Booking’s (BKNG) Neutral Rating Reaffirmed at Cantor Fitzgerald

Cantor Fitzgerald restated their neutral rating on shares of Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) in a report published on Monday, Benzinga reports. Cantor Fitzgerald currently has a $3,590.00 price target on the business services provider’s stock.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Booking from $4,300.00 to $3,900.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, August 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group lowered shares of Booking from a buy rating to a hold rating and lowered their target price for the company from $4,350.00 to $4,200.00 in a report on Wednesday, September 4th. Bank of America lowered their target price on shares of Booking from $3,950.00 to $3,750.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, August 2nd. DA Davidson lowered their target price on shares of Booking from $4,150.00 to $4,100.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, August 2nd. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of Booking from $4,000.00 to $4,200.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, September 5th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-one have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Booking presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $4,064.21.

Booking Stock Down 0.5 %

Booking stock opened at $4,104.12 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $137.57 billion, a PE ratio of 30.78, a P/E/G ratio of 1.30 and a beta of 1.40. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $3,814.50 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $3,768.60. Booking has a twelve month low of $2,733.04 and a twelve month high of $4,272.88.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 1st. The business services provider reported $41.90 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $39.22 by $2.68. Booking had a net margin of 22.46% and a negative return on equity of 200.87%. The firm had revenue of $5.86 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.77 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $37.62 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 7.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts expect that Booking will post 176.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Booking Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 6th were given a dividend of $8.75 per share. This represents a $35.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.85%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, September 6th. Booking’s payout ratio is 26.25%.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Paulo Pisano sold 100 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $3,887.61, for a total transaction of $388,761.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 3,787 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $14,722,379.07. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, insider Paulo Pisano sold 100 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $3,887.61, for a total value of $388,761.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 3,787 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $14,722,379.07. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Glenn D. Fogel sold 750 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, July 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $4,067.65, for a total transaction of $3,050,737.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 24,721 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $100,556,375.65. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.12% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. ICA Group Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Booking in the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Grove Bank & Trust lifted its stake in 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 purchasing an additional 4 shares in the last quarter. POM Investment Strategies LLC purchased a new stake in Booking in the 2nd quarter worth $28,000. Kings Path Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Booking in the 2nd quarter worth $28,000. Finally, Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. purchased a new stake in Booking in the 2nd quarter worth $32,000. Institutional investors 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.