HS Management Partners LLC Sells 8,635 Shares of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)

HS Management Partners LLC trimmed its stake in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) by 39.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 13,268 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 8,635 shares during the period. Booking accounts for 4.5% of HS Management Partners LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 11th largest position. HS Management Partners LLC’s holdings in Booking were worth $65,921,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in BKNG. AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc bought a new position in shares of Booking in the 4th quarter worth $25,000. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Booking in the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Promus Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Booking in the 4th quarter worth $35,000. Valley National Advisers Inc. raised its position in shares of Booking by 600.0% in the 4th quarter. Valley National Advisers Inc. now owns 7 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 6 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Addison Advisors LLC grew its stake in Booking by 80.0% during the 3rd quarter. Addison Advisors LLC now owns 9 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 4 shares during the last quarter. 92.42% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Booking Trading Up 0.4 %

NASDAQ BKNG opened at $4,917.46 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $161.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.42, a PEG ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 1.39. Booking Holdings Inc. has a twelve month low of $3,180.00 and a twelve month high of $5,337.24. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $4,887.85 and a 200 day moving average of $4,642.68.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 20th. The business services provider reported $41.55 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $35.82 by $5.73. Booking had a negative return on equity of 159.34% and a net margin of 24.78%. The business had revenue of $5.47 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.18 billion. Equities analysts predict that Booking Holdings Inc. will post 209.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Booking Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 7th will be given a $9.60 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 7th. This is a positive change from Booking’s previous quarterly dividend of $8.75. This represents a $38.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.78%. Booking’s dividend payout ratio is 22.19%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Wedbush boosted their target price on Booking from $5,000.00 to $5,500.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, January 6th. UBS Group boosted their price target on Booking from $5,560.00 to $5,960.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, February 21st. Citigroup boosted their price target on Booking from $5,500.00 to $5,800.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, February 21st. Oppenheimer boosted their price target on Booking from $5,500.00 to $6,000.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, December 6th. Finally, Piper Sandler reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $5,120.00 price target (up previously from $4,900.00) on shares of Booking in a research note on Friday, February 21st. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-one have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Booking presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $5,370.43.

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.