Strategic Financial Concepts LLC Makes New $13.85 Million Investment in Expedia Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPE)

Strategic Financial Concepts LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Expedia Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPE) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm acquired 74,346 shares of the online travel company’s stock, valued at approximately $13,853,000. Strategic Financial Concepts LLC owned about 0.06% of Expedia Group at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of EXPE. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC increased its stake in shares of Expedia Group by 1,353.9% in the third quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 1,105 shares of the online travel company’s stock worth $164,000 after buying an additional 1,029 shares during the period. Bleakley Financial Group LLC increased its position in shares of Expedia Group by 5.2% in the third quarter. Bleakley Financial Group LLC now owns 2,076 shares of the online travel company’s stock valued at $307,000 after acquiring an additional 102 shares during the period. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd raised its stake in shares of Expedia Group by 2.6% during the third quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd now owns 13,163 shares of the online travel company’s stock valued at $1,948,000 after acquiring an additional 331 shares during the last quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Expedia Group by 24.9% during the third quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 2,103 shares of the online travel company’s stock worth $311,000 after purchasing an additional 419 shares during the period. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. grew its stake in shares of Expedia Group by 296.3% in the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 860 shares of the online travel company’s stock worth $127,000 after purchasing an additional 643 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.76% of the company’s stock.

Expedia Group Trading Down 0.4 %

Shares of NASDAQ:EXPE opened at $202.38 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.03, a current ratio of 0.73 and a quick ratio of 0.73. Expedia Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $107.25 and a 1 year high of $207.73. The company has a market cap of $25.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.36, a PEG ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 1.82. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $183.82 and its 200-day moving average price is $162.95.

Expedia Group (NASDAQ:EXPE) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The online travel company reported $1.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.06 by ($0.22). Expedia Group had a net margin of 9.01% and a return on equity of 55.42%. Sell-side analysts expect that Expedia Group, Inc. will post 10.75 earnings per share for the current year.

Expedia Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 27th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 6th will be issued a $0.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 6th. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.79%. This is a boost from Expedia Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.34.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Robert J. Dzielak sold 1,951 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $180.00, for a total transaction of $351,180.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 85,250 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $15,345,000. This represents a 2.24 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, Director Dara Khosrowshahi sold 10,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $169.79, for a total transaction of $1,697,900.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 158,505 shares in the company, valued at approximately $26,912,563.95. The trade was a 5.93 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 21,951 shares of company stock valued at $3,900,580. Company insiders own 6.80% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have commented on EXPE shares. StockNews.com raised Expedia Group from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Saturday. JMP Securities reaffirmed a “market perform” rating on shares of Expedia Group in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Bank of America raised shares of Expedia Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $187.00 to $221.00 in a research report on Wednesday, December 18th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on shares of Expedia Group from $145.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 22nd. Finally, UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of Expedia Group from $137.00 to $156.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 23rd. Nineteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and four have issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $192.64.

About Expedia Group

Expedia Group, Inc operates as an online travel company in the United States and internationally. The company operates through B2C, B2B, and trivago segments. Its B2C segment includes Brand Expedia, a full-service online travel brand offers various travel products and services; Hotels.com for lodging accommodations; Vrbo, an online marketplace for the alternative accommodations; Orbitz, Travelocity, Wotif Group, ebookers, CheapTickets, Hotwire.com and CarRentals.com.