Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) Raised to Buy at BTIG Research

BTIG Research upgraded shares of Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research report report published on Friday, Marketbeat.com reports. BTIG Research currently has $5,500.00 price objective on the business services provider’s stock.

Other analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. StockNews.com raised Booking from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, March 28th. Cantor Fitzgerald lifted their price objective on shares of Booking from $4,900.00 to $5,540.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, February 21st. B. Riley increased their price objective on shares of Booking from $5,700.00 to $6,000.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, February 21st. DA Davidson raised their target price on shares of Booking from $5,005.00 to $5,800.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, February 21st. Finally, Citigroup upped their price target on shares of Booking from $5,500.00 to $5,800.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, February 21st. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-one have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $5,374.90.

Booking Trading Down 3.7 %

NASDAQ BKNG opened at $4,284.02 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $140.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 1.37. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $4,757.12 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $4,760.24. Booking has a 1 year low of $3,180.00 and a 1 year high of $5,337.24.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 20th. The business services provider reported $41.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $35.82 by $5.73. Booking had a net margin of 24.78% and a negative return on equity of 159.34%. The company had revenue of $5.47 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.18 billion. On average, research analysts anticipate that Booking will post 209.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Booking Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, March 7th were paid a $9.60 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 7th. This is a positive change from Booking’s previous quarterly dividend of $8.75. This represents a $38.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.90%. Booking’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 22.19%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc bought a new stake in shares of Booking during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Booking during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Summit Securities Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Booking during the fourth quarter worth $30,000. Bernard Wealth Management Corp. acquired a new position in shares of Booking during the fourth quarter worth $30,000. Finally, Promus Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Booking in the 4th quarter valued at $35,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.42% of the company’s stock.

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.