Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) Shares Sold by Vanguard Group Inc.

Vanguard Group Inc. decreased its stake in shares of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG - Free Report) by 0.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 2,926,408 shares of the business services provider's stock after selling 15,663 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. owned 8.84% of Booking worth $14,539,624,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in BKNG. AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc purchased a new stake in Booking during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Booking during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Promus Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Booking in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Valley National Advisers Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Booking by 600.0% during the fourth quarter. Valley National Advisers Inc. now owns 7 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 6 shares during the period. Finally, Roxbury Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of Booking during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $42,000. 92.42% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Booking Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ BKNG traded down $11.36 during trading on Thursday, reaching $4,752.80. The stock had a trading volume of 194,019 shares, compared to its average volume of 232,482. The stock has a market cap of $155.96 billion, a PE ratio of 27.47, a P/E/G ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 1.40. 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 moving average price is $4,784.95 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $4,721.67.

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Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 20th. The business services provider reported $41.55 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $35.82 by $5.73. The firm had revenue of $5.47 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.18 billion. Booking had a net margin of 24.78% and a negative return on equity of 159.34%. On average, research analysts expect that Booking Holdings Inc. will post 209.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Booking Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, March 7th will be paid a dividend of $9.60 per share. This is a positive change from Booking's previous quarterly dividend of $8.75. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 7th. This represents a $38.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.81%. Booking's dividend payout ratio is 22.19%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have weighed in on the company. Cantor Fitzgerald boosted their price target on Booking from $4,900.00 to $5,540.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. StockNews.com lowered Booking from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, March 20th. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on Booking from $5,155.00 to $5,900.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, February 21st. Bank of America lifted their price target on Booking from $4,850.00 to $5,522.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, December 18th. Finally, Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Booking from $5,500.00 to $5,800.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $5,370.43.

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.