Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) Stock Rating Reaffirmed as “Buy” by BTIG Research

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG)‘s stock had its “buy” rating reiterated by investment analysts at BTIG Research in a report released on Thursday, Benzinga reports. They currently have a $250.00 price objective on the business services provider’s stock. BTIG Research‘s price objective indicates a potential upside of 54.33% from the company’s current price.

BKNG has been the topic of several other reports. Susquehanna reiterated a “positive” rating and issued a $240.00 price target on shares of Booking in a research note on Thursday, August 6th. Cantor Fitzgerald decreased their price objective on Booking from $220.00 to $170.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Monday, October 12th. Benchmark lifted their target price on Booking from $220.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 5th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on Booking from $180.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 14th. Finally, Truist Financial set a $216.00 price target on Booking and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 30th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-six have issued a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $233.71.

Booking Trading Up 2.3%

Shares of BKNG opened at $161.99 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $121.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.01 and a beta of 1.13. Booking has a 1 year low of $150.14 and a 1 year high of $220.81. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $179.02 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $177.43.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, August 3rd. The business services provider reported $2.54 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.43 by $0.11. Booking had a net margin of 25.53% and a negative return on equity of 102.96%. The business had revenue of $7.35 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $7.19 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $55.40 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 8.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Booking will post 10.48 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity at Booking

In related news, VP Peter J. Millones sold 50,050 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, August 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $207.59, for a total value of $10,389,879.50. Following the transaction, the vice president owned 375,025 shares in the company, valued at $77,851,439.75. The trade was a 11.77% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, Director Robert J. Mylod, Jr. sold 1,000 shares of Booking stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $200.00, for a total transaction of $200,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 14,000 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,800,000. This represents a 6.67% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders have sold a total of 84,550 shares of company stock worth $17,426,865 over the last 90 days. 0.17% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Poehling Capital Management INC. lifted its position in shares of Booking by 24.3% during the first quarter. Poehling Capital Management INC. now owns 286 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $1,204,000 after purchasing an additional 56 shares in the last quarter. Apollon Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Booking by 6.2% during the 1st quarter. Apollon Wealth Management LLC now owns 957 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $4,031,000 after buying an additional 56 shares during the last quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC grew its stake in shares of Booking by 4.0% during the 1st quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 1,497 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $6,304,000 after acquiring an additional 57 shares during the period. HB Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Booking by 3.9% during the 1st quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,503 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $6,329,000 after acquiring an additional 57 shares during the period. Finally, Ritholtz Wealth Management increased its holdings in Booking by 3.4% in the 1st quarter. Ritholtz Wealth Management now owns 1,893 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $7,968,000 after acquiring an additional 62 shares during the last quarter. 92.42% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Booking

Booking Holdings Inc is a global online travel and restaurant-reservation company that connects consumers with travel providers through digital platforms and mobile applications. Its services include accommodations, flights, rental cars, cruises, vacation packages, restaurant reservations and other travel-related offerings.

The company operates a portfolio of well-known brands, including Booking.com, Priceline, Agoda, KAYAK, OpenTable, Rentalcars.com and Kayak-associated travel services.