Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) Reaches New 1-Year High – Should You Buy?

Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)’s stock price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $5,258.20 and last traded at $5,238.73, with a volume of 44684 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $5,224.28.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. DA Davidson lifted their price target on Booking from $4,100.00 to $5,005.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Booking from $3,976.00 to $4,173.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 8th. Wedbush lifted their target price on Booking from $3,900.00 to $4,750.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, October 25th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on Booking from $4,205.00 to $5,155.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. Finally, UBS Group lifted their price objective on Booking from $5,050.00 to $5,550.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. Ten research 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 stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $4,820.50.

Booking Price Performance

The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $4,599.47 and its 200-day moving average price is $4,093.76. The stock has a market cap of $172.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.45, a PEG ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.41.

Booking Announces Dividend

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

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Booking

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Garner Asset Management Corp raised its holdings in shares of Booking by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. Garner Asset Management Corp now owns 258 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $1,087,000 after acquiring an additional 2 shares in the last quarter. Optimist Retirement Group LLC lifted its position in Booking by 2.2% during the third quarter. Optimist Retirement Group LLC now owns 91 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $383,000 after purchasing an additional 2 shares during the last quarter. CVA Family Office LLC grew its stake in shares of Booking by 8.1% in the 2nd quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 40 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $158,000 after buying an additional 3 shares in the last quarter. American National Bank increased its holdings in shares of Booking by 3.7% in the 2nd quarter. American National Bank now owns 84 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $333,000 after buying an additional 3 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First Horizon Advisors Inc. raised its position in shares of Booking by 3.2% during the 2nd quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 96 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $380,000 after buying an additional 3 shares in the last quarter. 92.42% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.