FY2027 EPS Estimates for Booking Cut by Erste Group Bank

Key Points

• Erste Group Bank lowered its FY2027 EPS estimate for Booking Holdings to $12.33 from $12.36, though the revised forecast remains above the broader consensus estimate of $10.48.
• Booking recently exceeded quarterly expectations, reporting $2.54 EPS versus $2.43 expected and $7.35 billion in revenue versus $7.19 billion estimated; revenue rose 8.1% year over year.
• Analyst sentiment remains favorable, with the stock carrying a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating and an average price target of $236.98, while institutional investors own 92.42% of shares.

Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG - Free Report) - Research analysts at Erste Group Bank dropped their FY2027 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Booking in a research note issued to investors on Friday, September 18th. Erste Group Bank analyst H. Engel now expects that the business services provider will post earnings of $12.33 per share for the year, down from their prior forecast of $12.36. The consensus estimate for Booking's current full-year earnings is $10.48 per share.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 3rd. The business services provider reported $2.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.43 by $0.11. The business had revenue of $7.35 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.19 billion. Booking had a negative return on equity of 102.96% and a net margin of 25.53%.The company's quarterly revenue was up 8.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $55.40 earnings per share.

A number of other analysts have also commented on the stock. Evercore restated an "outperform" rating and set a $270.00 price target on shares of Booking in a research note on Monday, August 24th. Wedbush lifted their price objective on shares of Booking from $211.00 to $247.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $215.00 target price on shares of Booking and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Monday, July 20th. BMO Capital Markets restated an "outperform" rating and issued a $250.00 target price (up from $240.00) on shares of Booking in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. Finally, Citigroup reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a $236.00 price target (up from $225.00) on shares of Booking in a research report on Wednesday, August 5th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-six have issued a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $236.98.

Booking Stock Up 0.4%

Shares of BKNG opened at $168.52 on Tuesday. Booking has a 12-month low of $150.14 and a 12-month high of $225.00. The business's fifty day moving average is $193.13 and its 200 day moving average is $179.25. The stock has a market cap of $126.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.65, a P/E/G ratio of 1.04 and a beta of 1.07.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Booking

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. BlackRock Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Booking during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $11,646,302,000. Deutsche Bank AG purchased a new stake in Booking in the second quarter worth $1,691,186,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp purchased a new stake in Booking in the second quarter worth $1,370,455,000. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC raised its stake in shares of Booking by 2,525.5% in the second quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 6,101,866 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $1,087,597,000 after buying an additional 5,869,459 shares during the period. Finally, Amundi raised its stake in shares of Booking by 2,833.0% in the second quarter. Amundi now owns 5,923,013 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $1,055,718,000 after buying an additional 5,721,071 shares during the period. 92.42% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity at Booking

In other news, insider Paulo Pisano sold 3,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $203.48, for a total value of $610,440.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 73,400 shares of the company's stock, valued at $14,935,432. This represents a 3.93% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CFO Ewout L. Steenbergen sold 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $211.03, for a total value of $4,220,600.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 59,794 shares of the company's stock, valued at $12,618,327.82. The trade was a 25.06% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders sold 83,050 shares of company stock valued at $17,182,274 over the last three months. Insiders own 0.17% of the company's stock.

Booking Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 11th will be issued a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 11th. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.0%. Booking's dividend payout ratio is currently 18.58%.

About Booking

Booking Holdings Inc is a global provider of online travel and related services. The company connects consumers with accommodations, flights, rental cars, restaurants and travel experiences through a portfolio of digital brands and websites.

Its principal brands include Booking.com, which offers lodging, transportation and travel experiences; Priceline, which provides online booking services for hotels, flights, rental cars and vacation packages; Agoda, which focuses primarily on travel bookings in Asia and other international markets; KAYAK, a travel metasearch engine; OpenTable, a restaurant reservation and management platform; and Rentalcars.com, a global car rental service.

Booking Holdings serves customers, travel providers and restaurants across numerous countries and regions, with a particularly extensive international presence.

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