Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. Raises Stock Position in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)

Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. lifted its position in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) by 36.8% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 93 shares of the business services provider’s stock after buying an additional 25 shares during the period. Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc.’s holdings in Booking were worth $462,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of BKNG. AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc purchased a new stake in Booking during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Booking during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Valley National Advisers Inc. grew its position in Booking by 600.0% during the 4th quarter. Valley National Advisers Inc. now owns 7 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 6 shares during the last quarter. Promus Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Booking during the 4th quarter worth approximately $35,000. Finally, Roxbury Financial LLC purchased a new stake in Booking during the 4th quarter worth approximately $42,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.42% of the company’s stock.

Booking Stock Down 0.5 %

BKNG opened at $4,673.38 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $153.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.01, a PEG ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 1.40. Booking Holdings Inc. has a 52-week low of $3,180.00 and a 52-week high of $5,337.24. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $4,872.56 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $4,656.42.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 20th. The business services provider reported $41.55 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $35.82 by $5.73. Booking had a net margin of 24.78% and a negative return on equity of 159.34%. The firm had revenue of $5.47 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.18 billion. On average, research analysts forecast that Booking Holdings Inc. will post 209.92 EPS for the current 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. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 7th. This represents a $38.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.82%. This is a boost from Booking’s previous quarterly dividend of $8.75. Booking’s payout ratio is 22.19%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have weighed in on BKNG shares. Benchmark boosted their target price on shares of Booking from $5,000.00 to $5,900.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, February 21st. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Booking from $5,100.00 to $5,600.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, February 21st. Cfra raised shares of Booking from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. Citigroup upped their price objective on shares of Booking from $5,500.00 to $5,800.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. Finally, Mizuho upped their price objective 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. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-one have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $5,370.43.

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.