Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) Stake Lowered by Clearbridge Investments LLC

Clearbridge Investments LLC trimmed its position in shares of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) by 0.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 8,813 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 4 shares during the period. Clearbridge Investments LLC’s holdings in Booking were worth $43,787,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc bought a new stake in Booking in the fourth quarter worth approximately $25,000. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Booking in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Summit Securities Group LLC bought a new stake in Booking in the fourth quarter worth $30,000. Promus Capital LLC acquired a new position in Booking during the fourth quarter worth $35,000. Finally, Valley National Advisers Inc. raised its holdings in 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 in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.42% of the company’s stock.

Booking Trading Up 1.7 %

Shares of Booking stock opened at $4,685.75 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $153.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.08, a P/E/G ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 1.40. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $4,772.68 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $4,750.56. Booking Holdings Inc. has a 1-year low of $3,180.00 and a 1-year high of $5,337.24.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 20th. The business services provider reported $41.55 EPS for the quarter, topping 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 for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.18 billion. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Booking Holdings Inc. will post 209.92 EPS for the current year.

Booking Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, March 7th were given a dividend of $9.60 per share. This is an increase from Booking’s previous quarterly dividend of $8.75. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 7th. This represents a $38.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.82%. Booking’s dividend payout ratio is 22.19%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently commented on BKNG shares. 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 report on Friday, February 21st. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Booking from $4,600.00 to $5,000.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, January 13th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on shares of Booking from $5,155.00 to $5,900.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, February 21st. Bank of America raised their target price on shares of Booking from $4,850.00 to $5,522.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 18th. Finally, Mizuho upped their price target on shares of Booking from $5,400.00 to $6,000.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, December 19th. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $5,370.43.

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.