LendingTree (TREE) | News Based Sentiment Analysis

• On October 1, 2025, LendingTree faced a downgrade from Zacks Research, moving from a "strong-buy" to a "hold" rating, though the average analyst target price remained at $65.38, indicating continued, albeit lessened, optimism. This downgrade could introduce short-term investor hesitation.
• StockInvest.us shifted its analysis of LendingTree to a "Hold" candidate on October 3, 2025, noting a potential for turnaround despite existing negative signals. This contrasts with previous "Sell" recommendations, suggesting a slight shift in technical outlook.
• LendingTree's Q2 2025 earnings, reported July 31st but reviewed in October, showed revenue of $250.1 million – a 19% year-over-year increase – and EPS of $1.13, exceeding the $1.09 consensus estimate by $0.04. This strong performance provides a positive backdrop as the company approaches its next earnings release.
• Insider selling activity was prominent in August, with Director Diego A. Rodriguez selling $83,736.00 worth of shares and CFO Jason Bengel selling $445,455.34 worth on August 25, 2025, totaling $598,331 in sales over three months. However, insiders also purchased 453.66 thousand shares during the same period, indicating mixed sentiment.
• The average brokerage recommendation for LendingTree increased to 1.43 (on a scale of 1 to 5) as of October 2, 2025, up from 1.14 a month prior, with five firms maintaining a "Strong Buy" rating and one a "Buy" rating. This suggests growing confidence among brokerage firms.
• Analysts currently forecast an average price target of $71.00 for LendingTree, as of October 2, 2025, representing a potential 9.75% increase from the last closing price of $64.69, with a range of $62.00 to $80.00.
• On October 3, 2025, LendingTree's stock price declined by -0.394%, falling from $63.44 to $63.19, marking its fifth consecutive day of decline and a 15.22% drop over the last 10 days.
• LendingTree is scheduled to report its Q3 2025 earnings on October 30, 2025, a key event for investors to assess the company's continued performance and future outlook.

The Investment Story: October presented a mixed picture for LendingTree, with analyst downgrades and a recent stock price decline offset by strong Q2 earnings and a generally positive outlook from brokerage firms. The upcoming Q3 earnings report on October 30th will be crucial in determining the company's trajectory.

What It Means for Investors: The conflicting signals suggest a period of uncertainty. While recent financial performance is encouraging, the negative analyst and insider activity, coupled with the recent price decline, warrants caution. Investors should closely monitor the upcoming earnings report for clarity.

Looking Ahead: The primary focus for investors next month is the Q3 earnings report on October 30, 2025. Pay close attention to management's guidance and commentary on the broader economic environment.

The Bottom Line: LendingTree remains a cautiously optimistic investment. Recent performance is solid, but the mixed signals require careful consideration. The October 30th earnings report will be a key catalyst for determining the company's near-term direction.