Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) Sets New 12-Month High – Should You Buy?

Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)’s stock price reached a new 52-week high on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $5,079.32 and last traded at $5,079.32, with a volume of 32957 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $5,016.43.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

BKNG has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Citigroup raised their target price on shares of Booking from $4,100.00 to $5,500.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, November 4th. Barclays lifted their price objective on Booking from $4,500.00 to $5,100.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Bank of America increased their target price on Booking from $4,448.00 to $4,850.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. JMP Securities lifted their price target on Booking from $5,000.00 to $5,400.00 and gave the company a “market outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Finally, BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on Booking from $4,205.00 to $5,155.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-two have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $4,785.00.

Booking Price Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $170.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.38. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $4,431.19 and its 200-day moving average is $4,019.06.

Booking Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 6th will be issued a dividend of $8.75 per share. This represents a $35.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.68%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 6th. Booking’s dividend payout ratio is presently 23.75%.

Insider Activity

In other Booking news, insider Paulo Pisano sold 100 shares of Booking stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $3,887.61, for a total value of $388,761.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 3,787 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $14,722,379.07. The trade was a 2.57 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.12% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Booking

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in BKNG. Virtu Financial LLC raised its position in Booking by 268.5% during the third quarter. Virtu Financial LLC now owns 2,410 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $10,147,000 after purchasing an additional 1,756 shares during the period. Passumpsic Savings Bank boosted its stake in Booking by 2.6% during the third quarter. Passumpsic Savings Bank now owns 699 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $2,944,000 after buying an additional 18 shares during the period. Unigestion Holding SA purchased a new stake in Booking in the 3rd quarter worth about $670,000. Virtue Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Booking by 11.0% during the third quarter. Virtue Capital Management LLC now owns 192 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $809,000 after buying an additional 19 shares during the period. Finally, Coldstream Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Booking by 12.2% during the third quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. now owns 654 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $2,807,000 after buying an additional 71 shares during the last quarter. 92.42% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.