Investment Research & Advisory Group Inc. Makes New $2.88 Million Investment in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)

Investment Research & Advisory Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 684 shares of the business services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $2,881,000. Booking makes up approximately 1.2% of Investment Research & Advisory Group Inc.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 27th biggest position.

Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. bought a new stake in Booking in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Grove Bank & Trust grew its holdings in shares of Booking by 133.3% in the second 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 stake in Booking during the second quarter valued at $28,000. Kings Path Partners LLC bought a new position in Booking in the second quarter valued at about $28,000. Finally, West Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Booking in the third quarter worth about $29,000. 92.42% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at Booking

In related news, insider Paulo Pisano sold 100 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, the insider now directly owns 3,787 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $14,722,379.07. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.12% of the company’s stock.

Booking Stock Up 0.6 %

Booking stock opened at $4,338.73 on Friday. Booking Holdings Inc. has a 52-week low of $2,733.04 and a 52-week high of $4,395.00. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $4,029.83 and its 200 day moving average is $3,838.71. The company has a market cap of $145.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.38, a PEG ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 1.40.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The business services provider reported $41.90 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $39.22 by $2.68. The firm had revenue of $5.86 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.77 billion. Booking had a net margin of 22.46% and a negative return on equity of 200.87%. The business’s revenue was up 7.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $37.62 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Booking Holdings Inc. will post 177.17 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Booking Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 6th were paid a dividend of $8.75 per share. This represents a $35.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.81%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, September 6th. Booking’s payout ratio is 24.50%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

BKNG has been the subject of several research reports. Oppenheimer reduced their price target on shares of Booking from $4,600.00 to $4,200.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, August 2nd. Mizuho increased their price target on shares of Booking from $4,250.00 to $4,800.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Booking from $3,976.00 to $4,173.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 8th. Truist Financial started coverage on Booking in a report on Friday, September 6th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $4,100.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Booking from $4,000.00 to $4,200.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday, September 5th. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-one have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $4,183.75.

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.