ProVise Management Group LLC Sells 108 Shares of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)

ProVise Management Group LLC cut its stake in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) by 3.4% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 3,034 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 108 shares during the period. Booking accounts for about 1.3% of ProVise Management Group LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 24th biggest position. ProVise Management Group LLC’s holdings in Booking were worth $15,074,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc acquired a new position in Booking in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Booking in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Valley National Advisers Inc. lifted its holdings in Booking by 600.0% in the fourth quarter. Valley National Advisers Inc. now owns 7 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 6 shares during the period. Promus Capital LLC acquired a new position in Booking in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Finally, Roxbury Financial LLC acquired a new position in Booking in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $42,000. 92.42% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Booking Price Performance

Shares of BKNG opened at $4,471.51 on Wednesday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $4,803.32 and a 200-day moving average of $4,691.22. Booking Holdings Inc. has a one year low of $3,180.00 and a one year high of $5,337.24. The company has a market cap of $146.73 billion, a PE ratio of 25.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 1.40.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 20th. The business services provider reported $41.55 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $35.82 by $5.73. Booking had a net margin of 24.78% and a negative return on equity of 159.34%. The company had revenue of $5.47 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.18 billion. Analysts expect that Booking Holdings Inc. will post 209.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Booking Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 7th will be paid a dividend of $9.60 per share. This represents a $38.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.86%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 7th. This is a boost from Booking’s previous quarterly dividend of $8.75. Booking’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 22.19%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

BKNG has been the topic of several analyst reports. UBS Group increased their target price on shares of Booking from $5,560.00 to $5,960.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Booking from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, March 4th. Cantor Fitzgerald increased their target price on shares of Booking from $4,900.00 to $5,540.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. Benchmark increased their target price on shares of Booking from $5,000.00 to $5,900.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on shares of Booking from $5,250.00 to $5,900.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-one have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $5,370.43.

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.