Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) Receives Consensus Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from Analysts

Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG - Get Free Report) has been given a consensus recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by the thirty-one brokerages that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 12 month price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $5,453.15.

Several research firms have commented on BKNG. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an "outperform" rating and issued a $5,900.00 target price on shares of Booking in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. Bank of America upped their price target on Booking from $5,580.00 to $5,820.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Monday, June 9th. Robert W. Baird upped their price target on Booking from $5,550.00 to $5,700.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Booking from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. Finally, UBS Group cut their target price on Booking from $5,960.00 to $5,557.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 28th.

Booking Stock Performance

BKNG opened at $5,702.90 on Monday. Booking has a 52-week low of $3,180.00 and a 52-week high of $5,839.41. The stock has a market capitalization of $185.57 billion, a PE ratio of 35.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.75 and a beta of 1.40. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $5,501.63 and its 200-day moving average price is $5,022.36.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 29th. The business services provider reported $24.81 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $17.57 by $7.24. Booking had a negative return on equity of 143.67% and a net margin of 22.58%. The company had revenue of $4.76 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.58 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $20.39 earnings per share. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 7.9% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that Booking will post 209.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Booking Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 6th were issued a $9.60 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 6th. This represents a $38.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.67%. Booking's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 23.89%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CEO Glenn D. Fogel sold 1,013 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $5,695.00, for a total value of $5,769,035.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 26,633 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $151,674,935. This represents a 3.66% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 3,039 shares of company stock valued at $16,963,769. Corporate insiders own 0.16% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Booking

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Wealth Preservation Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Booking during the 1st quarter worth approximately $28,000. Atwood & Palmer Inc. acquired a new position in Booking during the second quarter worth $29,000. Summit Securities Group LLC acquired a new position in Booking during the fourth quarter worth $30,000. Bernard Wealth Management Corp. acquired a new position in Booking during the fourth quarter worth $30,000. Finally, Keystone Global Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Booking in the first quarter valued at $32,000. 92.42% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Booking Company 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.

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