Yousif Capital Management LLC Decreases Stock Holdings in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)

Yousif Capital Management LLC decreased its position in shares of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG - Free Report) by 1.1% during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,184 shares of the business services provider's stock after selling 46 shares during the period. Yousif Capital Management LLC's holdings in Booking were worth $19,275,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Point72 Europe London LLP purchased a new stake in Booking during the fourth quarter valued at about $15,054,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC raised its position in Booking by 20.3% during the fourth quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 905 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $4,495,000 after purchasing an additional 153 shares in the last quarter. Alberta Investment Management Corp raised its position in Booking by 160.0% during the fourth quarter. Alberta Investment Management Corp now owns 1,300 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $6,459,000 after purchasing an additional 800 shares in the last quarter. Hickory Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Booking in the fourth quarter worth about $1,624,000. Finally, Asset Management One Co. Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Booking by 2.6% in the fourth quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. now owns 17,177 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $86,527,000 after buying an additional 438 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.42% of the company's stock.

Booking Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:BKNG traded down $21.70 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $5,466.28. 262,776 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 247,116. Booking Holdings Inc. has a 52 week low of $3,180.00 and a 52 week high of $5,639.70. The firm has a market cap of $177.87 billion, a PE ratio of 31.59, a PEG ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 1.41. The company's 50 day moving average price is $5,028.05 and its 200-day moving average price is $4,937.42.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 29th. The business services provider reported $24.81 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $17.57 by $7.24. Booking had a negative return on equity of 159.34% and a net margin of 24.78%. The business had revenue of $4.76 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.58 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $20.39 EPS. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 7.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts predict that Booking Holdings Inc. will post 209.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Booking Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Shareholders 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 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.70%. Booking's payout ratio is 23.89%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have recently commented on BKNG. Barclays lifted their price objective on Booking from $5,100.00 to $5,600.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. Cantor Fitzgerald cut their target price on Booking from $5,540.00 to $4,330.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. B. Riley lifted their price objective on Booking from $6,000.00 to $6,100.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on Booking from $4,567.00 to $4,692.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. Finally, Erste Group Bank cut Booking from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, March 17th. Ten equities research 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. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price 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.