Benchstone Capital Management LP Invests $28.13 Million in Booking Holdings Inc. $BKNG

Key Points

• Benchstone Capital Management LP has acquired a new stake in Booking Holdings Inc., purchasing 6,107 shares valued at approximately $28.13 million, making it the firm's 18th largest position.
• Booking reported earnings of $55.40 per share, exceeding expectations, with revenues of $6.80 billion, a 16.0% increase from last year.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $9.60 per share, scheduled for payment on September 30th, resulting in an annualized yield of 0.7%.

Benchstone Capital Management LP purchased a new position in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG - Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 6,107 shares of the business services provider's stock, valued at approximately $28,134,000. Booking makes up 3.0% of Benchstone Capital Management LP's investment portfolio, making the stock its 18th biggest holding.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Elequin Capital LP boosted its stake in Booking by 20.0% during the fourth quarter. Elequin Capital LP now owns 12 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $60,000 after buying an additional 2 shares in the last quarter. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Booking by 1.2% during the first quarter. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC now owns 167 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $809,000 after purchasing an additional 2 shares during the last quarter. WNY Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Booking by 3.7% during the first quarter. WNY Asset Management LLC now owns 56 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $258,000 after purchasing an additional 2 shares during the last quarter. Gries Financial LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Booking by 1.6% during the first quarter. Gries Financial LLC now owns 125 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $576,000 after purchasing an additional 2 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sheaff Brock Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Booking by 0.5% during the first quarter. Sheaff Brock Investment Advisors LLC now owns 403 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $1,854,000 after purchasing an additional 2 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 92.42% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on BKNG shares. B. Riley reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $6,700.00 price objective (up from $6,100.00) on shares of Booking in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Booking from $5,411.00 to $5,418.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. Susquehanna increased their price objective on Booking from $6,000.00 to $6,500.00 and gave the stock a "positive" rating in a research note on Friday, August 1st. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued a "neutral" rating on shares of Booking in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. Finally, Truist Financial increased their price objective on Booking from $4,720.00 to $5,630.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, July 14th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have given a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $5,781.04.

Booking Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ BKNG traded up $77.40 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $5,582.95. 189,750 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 165,104. The stock has a market cap of $180.94 billion, a PE ratio of 38.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 1.39. The company's fifty day moving average is $5,617.88 and its two-hundred day moving average is $5,189.19. Booking Holdings Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $3,700.97 and a fifty-two week high of $5,839.41.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, July 29th. The business services provider reported $55.40 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $50.32 by $5.08. Booking had a negative return on equity of 134.19% and a net margin of 19.23%.The firm had revenue of $6.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.54 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $41.90 EPS. The company's revenue was up 16.0% on a year-over-year basis. Booking has set its Q3 2025 guidance at EPS. Research analysts forecast that Booking Holdings Inc. will post 209.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Booking Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Friday, September 5th will be paid a $9.60 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 5th. This represents a $38.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.7%. Booking's payout ratio is currently 26.71%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CEO Glenn D. Fogel sold 1,013 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, August 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $5,476.89, for a total transaction of $5,548,089.57. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 24,620 shares in the company, valued at approximately $134,841,031.80. This represents a 3.95% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 4,052 shares of company stock valued at $22,511,858. 0.16% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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.