LendingTree rises 32.8% after third-quarter results beat estimates

What happened

LendingTree (TREE) rose 32.8% on November 4, 2026, after the company released third-quarter results that topped guidance and said it would resume share repurchases. The stock opened 9.6% above the previous close and closed at $38.35 on heavy volume, trading 5.1 times its 20-day average. The move came as the S&P 500 rose 1.6% and the Financial Services sector median rose 1.7%.

How big was the move

The session’s gain was large relative to the stock’s typical swings: it was 7.1 times a typical daily move for this stock and 31.2 percentage points better than the sector median on the day. Over the last five sessions the stock rose 44.6% and over one month it rose 55.3%. The stock’s market sensitivity shows a beta of 1.12, meaning the stock tends to move more than the market. By contrast, the S&P 500 fell 0.7% over the past five sessions while the stock climbed sharply.

The technical picture

On short-term technicals the stock was extended: the closing price was 42.7% above its 20-day moving average and 44.5% above its 50-day moving average, and the Relative Strength Index (14 days) was 83, a level often called overbought. The stock sat 2.1% above its 200-day moving average, but the 50-day average is below the 200-day average, a sign of a weak longer-term trend. The share price remained 44.4% below its 52-week high. Volatility was 74% annualized over 60 days, lower than 54% of its own readings over five years.

Fundamentals and valuation

For the four quarters through September 30, 2026, LendingTree reported revenue of $1.30 billion, up 23.1% from a year earlier, and diluted earnings per share of $7.02, which rose 588.2% from a year earlier. Gross margin was 96.5% (a year earlier: 96.2%) and operating margin was 8.1% (a year earlier: 5.7%). Free-cash-flow margin was 6.2% and return on invested capital was 14.0%. The balance sheet included net debt of 7.4 times EBITDA, and share count over one year increased by 4.5%.

Valuation metrics underlined the stock’s low multiple: the price to trailing earnings was 5.5 times trailing earnings and price to forward earnings was 7.2 times expected earnings. Free-cash-flow yield was 20.7%. On its own history the price to trailing earnings was lower than 56% of its own readings over the past five years, with a five-year median of 23.3 times earnings. PromtFinance scores ranked the company 88 for Value (Strong) and 73 for Growth (Positive), while Momentum was 12 (Very weak) and Stability was 4 (Very weak).

Earnings and analyst expectations

LendingTree reported on November 3, 2026, earnings per share of $2.20 against $1.26 expected, 74.6% above estimates. Consolidated third-quarter revenue was $343.6 million, up 12% year-over-year across all three segments, and adjusted EBITDA was $39.6 million, according to Seeking Alpha and Zacks Investment Research. GAAP results included a net loss of $(72.4) million, or $(5.15) per diluted share, driven by a $98.8 million non-cash goodwill impairment; variable marketing margin was $94.9 million.

Management said results exceeded prior guidance, citing strength in its insurance business, improvement in small-business lending and tighter cost controls that offset continued pressure in mortgage-related markets. Management also announced plans to resume share repurchases in the fourth quarter of 2026, the company’s first buyback program since 2022, saying lower leverage, stronger cash flow and revenue growth supported the move.

Analysts covering the stock numbered 23, with a consensus price target of $69.00, which is 79.9% above the closing price, and 83% of ratings at Buy or Strong Buy. The next scheduled report is March 1, 2027. The company has recorded one consecutive quarter beating estimates, and its average surprise over the last four reports was 27.7% below estimates; typical two-day reactions after recent reports saw the stock rose 2.7%.

What to watch

• March 1, 2027: next scheduled earnings report
• Net debt of 7.4 times EBITDA as reported in the fundamentals
• Consensus price target $69.00, 79.9% above the closing price
• Share repurchases to resume in the fourth quarter of 2026
• One year change: fell 41.7% and is 53.9 percentage points behind the S&P 500