Everence Capital Management Inc. Raises Stake in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)

Everence Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG - Free Report) by 450.0% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 770 shares of the business services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 630 shares during the quarter. Everence Capital Management Inc.'s holdings in Booking were worth $3,826,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of BKNG. Van ECK Associates Corp boosted its stake in Booking by 5.3% in the second quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 967 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $3,831,000 after buying an additional 49 shares in the last quarter. Gries Financial LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Booking by 5.1% during the 2nd quarter. Gries Financial LLC now owns 123 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $487,000 after acquiring an additional 6 shares in the last quarter. Range Financial Group LLC grew its position in Booking by 3.9% during the 2nd quarter. Range Financial Group LLC now owns 692 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $2,741,000 after acquiring an additional 26 shares during the last quarter. Nicholas Hoffman & Company LLC. increased its holdings in Booking by 5.5% in the 2nd quarter. Nicholas Hoffman & Company LLC. now owns 154 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $610,000 after purchasing an additional 8 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Chase Investment Counsel Corp raised its position in Booking by 61.3% in the second quarter. Chase Investment Counsel Corp now owns 1,244 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $4,621,000 after purchasing an additional 473 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 92.42% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on BKNG shares. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on shares of Booking from $4,200.00 to $4,300.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, October 22nd. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Booking from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, November 9th. Robert W. Baird initiated coverage on Booking in a report on Wednesday, November 27th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $5,850.00 price objective for the company. Argus downgraded Booking from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Booking from $4,200.00 to $4,600.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Friday, November 1st. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-one have assigned a buy rating and two have issued 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 $4,945.96.

Booking Stock Down 0.4 %

NASDAQ:BKNG traded down $21.44 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $4,903.85. 165,517 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 153,409. Booking Holdings Inc. has a one year low of $3,180.00 and a one year high of $5,337.24. The firm's 50-day simple moving average is $5,018.40 and its 200-day simple moving average is $4,311.36. The company has a market cap of $162.30 billion, a PE ratio of 33.28, a PEG ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 1.41.

Booking Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 6th were issued a dividend of $8.75 per share. This represents a $35.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.71%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 6th. Booking's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 23.75%.

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.