Junto Capital Management LP Acquires Shares of 10,513 Booking Holdings Inc. $BKNG

Key Points

• Junto Capital Management LP has made a significant investment in Booking Holdings Inc. by acquiring 10,513 shares worth approximately $48.4 million.
• Several institutional investors are actively buying shares of Booking, with 92.42% of the company's stock now held by them.
• Analyst ratings for Booking range from a "Strong Buy" to a "Hold," with target prices increased, indicating a positive outlook for the stock.

Junto Capital Management LP bought a new position in shares of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG - Free Report) in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 10,513 shares of the business services provider's stock, valued at approximately $48,432,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Wealth Preservation Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Booking in the first quarter valued at about $28,000. Keystone Global Partners LLC purchased a new position in Booking during the 1st quarter valued at about $32,000. Kapitalo Investimentos Ltda acquired a new position in shares of Booking during the 4th quarter worth approximately $40,000. Activest Wealth Management lifted its position in shares of Booking by 300.0% in the first quarter. Activest Wealth Management now owns 8 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $37,000 after acquiring an additional 6 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Alpine Bank Wealth Management acquired a new stake in shares of Booking during the 1st quarter worth about $41,000. 92.42% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity at Booking

In related news, CEO Glenn D. Fogel sold 1,013 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred 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 transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 24,620 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $134,841,031.80. The trade was a 3.95% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In the last quarter, insiders sold 4,052 shares of company stock worth $22,511,858. Company insiders own 0.16% of the company's stock.

Booking Stock Down 1.7%

Shares of Booking stock traded down $93.50 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $5,505.55. The company's stock had a trading volume of 244,455 shares, compared to its average volume of 245,306. The business has a fifty day moving average of $5,617.41 and a 200 day moving average of $5,186.97. Booking Holdings Inc. has a 1-year low of $3,700.97 and a 1-year high of $5,839.41. The company has a market capitalization of $178.43 billion, a PE ratio of 38.29, a P/E/G ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 1.39.

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

Booking Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 5th will be paid a $9.60 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 5th. This represents a $38.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.7%. Booking's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 26.71%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have weighed in on BKNG shares. Bank of America boosted their price target on Booking from $5,820.00 to $5,850.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, July 24th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target 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. Morgan Stanley set a $5,650.00 price target on Booking and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Booking from $5,700.00 to $6,000.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Finally, Piper Sandler reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $5,750.00 target price (up from $5,077.00) on shares of Booking in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have assigned a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $5,781.04.

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.