Robert W. Baird Initiates Coverage on Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG)

Robert W. Baird began coverage on shares of Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) in a report released on Wednesday, MarketBeat.com reports. The firm issued an outperform rating and a $5,850.00 target price on the business services provider’s stock.

A number of other equities research analysts have also issued reports on BKNG. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their target price on shares of Booking from $4,900.00 to $5,200.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, November 1st. BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on Booking from $4,205.00 to $5,155.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. DA Davidson lifted their target price on Booking from $4,100.00 to $5,005.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on 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. Finally, JMP Securities raised their price objective on Booking from $5,000.00 to $5,400.00 and gave the stock a “market outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, November 1st. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-three have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $4,820.50.

Booking Stock Down 0.4 %

Shares of BKNG opened at $5,201.98 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $172.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.30, a PEG ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.38. The business’s 50 day moving average is $4,599.47 and its two-hundred day moving average is $4,091.65. Booking has a 52-week low of $3,079.50 and a 52-week high of $5,237.00.

Booking Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 6th will be issued a $8.75 dividend. This represents a $35.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.67%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 6th. Booking’s payout ratio is 23.75%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Booking

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Garner Asset Management Corp boosted its position in shares of Booking by 0.8% in the third quarter. Garner Asset Management Corp now owns 258 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $1,087,000 after buying an additional 2 shares during the period. Optimist Retirement Group LLC lifted its stake in Booking by 2.2% in the 3rd quarter. Optimist Retirement Group LLC now owns 91 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $383,000 after acquiring an additional 2 shares in the last quarter. CVA Family Office LLC boosted its position in Booking by 8.1% during the 2nd quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 40 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $158,000 after acquiring an additional 3 shares during the period. American National Bank grew its stake in Booking by 3.7% during the 2nd quarter. American National Bank now owns 84 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $333,000 after acquiring an additional 3 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Horizon Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Booking by 3.2% in the 2nd quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 96 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $380,000 after purchasing an additional 3 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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.