stock's substantial rise in today's trading session.