Fifth Third Bancorp Raises Holdings in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)

Fifth Third Bancorp lifted its holdings in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) by 24.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 4,576 shares of the business services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 903 shares during the quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp’s holdings in Booking were worth $22,735,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. DGS Capital Management LLC raised its position in Booking by 5.8% in the 4th quarter. DGS Capital Management LLC now owns 109 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $542,000 after buying an additional 6 shares during the last quarter. Pflug Koory LLC grew its stake in shares of Booking by 3.2% in the fourth quarter. Pflug Koory LLC now owns 163 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $810,000 after acquiring an additional 5 shares during the period. Goelzer Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in Booking by 1.1% during the fourth quarter. Goelzer Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,313 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $6,524,000 after purchasing an additional 14 shares during the period. LexAurum Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Booking by 6.0% during the 4th quarter. LexAurum Advisors LLC now owns 53 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $263,000 after buying an additional 3 shares during the period. Finally, RFG Advisory LLC lifted its holdings in Booking by 8.5% in the fourth quarter. RFG Advisory LLC now owns 726 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $3,605,000 after acquiring an additional 57 shares during the period. 92.42% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Booking Stock Performance

Shares of Booking stock opened at $4,764.89 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $5,028.05 and a 200-day moving average price of $4,406.60. Booking Holdings Inc. has a one year low of $3,180.00 and a one year high of $5,337.24. The stock has a market cap of $157.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.57 and a beta of 1.41.

Booking Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 6th were issued a $8.75 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 6th. This represents a $35.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.73%. Booking’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 23.75%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Mizuho increased 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 report on Thursday, December 19th. StockNews.com raised Booking from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, November 9th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on Booking from $4,657.00 to $4,470.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 16th. DA Davidson raised their price objective on Booking from $4,100.00 to $5,005.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. Finally, Tigress Financial boosted their price objective on Booking from $4,580.00 to $5,600.00 and gave the company a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, November 18th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-one have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $4,997.64.

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.