Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) Shares Sold by Merit Financial Group LLC

Merit Financial Group LLC trimmed its stake in shares of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG - Free Report) by 61.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 254 shares of the business services provider's stock after selling 408 shares during the period. Merit Financial Group LLC's holdings in Booking were worth $901,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. increased its position in Booking by 37.8% in the 4th quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 197 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $699,000 after purchasing an additional 54 shares during the last quarter. Summit Global Investments increased its position in shares of Booking by 1.6% during the fourth quarter. Summit Global Investments now owns 379 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $1,344,000 after purchasing an additional 6 shares during the period. Westover Capital Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Booking by 64.8% during the fourth quarter. Westover Capital Advisors LLC now owns 178 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $631,000 after purchasing an additional 70 shares during the period. Intelligence Driven Advisers LLC grew its position in Booking by 45.7% in the fourth quarter. Intelligence Driven Advisers LLC now owns 153 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $537,000 after acquiring an additional 48 shares during the period. Finally, Benjamin Edwards Inc. grew its position in Booking by 16.9% in the fourth quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 291 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $1,032,000 after acquiring an additional 42 shares during the period. 92.42% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Booking Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ BKNG traded up $21.03 during trading on Monday, hitting $3,598.41. 349,955 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 270,303. The business's fifty day moving average is $3,526.40 and its 200 day moving average is $3,412.40. Booking Holdings Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $2,456.93 and a fifty-two week high of $3,918.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $122.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.99, a P/E/G ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 1.40.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 2nd. The business services provider reported $20.39 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $14.03 by $6.36. Booking had a net margin of 21.81% and a negative return on equity of 288.35%. The firm had revenue of $4.42 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.25 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $11.60 earnings per share. The business's quarterly revenue was up 16.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts predict that Booking Holdings Inc. will post 176.46 EPS for the current year.

Booking Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 28th. Investors of record on Friday, March 8th were given a $8.75 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 7th. This represents a $35.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.97%. Booking's payout ratio is 26.25%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

BKNG has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. DA Davidson boosted their target price on Booking from $4,100.00 to $4,150.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday. BMO Capital Markets reissued an "outperform" rating and issued a $4,205.00 target price (up from $4,150.00) on shares of Booking in a research note on Friday. Edward Jones reaffirmed a "hold" rating on shares of Booking in a research report on Friday, February 16th. B. Riley assumed coverage on Booking in a report on Wednesday, April 3rd. They set a "buy" rating and a $4,400.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Booking from $3,435.00 to $3,494.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Friday. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-one have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $3,823.00.

Insider Activity at Booking

In related news, Director Radakovich Lynn Vojvodich sold 59 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $3,700.00, for a total value of $218,300.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 289 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,069,300. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Booking news, CEO Glenn D. Fogel sold 4,302 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $3,422.75, for a total value of $14,724,670.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 33,548 shares in the company, valued at approximately $114,826,417. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Radakovich Lynn Vojvodich sold 59 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $3,700.00, for a total transaction of $218,300.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 289 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,069,300. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 5,483 shares of company stock valued at $18,891,445. 0.12% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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.