BNP Paribas Trims Position in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)

BNP Paribas decreased its position in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG - Free Report) by 3.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 5,600 shares of the business services provider's stock after selling 198 shares during the quarter. Booking comprises approximately 1.2% of BNP Paribas' investment portfolio, making the stock its 24th biggest position. BNP Paribas' holdings in Booking were worth $27,933,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Booking by 5.3% in the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 39,597 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $166,787,000 after buying an additional 2,010 shares during the period. Versant Capital Management Inc grew its stake in Booking by 79.3% during the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 52 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $258,000 after buying an additional 23 shares in the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB raised its position in Booking by 5.1% during the fourth quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 179,902 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $896,455,000 after purchasing an additional 8,735 shares in the last quarter. Pensionfund Sabic boosted its stake in Booking by 37.5% in the fourth quarter. Pensionfund Sabic now owns 550 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $2,733,000 after buying an additional 150 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CWA Asset Management Group LLC increased its position in Booking by 214.2% during the 4th quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC now owns 751 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $3,731,000 after purchasing an additional 512 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 92.42% of the company's stock.

Booking Stock Down 1.9 %

BKNG traded down $97.95 during trading on Friday, hitting $5,067.32. 122,806 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 248,741. Booking Holdings Inc. has a one year low of $3,180.00 and a one year high of $5,337.24. The stock's fifty day moving average is $4,668.80 and its 200 day moving average is $4,841.24. The firm has a market cap of $164.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.28, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 1.42.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 29th. The business services provider reported $24.81 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $17.57 by $7.24. Booking had a net margin of 24.78% and a negative return on equity of 159.34%. The company had revenue of $4.76 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.58 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $20.39 EPS. Booking's revenue was up 7.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Booking Holdings Inc. will post 209.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Booking Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, June 6th will be paid a dividend of $9.60 per share. This represents a $38.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.76%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 6th. Booking's payout ratio is currently 23.89%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have weighed in on BKNG shares. DA Davidson boosted their target price on shares of Booking from $5,005.00 to $5,800.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, February 21st. B. Riley upped their target price on Booking from $6,000.00 to $6,100.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. JMP Securities lifted their price target on Booking from $5,600.00 to $5,700.00 and gave the company a "market outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Booking from $4,567.00 to $4,692.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald cut their target price on shares of Booking from $5,540.00 to $4,330.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 16th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Booking has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $5,299.29.

Booking Profile

Booking Holdings Inc, formerly The Priceline Group Inc, is a provider of travel and restaurant online reservation and related services. The Company, through its online travel companies (OTCs), connects consumers wishing to make travel reservations with providers of travel services across the world. It offers consumers an array of accommodation reservations (including hotels, bed and breakfasts, hostels, apartments, vacation rentals and other properties) through its Booking.com, priceline.com and agoda.com brands.