Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) Price Target Raised to $3,494.00

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) had its target price raised by Wells Fargo & Company from $3,435.00 to $3,494.00 in a research report released on Friday morning, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an equal weight rating on the business services provider’s stock.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Edward Jones reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Booking in a report on Friday, February 16th. Evercore ISI boosted their price target on Booking from $3,800.00 to $4,500.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday. JMP Securities increased 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 research note on Monday, February 26th. DA Davidson boosted their target price on shares of Booking from $4,100.00 to $4,150.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday. Finally, Seaport Res Ptn reiterated a buy rating on shares of Booking in a research report on Tuesday, February 20th. Ten 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. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Booking currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $3,823.00.

Booking Stock Performance

BKNG opened at $3,598.41 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $3,526.40 and a 200-day moving average of $3,412.40. Booking has a fifty-two week low of $2,456.93 and a fifty-two week high of $3,918.00. The company has a market capitalization of $122.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.99, a P/E/G ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 1.40.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 2nd. The business services provider reported $20.39 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates 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 during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.25 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $11.60 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 16.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts predict that Booking will post 176.46 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Booking Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 8th were issued a dividend of $8.75 per share. This represents a $35.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.97%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 7th. Booking’s payout ratio is presently 26.25%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Booking

In other news, Director Radakovich Lynn Vojvodich sold 59 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $3,700.00, for a total transaction of $218,300.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 289 shares in the company, valued at $1,069,300. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Booking news, CEO Glenn D. Fogel sold 750 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $3,534.10, for a total transaction of $2,650,575.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 26,971 shares in the company, valued at approximately $95,318,211.10. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Radakovich Lynn Vojvodich sold 59 shares of the business’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 completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 289 shares in the company, valued at $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 worth $18,891,445. Insiders own 0.12% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Booking

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Activest Wealth Management acquired a new stake in shares of Booking during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Naples Money Management LLC bought a new position in Booking during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. ICA Group Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Booking in the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Valued Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Booking in the fourth quarter valued at $28,000. Finally, Turtle Creek Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Booking during the fourth quarter valued at about $28,000. 92.42% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.