Greatmark Investment Partners Inc. Sells 116 Shares of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)

Greatmark Investment Partners Inc. decreased its holdings in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) by 4.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,307 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 116 shares during the period. Booking comprises approximately 1.6% of Greatmark Investment Partners Inc.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 23rd biggest holding. Greatmark Investment Partners Inc.’s holdings in Booking were worth $11,462,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc bought a new stake in Booking in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Booking in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Valley National Advisers Inc. grew its position in shares of Booking by 600.0% in the fourth quarter. Valley National Advisers Inc. now owns 7 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 6 shares during the last quarter. Promus Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Booking in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Finally, Roxbury Financial LLC acquired a new position in shares of Booking in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $42,000. Institutional investors own 92.42% of the company’s stock.

Booking Stock Up 4.0 %

NASDAQ BKNG opened at $4,465.48 on Friday. Booking Holdings Inc. has a twelve month low of $3,180.00 and a twelve month high of $5,337.24. The company has a market cap of $146.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.81, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 1.40. The business’s fifty day moving average is $4,816.74 and its 200 day moving average is $4,671.52.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 20th. The business services provider reported $41.55 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $35.82 by $5.73. Booking had a negative return on equity of 159.34% and a net margin of 24.78%. The company had revenue of $5.47 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.18 billion. On average, research analysts anticipate that Booking Holdings Inc. will post 209.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Booking Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, March 7th will be issued a dividend of $9.60 per share. This is an increase from Booking’s previous quarterly dividend of $8.75. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 7th. This represents a $38.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.86%. Booking’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 22.19%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have recently commented on the company. Barclays upped their target price on Booking from $5,100.00 to $5,600.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, February 21st. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Booking from $4,470.00 to $5,248.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, February 21st. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on Booking from $5,155.00 to $5,900.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, February 21st. JMP Securities reaffirmed a “market outperform” rating and issued a $5,400.00 target price on shares of Booking in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Finally, B. Riley increased their price target on Booking from $5,700.00 to $6,000.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, February 21st. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-one have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price 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.