JPMorgan Chase & Co. Initiates Coverage on LendingTree (NASDAQ:TREE)

Equities researchers at JPMorgan Chase & Co. began coverage on shares of LendingTree (NASDAQ:TREE) in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday. The firm set an “overweight” rating and a $50.00 price target on the financial services provider’s stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co.‘s price target indicates a potential upside of 9.94% from the stock’s previous close.

A number of other research firms have also issued reports on TREE. Zacks Research lowered shares of LendingTree from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 30th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c-)” rating on shares of LendingTree in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of LendingTree from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, April 4th. Needham & Company LLC reduced their price target on shares of LendingTree from $85.00 to $60.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, March 3rd. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their price target on shares of LendingTree from $83.00 to $70.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, March 4th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $67.40.

LendingTree Price Performance

TREE stock opened at $45.48 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $41.38 and a two-hundred day moving average of $51.59. The company has a current ratio of 1.67, a quick ratio of 1.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.35. The firm has a market capitalization of $630.35 million, a PE ratio of 4.24 and a beta of 2.13. LendingTree has a one year low of $32.65 and a one year high of $77.35.

LendingTree (NASDAQ:TREE) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, March 2nd. The financial services provider reported ($0.39) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.90 by ($1.29). The company had revenue of $310.92 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $286.56 million. LendingTree had a return on equity of 12.44% and a net margin of 13.55%.LendingTree’s revenue for the quarter was up 22.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that LendingTree will post 0.48 earnings per share for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On LendingTree

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in TREE. Hsbc Holdings PLC raised its position in shares of LendingTree by 49.8% in the fourth quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 14,113 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $750,000 after purchasing an additional 4,689 shares during the period. Mackenzie Financial Corp bought a new stake in shares of LendingTree during the 4th quarter worth $659,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its stake in LendingTree by 861.5% in the 4th quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 3,750 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $199,000 after buying an additional 3,360 shares during the last quarter. VARCOV Co. acquired a new position in LendingTree in the 4th quarter valued at $544,000. Finally, Man Group plc bought a new position in LendingTree in the 4th quarter worth $1,029,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.26% of the company’s stock.

Key Stories Impacting LendingTree

Here are the key news stories impacting LendingTree this week:

• Positive Sentiment: JPMorgan initiated coverage with an “overweight” rating and $50 price target, implying roughly a mid‑teens upside from current levels — this analyst action is the most direct bullish catalyst for the stock today because it can drive buying interest and re-rating. LendingTree (NASDAQ:TREE) Now Covered by JPMorgan Chase & Co.
• Positive Sentiment: Mainstream coverage noting that “Chewy and LendingTree shares are soaring” highlights momentum and investor attention — likely reflecting the JPMorgan upgrade and positive headline flow, which can amplify intraday buying. Chewy and LendingTree shares are soaring, what you need to know
• Neutral Sentiment: LendingTree confirmed it will report Q1 2026 results after the close on April 30 — a scheduled catalyst that could move the stock either way depending on revenue/advertising trends and margin progress. Investors should watch guidance and ad-spend dynamics. LendingTree, Inc. to Report First Quarter 2026 Earnings on April 30, 2026
• Neutral Sentiment: LendingTree’s consumer-cost research (coverage in MSN/Yahoo) that the cost to raise a child tops ~$300k is generating PR and traffic; this kind of data can drive site engagement and incremental ad/lead revenue but is not a direct earnings driver. LendingTree: It Costs $303,418 To Raise A Child
• Neutral Sentiment: Local and consumer stories about loans vs. credit cards and small‑business trends are background noise for TREE — they touch on consumer finance behavior but are unlikely to move the stock materially by themselves. Loans vs. credit cards; Norfolk woman navigates finances and paying down debt
• Negative Sentiment: A National Mortgage News piece reports Gen Z and millennial homeowners struggling with mortgage payments — potentially a negative for LendingTree if higher payment stress reduces new mortgage originations or advertising demand, or increases credit risk for partners. This is a macro signal that could weigh on mortgage-related revenue over time. Gen Z, millennial homeowners struggle with mortgage payments

About LendingTree

LendingTree, Inc operates an online marketplace that connects consumers with a network of lenders and financial service providers. Through its platform, borrowers can compare loan offers for mortgages, home equity loans, personal loans, student loans, auto loans and small business financing. The company also offers tools for comparing credit cards and deposit accounts, allowing users to research rates and terms from a range of providers in one place.

Founded in 1996 by Doug Lebda, LendingTree pioneered the comparison-shopping model for consumer credit products.