Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) Earns Outperform Rating from BMO Capital Markets

BMO Capital Markets reissued their outperform rating on shares of Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) in a report issued on Friday, Benzinga reports. They currently have a $4,205.00 price target on the business services provider’s stock, up from their prior price target of $4,150.00.

BKNG has been the subject of a number of other research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on Booking from $3,560.00 to $3,950.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, February 23rd. Benchmark reiterated a hold rating on shares of Booking in a research report on Friday. JMP Securities boosted their price target 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. Seaport Res Ptn reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Booking in a report on Tuesday, February 20th. Finally, Susquehanna boosted their target price on shares of Booking from $3,600.00 to $4,100.00 and gave the stock a positive rating in a research note on Monday, February 26th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-one have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $3,823.00.

Booking Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ BKNG opened at $3,577.38 on Friday. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $3,524.43 and its 200-day simple moving average is $3,406.68. Booking has a 12 month low of $2,456.93 and a 12 month high of $3,918.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $121.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.83, a PEG ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 1.40.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 2nd. The business services provider reported $20.39 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $14.03 by $6.36. The company had revenue of $4.42 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.25 billion. Booking had a net margin of 21.81% and a negative return on equity of 288.35%. The firm’s revenue was up 16.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $11.60 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that Booking will post 176.46 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Booking Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 8th were given a dividend of $8.75 per share. This represents a $35.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.98%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 7th. Booking’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 26.25%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Radakovich Lynn Vojvodich sold 22 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $3,437.25, for a total value of $75,619.50. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 189 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $649,640.25. The transaction 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 4,302 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $3,422.75, for a total transaction of $14,724,670.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 33,548 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $114,826,417. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Radakovich Lynn Vojvodich sold 22 shares of Booking stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $3,437.25, for a total value of $75,619.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 189 shares in the company, valued at $649,640.25. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 5,483 shares of company stock valued at $18,891,445 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.12% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Booking

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Howard Financial Services LTD. raised its position in Booking by 2.4% during the 4th quarter. Howard Financial Services LTD. now owns 129 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $458,000 after buying an additional 3 shares during the last quarter. Diversified Trust Co raised its holdings in Booking by 0.4% during the fourth quarter. Diversified Trust Co now owns 764 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $2,710,000 after purchasing an additional 3 shares in the last quarter. Rockland Trust Co. lifted its position in Booking by 3.5% in the fourth quarter. Rockland Trust Co. now owns 88 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $312,000 after purchasing an additional 3 shares during the period. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust boosted its holdings in Booking by 4.5% in the 4th quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 69 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $245,000 after purchasing an additional 3 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bristlecone Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Booking by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. Bristlecone Advisors LLC now owns 894 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $3,243,000 after purchasing an additional 3 shares in the last quarter. 92.42% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.