Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) Shares Sold by VELA Investment Management LLC

VELA Investment Management LLC decreased its position in shares of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) by 1.8% during the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 330 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 6 shares during the period. VELA Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Booking were worth $1,640,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Integrated Advisors Network LLC grew its stake in Booking by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter. Integrated Advisors Network LLC now owns 276 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $1,163,000 after acquiring an additional 5 shares during the period. Diversify Advisory Services LLC grew its stake in Booking by 7.8% in the 3rd quarter. Diversify Advisory Services LLC now owns 69 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $302,000 after acquiring an additional 5 shares during the period. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC grew its stake in Booking by 6.4% in the 3rd quarter. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC now owns 149 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $643,000 after acquiring an additional 9 shares during the period. Mutual Advisors LLC grew its stake in Booking by 103.1% in the 3rd quarter. Mutual Advisors LLC now owns 390 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $1,693,000 after acquiring an additional 198 shares during the period. Finally, Loring Wolcott & Coolidge Fiduciary Advisors LLP MA grew its stake in Booking by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter. Loring Wolcott & Coolidge Fiduciary Advisors LLP MA now owns 290 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $1,258,000 after acquiring an additional 3 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.42% of the company’s stock.

Booking Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:BKNG opened at $4,918.13 on Friday. Booking Holdings Inc. has a 1 year low of $3,180.00 and a 1 year high of $5,337.24. The firm has a market capitalization of $161.39 billion, a PE ratio of 28.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 1.39. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $4,899.44 and its two-hundred day moving average is $4,596.93.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 20th. The business services provider reported $41.55 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $35.82 by $5.73. Booking had a negative return on equity of 159.34% and a net margin of 24.78%. The business had revenue of $5.47 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.18 billion. Analysts expect that Booking Holdings Inc. will post 209.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Booking Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, March 7th will be issued a $9.60 dividend. This represents a $38.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.78%. This is an increase from Booking’s previous quarterly dividend of $8.75. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 7th. Booking’s dividend payout ratio is 22.19%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms recently issued reports on BKNG. Truist Financial lifted their price target on shares of Booking from $4,100.00 to $4,700.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Robert W. Baird began coverage on shares of Booking in a research note on Wednesday, November 27th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $5,850.00 target price on the stock. UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of Booking from $5,560.00 to $5,960.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, February 21st. Wedbush lifted their target price on shares of Booking from $5,000.00 to $5,500.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Bank of America lifted their target price on shares of Booking from $4,850.00 to $5,522.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 18th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $5,370.43.

Booking 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.