Yacktman Asset Management LP Trims Holdings in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)

Yacktman Asset Management LP lowered its holdings in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) by 9.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 34,975 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 3,498 shares during the quarter. Yacktman Asset Management LP owned approximately 0.10% of Booking worth $147,319,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Whittier Trust Co. raised its holdings in Booking by 11.2% in the first quarter. Whittier Trust Co. now owns 588 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $2,133,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares in the last quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC lifted its position in Booking by 101.6% during the 1st quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 125 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $454,000 after acquiring an additional 63 shares during the period. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd purchased a new stake in Booking in the first quarter worth about $713,000. Catalina Capital Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Booking in the 1st quarter worth approximately $486,000. Finally, Signaturefd LLC raised its stake in Booking by 23.9% during the first quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 270 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $980,000 after buying an additional 52 shares during the last quarter. 92.42% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have issued reports on BKNG. JMP Securities lifted their target price on shares of Booking from $5,000.00 to $5,400.00 and gave the stock a “market outperform” rating in a report on Friday. Bank of America increased their target price on Booking from $4,448.00 to $4,850.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. Argus cut Booking from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. Cantor Fitzgerald restated a “neutral” rating and set a $3,590.00 price objective on shares of Booking in a research report on Monday, October 7th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price target on Booking from $5,050.00 to $5,550.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. Twelve analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-one have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $4,708.45.

Booking Stock Performance

BKNG stock opened at $4,776.46 on Tuesday. Booking Holdings Inc. has a one year low of $2,888.45 and a one year high of $4,856.60. The firm has a market cap of $158.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.41, a PEG ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 1.38. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $4,156.53 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $3,896.46.

Booking Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 6th will be paid a $8.75 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 6th. This represents a $35.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.73%. Booking’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 23.75%.

Insider Transactions at Booking

In other Booking news, insider Paulo Pisano sold 100 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $3,887.61, for a total value of $388,761.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 3,787 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,722,379.07. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.12% of the company’s stock.

Booking Company Profile

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.