Strategic Financial Services Inc. Lowers Stock Holdings in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)

Strategic Financial Services Inc. decreased its position in shares of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) by 1.7% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 465 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 8 shares during the quarter. Strategic Financial Services Inc.’s holdings in Booking were worth $2,310,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc purchased a new position in shares of Booking during the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Booking during the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Promus Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Booking in the 4th quarter worth $35,000. Valley National Advisers Inc. lifted its stake in Booking by 600.0% in the 4th quarter. Valley National Advisers Inc. now owns 7 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 6 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Roxbury Financial LLC purchased a new stake in Booking in the 4th quarter worth $42,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.42% of the company’s stock.

Booking Price Performance

Shares of BKNG stock opened at $4,591.89 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $150.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.54, a P/E/G ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 1.40. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $4,797.71 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $4,690.53. Booking Holdings Inc. has a one year low of $3,180.00 and a one 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 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $35.82 by $5.73. The business had revenue of $5.47 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.18 billion. Booking had a net margin of 24.78% and a negative return on equity of 159.34%. On average, research analysts expect that Booking Holdings Inc. will post 209.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Booking Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 7th will be paid a $9.60 dividend. This is an increase from Booking’s previous quarterly dividend of $8.75. This represents a $38.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.84%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 7th. Booking’s dividend payout ratio is currently 22.19%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have commented on the stock. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on shares of Booking from $4,600.00 to $5,000.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, January 13th. DA Davidson boosted their price target 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. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of Booking from $5,500.00 to $5,800.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, February 21st. Mizuho boosted their price target on shares of Booking from $5,400.00 to $6,000.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. Finally, Benchmark upped their target price on shares of Booking from $5,000.00 to $5,900.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, February 21st. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $5,370.43.

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.