KBC Group NV Has $111.43 Million Position in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)

KBC Group NV grew its stake in shares of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG - Free Report) by 23.4% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 24,188 shares of the business services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 4,581 shares during the period. KBC Group NV owned about 0.07% of Booking worth $111,432,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of BKNG. Overbrook Management Corp raised its holdings in Booking by 28.8% during the 1st quarter. Overbrook Management Corp now owns 2,216 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $10,209,000 after buying an additional 496 shares during the period. Patron Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Booking by 41.6% in the first quarter. Patron Partners LLC now owns 160 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $737,000 after acquiring an additional 47 shares in the last quarter. Jag Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Booking in the first quarter worth approximately $6,077,000. 3Chopt Investment Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of Booking by 2.4% during the first quarter. 3Chopt Investment Partners LLC now owns 717 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $3,303,000 after acquiring an additional 17 shares during the period. Finally, Carolina Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Booking by 253.8% in the 1st quarter. Carolina Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 138 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $636,000 after acquiring an additional 99 shares in the last quarter. 92.42% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling at Booking

In other Booking news, CEO Glenn D. Fogel sold 1,013 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $5,356.07, for a total value of $5,425,698.91. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 27,646 shares of the company's stock, valued at $148,073,911.22. This trade represents a 3.53% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.16% of the company's stock.

Booking Trading Up 1.7%

Booking stock traded up $96.11 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $5,789.24. 287,685 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 248,327. Booking Holdings Inc. has a 12 month low of $3,180.00 and a 12 month high of $5,899.11. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $5,274.77 and a 200 day moving average of $4,952.54. The firm has a market cap of $188.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.02, a PEG ratio of 1.77 and a beta of 1.41.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, April 29th. The business services provider reported $24.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $17.57 by $7.24. The business had revenue of $4.76 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.58 billion. Booking had a net margin of 22.58% and a negative return on equity of 143.67%. Booking's revenue was up 7.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $20.39 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Booking Holdings Inc. will post 209.92 EPS for the current year.

Booking Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 6th will be paid a $9.60 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 6th. This represents a $38.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.66%. Booking's payout ratio is presently 23.89%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have issued reports on BKNG shares. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of 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. Piper Sandler dropped their price target on Booking from $5,120.00 to $5,077.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 28th. UBS Group reduced their price objective on Booking from $5,960.00 to $5,557.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Booking from $5,360.00 to $6,000.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 4th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald dropped their target price on Booking from $5,540.00 to $4,330.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $5,388.37.

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.