Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) Sees Large Decline in Short Interest

Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG - Get Free Report) saw a significant decline in short interest in the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 624,100 shares, a decline of 21.7% from the October 31st total of 796,800 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 222,400 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.8 days. Currently, 1.9% of the company's shares are sold short.

Analyst Ratings Changes

BKNG has been the topic of several analyst reports. Truist Financial upped their price target on shares of Booking from $4,100.00 to $4,700.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, November 7th. Oppenheimer increased their price target on Booking from $5,000.00 to $5,500.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. Bank of America boosted their price objective on Booking from $4,448.00 to $4,850.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. B. Riley increased their target price on Booking from $4,650.00 to $5,100.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. Finally, Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Booking from $4,500.00 to $5,100.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-three have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Booking presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $4,820.50.

Booking Stock Performance

BKNG stock traded down $21.17 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $5,201.98. The stock had a trading volume of 132,706 shares, compared to its average volume of 247,166. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $4,599.47 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $4,089.44. Booking has a 52-week low of $3,079.50 and a 52-week high of $5,237.00. The stock has a market cap of $172.17 billion, a PE ratio of 35.30, a P/E/G ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.38.

Booking Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 6th will be paid a $8.75 dividend. This represents a $35.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.67%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 6th. Booking's payout ratio is 23.75%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Booking

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV grew its position in shares of Booking by 55.9% during the 3rd quarter. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV now owns 931 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $3,921,000 after acquiring an additional 334 shares during the period. BDF Gestion purchased a new position in Booking in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $6,897,000. Cumberland Partners Ltd boosted its stake in shares of Booking by 25.0% in the 3rd quarter. Cumberland Partners Ltd now owns 500 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $2,106,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the period. CWM LLC boosted its position in shares of Booking by 11.8% during the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,631 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $10,423,000 after acquiring an additional 277 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Icon Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Booking by 342,723.5% in the third quarter. Icon Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 233,120 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $981,929,000 after acquiring an additional 233,052 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.42% of the company's stock.

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.