Horizon Investment Services LLC Boosts Stake in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)

Horizon Investment Services LLC increased its stake in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) by 4.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 608 shares of the business services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 28 shares during the period. Booking comprises approximately 1.3% of Horizon Investment Services LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest position. Horizon Investment Services LLC’s holdings in Booking were worth $3,021,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in BKNG. Proficio Capital Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Booking by 621,874.8% in the 4th quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC now owns 864,545 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $4,295,423,000 after acquiring an additional 864,406 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Booking in the 4th quarter worth $1,958,352,000. Empirical Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in Booking in the 4th quarter worth $207,089,000. Bryn Mawr Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Booking by 3,940.8% during the fourth quarter. Bryn Mawr Capital Management LLC now owns 38,428 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $190,926,000 after buying an additional 37,477 shares during the period. Finally, Harvard Management Co. Inc. bought a new position in shares of Booking during the third quarter valued at about $155,427,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.42% of the company’s stock.

Booking Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ BKNG opened at $4,634.24 on Friday. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $4,779.09 and its 200-day moving average price is $4,727.45. Booking Holdings Inc. has a 52-week low of $3,180.00 and a 52-week high of $5,337.24. The company has a market cap of $152.07 billion, a PE ratio of 26.78, a P/E/G ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 1.40.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 20th. The business services provider reported $41.55 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $35.82 by $5.73. The company 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, analysts forecast that Booking Holdings Inc. will post 209.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal 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 issued a $9.60 dividend. This represents a $38.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.83%. This is an increase from Booking’s previous quarterly dividend of $8.75. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 7th. Booking’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 22.19%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

BKNG has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Bank of America boosted their target price on Booking from $4,850.00 to $5,522.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 18th. Cantor Fitzgerald increased their price objective on Booking from $4,900.00 to $5,540.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, February 21st. Wedbush lifted their target price on shares of Booking from $5,000.00 to $5,500.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on shares of Booking from $5,250.00 to $5,900.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, February 21st. Finally, JMP Securities restated a “market outperform” rating and issued a $5,400.00 price objective on shares of Booking in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price 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.