Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) Given Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) has earned a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the thirty-three ratings firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-one have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 1-year price target among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $4,866.03.

A number of analysts have weighed in on BKNG shares. Argus cut shares of Booking from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. DA Davidson lifted their price target on shares of Booking from $4,100.00 to $5,005.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of Booking from $4,200.00 to $4,600.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, November 1st. Baird R W upgraded Booking to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 27th. Finally, StockNews.com raised Booking from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, November 9th.

Booking Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ BKNG opened at $5,227.61 on Friday. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $4,813.41 and its 200-day simple moving average is $4,193.81. The firm has a market capitalization of $173.03 billion, a PE ratio of 35.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 1.41. Booking has a fifty-two week low of $3,180.00 and a fifty-two week high of $5,337.24.

Booking Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 6th will be given a dividend of $8.75 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 6th. This represents a $35.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.67%. Booking’s payout ratio is currently 23.75%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Booking

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in BKNG. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new position in Booking during the third quarter worth about $25,000. Grove Bank & Trust grew its holdings in shares of 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 period. POM Investment Strategies LLC purchased a new position in Booking in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Kings Path Partners LLC acquired a new position in Booking during the second quarter worth $28,000. Finally, West Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Booking during the third quarter worth $29,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.42% of the company’s stock.

About Booking

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.