Trip.com Group Limited (TCOM): Among Billionaire Lei Zhang's Stock Picks with Huge Upside Potential
We recently published a list of . In this article, we are going to take a look at where Trip.com Group Limited (NASDAQ:TCOM) stands against other billionaire Lei Zhang's stock picks with huge upside potential.
Lei Zhang, the founder and CEO of Hillhouse Capital, is one of the most influential yet low-profile figures in the world of investing. Born and raised in China, Zhang later studied in the US, earning an MBA from Yale, where he was influenced by David Swensen, the university's legendary endowment manager. It was with Swensen's support that Zhang launched Hillhouse in 2005, initially backed with capital from Yale's endowment fund. Hillhouse Capital started small but quickly established itself as a powerhouse in Asia's fast-evolving markets. The firm is known for its long-term, research-driven approach, often taking significant positions in high-growth companies and partnering with management teams to help scale operations. Rather than chasing short-term gains, Zhang's strategy is focused on building durable, competitive businesses.
One of Hillhouse's early and most notable investments was in Tencent, the Chinese tech giant. The firm got in when the company was still relatively unknown outside China, and the bet paid off tremendously. Other major holdings have included JD, Baidu, and Meituan, as well as a growing number of companies in sectors like healthcare, logistics, and consumer goods. Zhang's investment style blends elements of private equity and public market investing. He's not afraid to hold stakes for many years, and Hillhouse often works closely with portfolio companies to improve operations and governance. This hands-on, collaborative model has helped the firm build a strong reputation among entrepreneurs and institutional investors alike.
Hillhouse Capital has since expanded beyond China and now manages tens of billions of dollars across Asia and other markets, with offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, and New York. Despite its size, the firm remains relatively discreet. Zhang himself rarely gives interviews and avoids the spotlight, preferring to let the results speak for themselves. Hillhouse Investment has built a reputation for exceptional returns, achieving annualized gains as high as 52% from its founding through 2012. Its expansion has been fueled by a consistent ability to deliver strong results even as the firm has grown. Hillhouse has a broad sector focus that includes technology and enterprise software. The firm also frequently collaborates with other major investors, such as Sequoia Capital, through co-investment partnerships.
Under Zhang's leadership, Hillhouse has become synonymous with disciplined growth investing in some of the world's most dynamic economies. For many, Zhang represents a new breed of the global investor: one who bridges East and West, and who plays the long game in an increasingly complex financial landscape.
For this list, we picked stocks from Hillhouse Capital's 13F portfolio as of the end of the fourth quarter of 2024. We listed them in the ascending order of analysts' average upside potential. These equities are also popular among other hedge funds.
Note: All data was recorded on May 7, 2025.
At Insider Monkey we are obsessed with the stocks that hedge funds pile into. The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
A customer in a travel agents office, highlighting the convenience of the companies corporate travel solutions.Upside Potential: 21.08%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 51
Trip.com Group Limited (NASDAQ:TCOM) is a global one-stop travel service provider offering a comprehensive range of travel products, services, and content through advanced technology and a vast ecosystem of partners. The company's platform connects users with over 1.5 million accommodations, 640+ airlines, and 65,000 partners worldwide. It serves leisure and business travelers with online and offline support, personalized experiences, and mobile-first convenience. Its open platform enables ecosystem partners to reach global audiences and expand their offerings, reinforcing our international presence and leadership.
Trip.com Group Limited (NASDAQ:TCOM) delivered strong financial performance in 2024, with full-year net revenue reaching RMB 53.3 billion, a 20% year-over-year increase driven by resilient travel demand. The accommodation segment contributed RMB 21.6 billion (up +25% Year-over-year), while transportation ticketing generated RMB 20.3 billion (+10%). Packaged tours surged 38% to RMB 4.3 billion, led by a 100% growth in international business, and corporate travel rose 11% to RMB 2.5 billion. International revenue comprised 10% of total revenue, up from 2023, with Q4 international bookings growing 70% year-over-year. AI tools like TripGenie and itinerary personalization boosted engagement, and tailored offerings for seniors and youth fueled demand. Inbound travel soared due to relaxed visa policies, and outbound bookings surpassed pre-pandemic levels.
Trip.com maintains a positive 2025 outlook, driven by robust travel demand, expanding international flight capacity, and rising cross-border travel. During Chinese New Year, outbound bookings rose over 20% and inbound travel saw triple-digit growth. While hotel prices remain slightly below 2024 levels, gradual recovery and increased supply reflect industry confidence. Continued investment in infrastructure and AI will support sustained growth.
Overall, TCOM ranks 9th on our list of billionaire Lei Zhang's stock picks with huge upside potential. While we acknowledge the potential of TCOM as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold great promise for delivering high returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than TCOM but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires.
Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Global EV sales rise in May as China hits 2025 peak -Rho Motion
By Jesus Calero (Reuters) -Global sales of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles rose 24% in May compared with the same period a year ago, as strength in China offset slower growth in North America, according to market research firm Rho Motion. Electric vehicle sales in China surpassed over one million units in a single month for the first time this year, driven by strong domestic demand and targeted export efforts from Chinese manufacturers, notably BYD, tapping into emerging markets. BYD's exports to Mexico and Southeast Asia, along with Uzbekistan, have significantly boosted sales in these regions, Rho Motion data manager Charles Lester said. Fleet incentives in Germany and robust growth in Southern Europe helped lift the European market, while the expiry of Canadian subsidies dragged on North American demand, he added. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT Global automakers face a 25% import tariff in the United States, the world's second-largest car market, causing many of them to withdraw their outlooks for 2025. In Europe, new incentives for fleet buyers in Germany are expected to support electric car sales through the second half of the year. Tesla's Model Y production in Berlin shields it from tariffs, yet it faces market share pressures as production ramps up globally amidst shifting trade tensions. President Donald Trump's stance towards emissions standards and uncertainties around tariffs has also hampered EV growth in North America. In the U.S., tax credits for EVs are still available but will begin phasing out from 2026, contributing to hesitation among buyers. BY THE NUMBERS Global sales of battery-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids rose to 1.6 million units in May, Rho Motion data showed. Sales in China grew more than 24% from the same month last year to 1.02 million vehicles. Europe posted a 36.2% increase to 0.33 million units, while North American sales edged up just 7.5% to 0.16 million. Sales in the rest of the world rose 38% to 0.15 million vehicles. KEY QUOTE "The story this month with global vehicle sales is the continued chasm between Chinese market growth versus the faltering market in North America," Charles Lester said. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Porsche Drops Truth Bomb on U.S. Production Plans Amid Tariff Negotiations
Porsche Drops Truth Bomb on U.S. Production Plans Amid Tariff Negotiations originally appeared on Autoblog. Porsche has dismissed a Bloomberg report stating that the automaker is considering moving some of its final assembly to the U.S. to ease tariff impacts. The initial report referenced Porsche possibly installing interior components or fitting tires in the U.S., where it currently has no production presence. Instead, Porsche restated its stance from April that U.S. production localization doesn't make financial sense due to its relatively low sales volume. In April, Porsche CFO Jochen Breckner added that U.S. localization wouldn't occur even if the automaker partnered with another brand from its parent company, Volkswagen Group. Still, Volkswagen Group is seriously considering expanding its U.S. manufacturing footprint with another one of its subsidiaries, Audi. An Audi spokesperson reportedly told Automotive News 'We want to increase our presence in the U.S.,' while adding that the company is confident it'll finalize specific details with Volkswagen Group by the year's end. Volkswagen currently operates one U.S. plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and its competitors, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, have factories in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and Tuscaloosa, Alabama, respectively. Porsche's problems in 2025 aren't limited to U.S. tariffs. During Q1, the brand's sales fell 42% in China. Four years ago, Porsche achieved its highest annual sales in China, at 95,671. Chinese consumers are gravitating away from Porsche and turning to newer companies like Xiaomi and BYD's high-end Yangwang brand. Xiaomi's first model, the electric SU7 sport sedan, thrived in China with its Porsche-inspired styling available at a lower price. The $72,591 Xiaomi SU7 Ultra variant with 1,548 horsepower received about 10,000 pre-orders in two hours, slightly exceeding Porsche's Q1 China sales this year. Porsche CEO Oliver Blume said, 'We don't care about the volume,' and that the company was more concerned with keeping its prices at a high level, 'appropriate for Porsche,' Reuters reports. However, Blume also told Porsche investors at the company's annual conference on May 21: 'Our market in China has literally collapsed,' according to The New York Times. Last month, Porsche delayed its all-electric versions of the 718 Boxster and Cayman for the second time, citing difficulty sourcing the models' high-performance battery cells. In April, Porsche said drivers could expect the two electric vehicles (EVs) in 2026, but its most recent delay pushes the release to at least 2027. Porsche has scaled back its financial outlook for 2025 by about 2 billion euros ($2.28 billion), with an expected profit margin range decline of between 6.5% and 8.5% from 10% to 12%. Oliver Blume's desire to maintain Porsche's prices and keep the company's production out of the U.S. makes it likely that the automaker will raise its lineup's costs. Blume, who is also Volkswagen Group's CEO, confirmed he spoke directly to the U.S. commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, in Washington, D.C., but agreed with Lutnick to keep the conversation's details confidential. However, Porsche is far from the only company that could increase prices because of tariffs, and some of Volkswagen Group's other subsidiaries, such as Audi, can ease tariff impacts with increased U.S. manufacturing. Porsche's approach is more likely to hurt the company in its second-largest market, China, as the country's electric vehicle price war heats up. Porsche Drops Truth Bomb on U.S. Production Plans Amid Tariff Negotiations first appeared on Autoblog on Jun 11, 2025 This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Blue Acquisition Corp. Announces the Pricing of $175,000,000 Initial Public Offering
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., June 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Acquisition Corp. (the "Company") announced today the pricing of its initial public offering of 17,500,000 units at a price of $10.00 per unit. The units are expected to be listed on the Nasdaq Global Market ("Nasdaq") and begin trading tomorrow, June 13, 2025, under the ticker symbol "BACCU." Each unit consists of one Class A ordinary share and one right (the "Share Right") to receive one tenth (1/10) of one Class A ordinary share upon the consummation of an initial business combination. There are no warrants issued publicly or privately in connection with this offering. Once the securities constituting the units begin separate trading, the Class A ordinary shares and Share Rights are expected to be listed on Nasdaq under the symbols "BACC" and "BACCR," respectively. The offering is expected to close on June 16, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions. The Company has granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 2,650,000 units at the initial public offering price to cover over-allotments, if any. The Company is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, amalgamation, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Although the Company may pursue an initial business combination in any business or industry, it intends to focus on identifying a business combination target within a manufacturing company or data center that aligns with green energy initiatives and sustainable industrial practices, as well as software development in emerging technologies like AI, Cybersecurity and energy management. The Company's management team is led by Ketan Seth, its Chief Executive Officer and a director, and David Bauer, its Chief Financial Officer and a director. In addition, the Board includes General (Ret.) Wesley Clark, Dino Dario Ferrari, DR. Kenneth Moritsugu, and Nadim Qureshi. Glenn Hill, Mina Janeska and Francisco de Borbon Graf von Hardenberg are Special Advisors to the Company. BTIG, LLC is acting as sole book-running manager for the offering and Roberts & Ryan, Inc. is co-manager. The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. When available, copies of the prospectus may be obtained from BTIG, LLC, Attention: 65 East 55th Street, New York, New York 10022, or by email at ProspectusDelivery@ or by accessing the SEC's website, A registration statement relating to the securities has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and became effective on June 12, 2025. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements," including with respect to the proposed initial public offering and search for an initial business combination. No assurance can be given that the offering discussed above will be completed on the terms described, or at all, or that the net proceeds will be used as indicated. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's registration statement and preliminary prospectus for the Company's initial public offering filed with the SEC. Copies of these documents are available on the SEC's website, The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law. Company Contact: Blue Acquisition Corp1601 Anita LaneNewport Beach CA, 92660-4803Attn: Ketan Seth, CEOkseth@ dbauer@ 543-5060 View original content: SOURCE Blue Acquisition Corp. Sign in to access your portfolio