06:30 AM EST, 02/25/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Trip.com ( TCOM ) recorded better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings and revenue amid robust travel demand, but the results declined from the previous three-month period due to seasonality, sending its US-listed shares down early Tuesday.

The Chinese travel operator's adjusted earnings came in at 4.35 renminbi ($0.60) per American depositary share for the December quarter, up from 4 renminbi a year ago, it said late Monday. The consensus on FactSet was for non-GAAP EPS of 3.90 renminbi. Net revenue climbed 23% year over year to 12.74 billion renminbi, ahead of the Street's view for 12.33 billion renminbi.

The company's adjusted EPS for the fourth quarter dropped from 8.75 renminbi recorded in the previous three-month period while revenue fell 20% on a sequential basis, mainly due to seasonality. Trip.com's ( TCOM ) Nasdaq-listed American depositary receipts fell 8.1% in the most recent premarket activity.

Accommodation reservation revenue jumped 33% year over year to 5.18 billion renminbi. Sales from transportation ticketing advanced 16% to 4.78 billion renminbi, while packaged-tour revenue gained 24% to 870 million renminbi. However, all three segments saw revenue decline from the previous quarter due to seasonality, according to the company. Corporate travel sales increased 11% year over year to 702 million renminbi.

Outbound hotel and air reservations recovered to 120% of pre-COVID levels, while air ticket and hotel bookings on the company's international online travel agency platform surged more than 70% annually. Inbound travel bookings soared above 100% year over year, the company said.

"Outbound travel continues to show robust growth, maintaining the positive momentum we observed in previous quarters," Chief Executive Jane Sun said during an earnings call, according to a FactSet transcript. "The easing of visa application processes and the increasing availability of international flights have further fueled this upward trajectory."

Cost of revenue increased by 31% to 2.64 billion renminbi. Total operating expenses rose to 7.8 billion renminbi from 6.12 billion renminbi in the prior-year quarter, according to Trip.com ( TCOM ).

"We are committed to investing in (artificial intelligence) and promoting inbound travel to foster innovation and enhance the overall travel experience," Executive Chairman James Liang said in a statement. "We anticipate another year of growth and success within the industry."