Meridiem Capital Partners LP Acquires New Position in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)

Meridiem Capital Partners LP acquired a new stake in shares of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm acquired 2,713 shares of the business services provider's stock, valued at approximately $13,479,000. Booking comprises about 1.2% of Meridiem Capital Partners LP's holdings, making the stock its 29th biggest holding.

Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc bought a new position in Booking during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Booking during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Summit Securities Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Booking during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Bernard Wealth Management Corp. bought a new stake in Booking in the fourth quarter valued at $30,000. Finally, Promus Capital LLC purchased a new position in Booking during the 4th quarter valued at $35,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.42% of the company's stock.

Booking Price Performance

Booking stock traded up $79.33 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $5,317.07. 199,930 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 248,313. Booking Holdings Inc. has a 12-month low of $3,180.00 and a 12-month high of $5,337.24. The business's 50-day moving average is $4,716.03 and its 200-day moving average is $4,870.70. The stock has a market capitalization of $173.02 billion, a PE ratio of 30.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 1.42.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data 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. The firm had revenue of $4.76 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.58 billion. Booking had a net margin of 24.78% and a negative return on equity of 159.34%. The business's quarterly revenue was up 7.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $20.39 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Booking Holdings Inc. will post 209.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Booking Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 6th will be paid a dividend of $9.60 per share. This represents a $38.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.72%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 6th. Booking's dividend payout ratio is presently 23.89%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have commented on BKNG shares. UBS Group lowered their price objective on shares of Booking from $5,960.00 to $5,557.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 28th. StockNews.com upgraded Booking from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. Cfra raised Booking from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 18th. Benchmark increased their price objective on Booking from $5,000.00 to $5,900.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. Finally, JMP Securities boosted their target price on shares of Booking from $5,600.00 to $5,700.00 and gave the company a "market outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. Ten 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. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $5,299.29.

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.