Texas Permanent School Fund Corp Grows Stock Holdings in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)

Texas Permanent School Fund Corp grew its holdings in shares of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) by 0.1% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 7,210 shares of the business services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 8 shares during the period. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp’s holdings in Booking were worth $26,157,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Activest Wealth Management purchased a new position in Booking in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Naples Money Management LLC purchased a new position in Booking in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. ICA Group Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Booking in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Valued Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Booking in the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Finally, Turtle Creek Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Booking in the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. 92.42% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Booking Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ BKNG traded down $53.64 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $3,936.41. 229,387 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 250,892. The company’s 50-day moving average is $3,831.67 and its two-hundred day moving average is $3,650.80. The company has a market capitalization of $133.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.55, a PEG ratio of 1.19 and a beta of 1.38. Booking Holdings Inc. has a 1 year low of $2,733.04 and a 1 year high of $4,040.00.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) last announced 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. The firm had revenue of $4.42 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.25 billion. Booking had a net margin of 21.81% and a negative return on equity of 288.35%. The business’s revenue was up 16.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $11.60 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Booking Holdings Inc. will post 178.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Booking Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 28th. Investors of record on Friday, June 7th were issued a dividend of $8.75 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 7th. This represents a $35.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.89%. Booking’s payout ratio is 26.25%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have commented on BKNG shares. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Booking from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Evercore ISI lifted their target price on shares of Booking from $3,800.00 to $4,500.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, May 3rd. HSBC lifted their target price on shares of Booking from $4,220.00 to $4,230.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 7th. Tigress Financial boosted their price objective on shares of Booking from $4,285.00 to $4,580.00 and gave the company a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $4,205.00 price objective (up previously from $4,150.00) on shares of Booking in a research report on Friday, May 3rd. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-two have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Booking presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $3,933.23.

Insider Activity at Booking

In related news, Director Radakovich Lynn Vojvodich sold 22 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $3,583.07, for a total transaction of $78,827.54. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 211 shares in the company, valued at approximately $756,027.77. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Booking news, Director Radakovich Lynn Vojvodich sold 22 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $3,583.07, for a total value of $78,827.54. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 211 shares in the company, valued at approximately $756,027.77. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Glenn D. Fogel sold 750 shares of Booking stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 15th. The shares were 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 directly owns 26,971 shares in the company, valued at $95,318,211.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 1,021 shares of company stock worth $3,617,852. Insiders own 0.12% of the company’s stock.

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.