After a tough few years for the travel sector, ASX travel stocks are finally hitting their stride again.
With international travel rebounding and corporate bookings returning, investor interest in the sector is picking up.
So, with several top travel stocks trading well below their highs because of recent volatility, the question becomes: which one should you buy?
Here's a look at three of the Australian travel sector's biggest names and what leading brokers are saying about them.
Web Travel Group Ltd (ASX: WEB)
Following the spin-off of its online travel agency division into the newly listed Webjet Group Ltd (ASX: WJL), Web Travel Group is now laser-focused on its wholesale hotel distribution platform, WebBeds.
According to Goldman Sachs, that's a good thing. The broker has a buy rating and a $7.00 price target, suggesting a massive 75% upside from the current share price of $4.00. Goldman notes:
WEB is the second largest hotel bed wholesaler globally with <10% of the global hotel wholesale market… We believe WEB is well placed to continue to grow in key US/APAC growth markets.
While margins may moderate as the company expands in lower-margin regions, WebBeds' scale, global reach, and growth runway could make it a compelling pick for investors looking for exposure to the B2B side of travel.
Flight Centre Travel Group (ASX: FLT)
Flight Centre is still the best-known travel name on the Australian share market — and it is not going away anytime soon. The company has emerged from the pandemic leaner, more tech-savvy, and focused on profitability over footprint.
Morgans is a fan of the company. So much so, it has an add rating and $19.80 price target on its shares, which implies around 53% upside from current levels. The broker points to ongoing earnings recovery and momentum in its corporate division as key reasons to stay optimistic.
For investors looking for a household name with brand power and global reach, Flight Centre could be the one.
Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD)
Corporate Travel Management offers exposure to the global business travel recovery — and that story still has legs. With offices across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, this ASX share is well diversified and continues to grow both organically and via acquisitions.
Morgan Stanley is a fan, with an overweight rating and $18.30 price target on its shares. This implies potential upside of 51% from current levels. The broker likes the company's improving margins, which are being driven partly by vertical integration and automation.
Corporate Travel Management may not be as well-known as the others, but its scalable model and leaner operations mean it could be the quiet achiever of the sector.
