Royal London Asset Management Ltd. Increases Stock Position in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)

Royal London Asset Management Ltd. boosted its holdings in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) by 1.5% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 66,143 shares of the business services provider’s stock after buying an additional 964 shares during the period. Booking makes up 0.7% of Royal London Asset Management Ltd.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 29th biggest holding. Royal London Asset Management Ltd.’s holdings in Booking were worth $234,624,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Activest Wealth Management purchased a new stake in Booking in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Naples Money Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Booking in the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Valued Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Booking during the fourth quarter valued at $28,000. Turtle Creek Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Booking during the fourth quarter valued at $28,000. Finally, Bourgeon Capital Management LLC bought a new position in Booking in the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.42% of the company’s stock.

Booking Price Performance

NASDAQ:BKNG traded up $2.96 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $3,859.10. 143,721 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 195,266. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $3,667.16 and a 200-day moving average price of $3,571.31. The firm has a market capitalization of $130.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.94, a PEG ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.40. Booking Holdings Inc. has a 12-month low of $2,587.18 and a 12-month high of $3,918.00.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, May 2nd. The business services provider reported $20.39 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $14.03 by $6.36. Booking had a negative return on equity of 288.35% and a net margin of 21.81%. The firm had revenue of $4.42 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.25 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $11.60 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 16.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts forecast that Booking Holdings Inc. will post 178.54 EPS for the current year.

Booking Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 7th will be given a $8.75 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 7th. This represents a $35.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.91%. Booking’s dividend payout ratio is 26.25%.

Insider Activity

In other Booking news, CEO Glenn D. Fogel sold 750 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $3,534.10, for a total transaction of $2,650,575.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 26,971 shares in the company, valued at approximately $95,318,211.10. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other Booking news, CEO Glenn D. Fogel sold 750 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, April 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $3,534.10, for a total transaction of $2,650,575.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 26,971 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $95,318,211.10. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider Paulo Pisano sold 227 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $3,580.75, for a total transaction of $812,830.25. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 4,233 shares in the company, valued at $15,157,314.75. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 1,021 shares of company stock valued at $3,617,852. Corporate insiders own 0.12% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently commented on BKNG shares. Argus boosted their price objective on Booking from $4,200.00 to $4,342.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, June 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Booking from $3,950.00 to $4,025.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, May 3rd. HSBC raised their price objective on shares of Booking from $4,220.00 to $4,230.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 7th. Erste Group Bank raised Booking from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $4,205.00 price target (up previously from $4,150.00) on shares of Booking in a research note on Friday, May 3rd. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-two have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $3,902.54.

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.