Principal Financial Group Inc. Raises Stock Position in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)

Principal Financial Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) by 5.3% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 39,597 shares of the business services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 2,010 shares during the quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc.’s holdings in Booking were worth $166,787,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Booking by 55.7% during the 2nd quarter. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. now owns 95 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $376,000 after purchasing an additional 34 shares during the last quarter. Premier Path Wealth Partners LLC boosted its stake in Booking by 2.8% during the second quarter. Premier Path Wealth Partners LLC now owns 183 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $726,000 after buying an additional 5 shares during the last quarter. Quotient Wealth Partners LLC grew its holdings in Booking by 15.5% during the 2nd quarter. Quotient Wealth Partners LLC now owns 97 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $384,000 after buying an additional 13 shares in the last quarter. Grove Bank & Trust increased its stake in Booking by 133.3% in the 2nd quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 7 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 4 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Family Firm Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Booking during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $115,000. 92.42% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Booking Stock Up 0.7 %

Shares of NASDAQ BKNG opened at $4,980.40 on Friday. Booking Holdings Inc. has a twelve month low of $3,180.00 and a twelve month high of $5,337.24. The firm has a market cap of $164.84 billion, a PE ratio of 33.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 1.41. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $4,878.36 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $4,226.95.

Booking Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Friday, December 6th will be issued a $8.75 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 6th. This represents a $35.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.70%. Booking’s payout ratio is currently 23.75%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms recently weighed in on BKNG. Wedbush raised their target price on shares of Booking from $3,900.00 to $4,750.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, October 25th. Susquehanna boosted their target price on shares of Booking from $4,100.00 to $5,500.00 and gave the stock a “positive” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Booking from $3,976.00 to $4,173.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 8th. Bank of America lifted their price target on Booking from $4,850.00 to $5,522.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price objective on Booking from $4,900.00 to $5,200.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-two have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $4,909.90.

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.