{
  "id": 1732384,
  "title": "Billionaire Howard Marks Just Bought This Beaten-Down Indian Stock. Don’t Miss The Opportunity",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/billionaire-howard-marks-just-bought-this-beaten-down-indian-stock",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-18T14:24:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Finance",
    "slug": "yahoo-finance",
    "url": "https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/billionaire-howard-marks-just-bought-142414555.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Billionaire Howard Marks recently added MakeMyTrip to his investment portfolio, after purchasing a stake worth around $52.4 million. MakeMyTrip is India's leading online travel company, offering a wide range of services including flights, hotels, holiday packages, bus and cab tickets. The stock has experienced a 25% decline this year, prompting investors to question whether this is the right time to invest.\n\nMakeMyTrip operates as the primary travel booking platform in India, with its revenue primarily derived from air tickets, hotels, and packages, as well as bus tickets. The company's business model also includes a growing other bucket, which encompasses cab services, tours, and additional add-ons. The long-term outlook for the company is promising, as India's travel industry is experiencing growth due to rising incomes and increased online bookings, particularly in smaller cities.\n\nIn the most recent quarter, MakeMyTrip reported a 20% increase in gross bookings and a 16% growth in revenue on a constant currency basis. The company's revenue mix shows that while air travel has been underperforming due to factors such as conflicts in the Middle East and rising airfares, its hotel and package segment have witnessed a 21% growth. The company's bus ticketing margins have also expanded by 32%, which demonstrates its ability to adapt to shifting travel demand and pricing pressures.\n\nMakeMyTrip's success stems from its diversified offerings, as customers tend to turn to alternative modes of travel when airfares become expensive. This adaptability has allowed the company to maintain growth despite challenging conditions in the air travel sector. Moreover, the company's utilization of artificial intelligence has helped cut costs by writing 75% of its code and handling half of its customer service calls without human intervention. This cost-saving measure benefits the company as it continues to expand its operations.\n\nHowever, the air travel segment presents a significant challenge for MakeMyTrip. International flight departures dropped by 13%, and if tensions in the Middle East escalate further, airfares may remain high, negatively impacting overall demand. Additionally, competition from players like Booking.com and Airbnb, as well as large hotel chains such as Marriott, could potentially erode the company's market share and margins. To counter these threats, MakeMyTrip has focused on offering more discounts and rebates, which, while beneficial, can impact profit margins.\n\nIn conclusion, while MakeMyTrip is currently facing challenges in the air travel sector, the company's diversified business model and adaptability give it a strong foundation to thrive in India's growing travel market. Investors should carefully weigh the potential risks and rewards before making a decision, but there is no denying the company's potential for growth.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}