Moran Wealth Management LLC Trims Position in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)

Moran Wealth Management LLC cut its holdings in shares of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) by 1.4% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,553 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 22 shares during the quarter. Moran Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in Booking were worth $7,716,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Main Street Research LLC raised its position in Booking by 2.4% during the 4th quarter. Main Street Research LLC now owns 8,204 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $40,761,000 after buying an additional 189 shares during the last quarter. Simplicity Wealth LLC raised its position in Booking by 11.9% during the 4th quarter. Simplicity Wealth LLC now owns 179 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $889,000 after buying an additional 19 shares during the last quarter. AlphaQuest LLC raised its position in Booking by 5.5% during the 4th quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 270 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $1,341,000 after buying an additional 14 shares during the last quarter. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp raised its position in Booking by 11.6% during the 4th quarter. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp now owns 3,098 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $15,392,000 after buying an additional 322 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dorsey & Whitney Trust CO LLC raised its position in Booking by 1.9% during the 4th quarter. Dorsey & Whitney Trust CO LLC now owns 215 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $1,068,000 after buying an additional 4 shares during the last quarter. 92.42% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Booking Stock Performance

Shares of BKNG stock opened at $4,451.03 on Tuesday. Booking Holdings Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $3,180.00 and a fifty-two week high of $5,337.24. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $4,861.77 and its two-hundred day moving average is $4,667.69. The firm has a market capitalization of $146.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.72, a PEG ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 1.40.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 20th. The business services provider reported $41.55 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $35.82 by $5.73. Booking had a negative return on equity of 159.34% and a net margin of 24.78%. The business had revenue of $5.47 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.18 billion. On average, equities analysts forecast that Booking Holdings Inc. will post 209.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Booking Increases Dividend

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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have recently commented on BKNG. Mizuho raised their price objective on shares of Booking from $5,400.00 to $6,000.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. B. Riley raised their price objective on shares of Booking from $5,700.00 to $6,000.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, February 21st. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Booking from $4,470.00 to $5,248.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, February 21st. JMP Securities reaffirmed a “market outperform” rating and set a $5,400.00 price objective on shares of Booking in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. Finally, Wedbush raised their price objective on shares of Booking from $5,000.00 to $5,500.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-one have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $5,370.43.

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.