Expedia, Amazon: S&P Gainers

NEW YORK (TheStreet) - Expedia and Amazon were among the best-performing stocks in the S&P 500 on Friday.

The S&P 500 rose 3.38 points, or 0.24%, to 1,403.36.

Shares of Expedia climbed 23.54% Friday to $40.31. JPMorgan analysts raised Expedia's rating to neutral from underweight after Expedia's strong first-quarter earnings on Thursday. The firm's price target is $37.

The Internet travel company reported first-quarter adjusted net income of $36.9 million, or 26 cents a share, up from year-earlier adjusted profit of $22.8 million, or 16 cents.

Analysts, on average, anticipated earnings of 15 cents a share.

Expedia shares hit a 52-week high Friday of $43. The stock's 52-week low of $22.44 was set on Oct. 4.

Expedia shares trade at an estimated price-to-earnings ratio for next year of 12.49X; the average for travel and tourism companies is 16.99X. For comparison, Priceline.com has a higher forward P/E of 19.41X.

Fifteen of the 28 analysts who cover Expedia rate it at hold. Twelve analysts give the stock a buy rating and one rate it at sell.

TheStreet Ratings gives Expedia a C+ grade and hold rating. The stock has risen 38.9% year to date.

Amazon shares increased 15.75% to $226.85. The company's first-quarter earnings blew past analysts' expectations on Thursday.

Amazon reported first-quarter earnings of 28 cents per share on $13.2 billion in revenue in part based on growth in Kindle Fire sales. Analysts, on average, expected earnings of 7 cents a share on $12.9 billion in revenue.

Amazon shares trade at a forward P/E of 57.14X; the average for broad-line retailers is 19.93X.

Twenty-seven of the 42 analysts who cover Amazon rate it at buy. Fourteen analysts give the stock a hold rating and one rates it at sell.

TheStreet Ratings gives Amazon a C+ grade and a hold rating. The stock has risen 31.05% year to date.

--Written by Alexandra Zendrian in New York.

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