Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) Stock Rating Upgraded by StockNews.com

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG - Get Free Report) was upgraded by investment analysts at StockNews.com from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday.

BKNG has been the subject of a number of other reports. Seaport Res Ptn restated a "buy" rating on shares of Booking in a report on Tuesday, February 20th. JMP Securities raised their price objective on shares of Booking from $3,600.00 to $3,950.00 and gave the stock a "market outperform" rating in a report on Monday, February 26th. Erste Group Bank reissued a "hold" rating on shares of Booking in a research note on Wednesday, March 13th. Evercore ISI decreased their price target on shares of Booking from $3,900.00 to $3,800.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 23rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of Booking from $3,560.00 to $3,950.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, February 23rd. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-two have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $3,723.41.

Booking Stock Up 1.4 %

Shares of Booking stock traded up $51.74 on Thursday, hitting $3,637.87. 174,485 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 279,363. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $3,598.51 and a 200 day moving average price of $3,351.31. Booking has a 12-month low of $2,456.93 and a 12-month high of $3,918.00. The company has a market cap of $124.31 billion, a PE ratio of 30.84, a PEG ratio of 1.09 and a beta of 1.40.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 22nd. The business services provider reported $32.00 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $29.72 by $2.28. The firm had revenue of $4.78 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.71 billion. Booking had a net margin of 20.08% and a negative return on equity of 751.49%. Booking's revenue for the quarter was up 18.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $24.74 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that Booking will post 175.86 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Booking

In other news, CFO David I. Goulden sold 1,000 shares of Booking stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $3,494.47, for a total value of $3,494,470.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 10,204 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $35,657,571.88. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, Director Radakovich Lynn Vojvodich sold 28 shares of Booking stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $3,497.80, for a total transaction of $97,938.40. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 348 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,217,234.40. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CFO David I. Goulden sold 1,000 shares of Booking stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $3,494.47, for a total transaction of $3,494,470.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 10,204 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $35,657,571.88. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 6,467 shares of company stock worth $22,299,114. Insiders own 0.15% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Booking

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of BKNG. Activest Wealth Management bought a new stake in shares of Booking during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Naples Money Management LLC acquired a new position in Booking during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. ICA Group Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Booking during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Valued Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Booking during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Finally, Turtle Creek Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Booking during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Institutional investors own 92.42% of the company's stock.

Booking Company 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.