Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) Given "Buy" Rating at BTIG Research

Key Points

• BTIG Research reiterated a “Buy” rating on Booking Holdings and set a $250 price target, implying approximately 19.7% upside from the reported share price.
• Analyst sentiment remains positive, with Booking receiving a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $236.45.
• Booking exceeded quarterly expectations, reporting $2.54 in EPS versus $2.43 expected and $7.35 billion in revenue, up 8.1% year over year.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG - Get Free Report)'s stock had its "buy" rating reiterated by stock analysts at BTIG Research in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday,Benzinga reports. They presently have a $250.00 price objective on the business services provider's stock. BTIG Research's price objective would indicate a potential upside of 19.68% from the stock's current price.

A number of other equities analysts have also issued reports on the company. Susquehanna reissued a "positive" rating and issued a $240.00 price objective on shares of Booking in a report on Thursday, August 6th. B. Riley Financial reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $274.00 price target (up from $264.00) on shares of Booking in a research report on Wednesday, August 5th. Argus raised their price target on Booking from $210.00 to $245.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, August 10th. Wedbush lifted their price objective on shares of Booking from $211.00 to $247.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 5th. Finally, Citigroup reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a $236.00 price objective (up from $225.00) on shares of Booking in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-seven have given a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $236.45.

Booking Stock Down 2.3%

Shares of NASDAQ:BKNG opened at $208.89 on Thursday. The company's 50-day moving average price is $190.88 and its 200 day moving average price is $177.38. The company has a market cap of $156.96 billion, a PE ratio of 23.12, a P/E/G ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 1.07. Booking has a fifty-two week low of $150.14 and a fifty-two week high of $227.72.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, August 3rd. The business services provider reported $2.54 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.43 by $0.11. The firm had revenue of $7.35 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $7.19 billion. Booking had a net margin of 25.53% and a negative return on equity of 102.96%. Booking's quarterly revenue was up 8.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $55.40 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Booking will post 10.47 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Booking

In related news, Director Robert J. Mylod, Jr. sold 1,000 shares of Booking stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $206.70, for a total value of $206,700.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 15,000 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,100,500. The trade was a 6.25% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, VP Peter J. Millones sold 50,050 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, August 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $207.59, for a total transaction of $10,389,879.50. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president owned 375,025 shares of the company's stock, valued at $77,851,439.75. This represents a 11.77% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders have sold 77,550 shares of company stock valued at $16,112,304 over the last three months. 0.17% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Booking

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Osbon Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Booking during the fourth quarter worth approximately $27,000. Mcguire Capital Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of Booking in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Strive Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Booking in the third quarter worth $27,000. Swiss RE Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Booking in the fourth quarter worth $27,000. Finally, Godfrey Financial Associates Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Booking during the 4th quarter worth $32,000. Institutional investors own 92.42% of the company's stock.

About Booking

Booking Holdings Inc is a global online travel company that operates a portfolio of consumer brands and technology platforms that facilitate the search for and booking of travel services. The company's businesses focus on accommodations, transportation and related travel services through consumer-facing websites and apps as well as partner distribution channels. Booking Holdings was originally founded as Priceline in the late 1990s and adopted the Booking Holdings name in 2018; it is headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut.

Its core offerings include online reservations for hotels, vacation rentals and other lodging; flight and car rental search and booking; and ancillary services that support travel planning and on-property experiences.

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