Retirement Systems of Alabama Has $30.70 Million Position in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)

Retirement Systems of Alabama cut its holdings in shares of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) by 2.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 7,288 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 197 shares during the period. Retirement Systems of Alabama’s holdings in Booking were worth $30,698,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in BKNG. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Booking in the third quarter worth $25,000. Grove Bank & Trust grew its position in shares of Booking by 133.3% in the 2nd quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 7 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 4 shares during the last quarter. POM Investment Strategies LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Booking in the second quarter valued at about $28,000. Kings Path Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Booking in the second quarter valued at about $28,000. Finally, West Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Booking in the third quarter worth approximately $29,000. 92.42% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have weighed in on BKNG. Bank of America increased their target price on shares of Booking from $4,448.00 to $4,850.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. B. Riley increased their price objective on shares of Booking from $4,650.00 to $5,100.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their target price on shares of Booking from $4,900.00 to $5,200.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Booking from $4,200.00 to $4,600.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on Booking from $3,900.00 to $5,250.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, November 1st. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-two have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $4,866.03.

Booking Price Performance

Shares of Booking stock opened at $5,227.61 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $173.03 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 1.41. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $4,813.41 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $4,191.01. Booking Holdings Inc. has a one year low of $3,180.00 and a one year high of $5,337.24.

Booking Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 6th will be paid a dividend of $8.75 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 6th. This represents a $35.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.67%. Booking’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 23.75%.

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.