Vanderbilt University Increases Holdings in Booking Holdings Inc. $BKNG

Key Points

• Vanderbilt University has increased its holdings in Booking Holdings Inc. by 13.1% during the 2nd quarter, now owning a total of 1,368 shares worth approximately $7.92 million.
• Several institutional investors have also adjusted their positions in Booking, with Brighton Jones LLC increasing its stake by 34.9% in the 4th quarter.
• Booking Holdings recently reported $6.80 billion in revenue for the quarter, exceeding analyst expectations, while also declaring a $9.60 quarterly dividend representing a 0.7% yield.

Vanderbilt University grew its holdings in shares of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG - Free Report) by 13.1% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,368 shares of the business services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 158 shares during the quarter. Booking makes up 1.5% of Vanderbilt University's investment portfolio, making the stock its 12th largest holding. Vanderbilt University's holdings in Booking were worth $7,920,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in BKNG. Brighton Jones LLC grew its stake in shares of Booking by 34.9% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 251 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $1,249,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares during the period. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Booking during the 4th quarter worth $209,000. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Booking by 27.6% during the 1st quarter. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. now owns 185 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $852,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares during the period. Apella Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Booking during the 1st quarter worth $246,000. Finally, Clare Market Investments LLC grew its stake in shares of Booking by 48.3% during the 1st quarter. Clare Market Investments LLC now owns 215 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $990,000 after acquiring an additional 70 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 92.42% of the company's stock.

Booking Price Performance

Shares of Booking stock opened at $5,424.55 on Friday. The business's 50 day simple moving average is $5,529.24 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $5,290.99. The stock has a market capitalization of $175.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.54 and a beta of 1.35. Booking Holdings Inc. has a one year low of $4,060.98 and a one year high of $5,839.41.

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

Booking Announces Dividend

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

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Vanessa Ames Wittman sold 15 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $5,500.00, for a total transaction of $82,500.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 747 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,108,500. The trade was a 1.97% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Larry Quinlan sold 64 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $5,587.11, for a total value of $357,575.04. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 195 shares in the company, valued at $1,089,486.45. This trade represents a 24.71% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 4,195 shares of company stock valued at $23,467,630 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.16% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

BKNG has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. UBS Group lifted their target price on Booking from $5,750.00 to $6,300.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, July 28th. BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $6,000.00 target price (up previously from $5,700.00) on shares of Booking in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Morgan Stanley set a $5,650.00 target price on Booking and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. BTIG Research reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $6,250.00 target price on shares of Booking in a report on Thursday, September 4th. Finally, Piper Sandler reiterated a "neutral" rating and set a $5,750.00 price target (up previously from $5,077.00) on shares of Booking in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have issued a Buy rating and eleven have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $5,807.89.

About Booking

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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