Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) Downgraded to Hold Rating by Erste Group Bank

Erste Group Bank cut shares of Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report report published on Monday morning,Zacks.com reports.

A number of other analysts have also recently weighed in on the stock. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on shares of Booking from $5,155.00 to $5,900.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Booking from $5,100.00 to $5,600.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. UBS Group raised their target price on shares of Booking from $5,560.00 to $5,960.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, February 21st. Wedbush raised their target price on shares of Booking from $5,000.00 to $5,500.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald raised their target price on shares of Booking from $4,900.00 to $5,540.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, February 21st. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Booking presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $5,370.43.

Booking Trading Up 2.7 %

Shares of BKNG stock opened at $4,591.89 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $150.68 billion, a PE ratio of 26.54, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 1.40. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $4,797.71 and a 200-day simple moving average of $4,690.53. Booking has a twelve month low of $3,180.00 and a twelve month high of $5,337.24.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 20th. The business services provider reported $41.55 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $35.82 by $5.73. The company had revenue of $5.47 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.18 billion. Booking had a net margin of 24.78% and a negative return on equity of 159.34%. Equities research analysts predict that Booking will post 209.92 EPS for the current year.

Booking Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders 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. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 7th. This represents a $38.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.84%. Booking’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 22.19%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Booking

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of BKNG. AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc acquired a new stake in shares of Booking in the fourth quarter worth $25,000. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Booking during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Summit Securities Group LLC acquired a new stake in Booking during the fourth quarter worth $30,000. Bernard Wealth Management Corp. acquired a new stake in Booking during the fourth quarter worth $30,000. Finally, Promus Capital LLC acquired a new stake in Booking during the fourth quarter worth $35,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.42% 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.