Main Street Research LLC Has $40.76 Million Stock Holdings in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)

Main Street Research LLC grew its position in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) by 2.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 8,204 shares of the business services provider’s stock after buying an additional 189 shares during the period. Booking makes up 2.5% of Main Street Research LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 16th largest position. Main Street Research LLC’s holdings in Booking were worth $40,761,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in BKNG. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Booking by 21.0% in the third quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC now owns 144 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $607,000 after buying an additional 25 shares in the last quarter. Portside Wealth Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Booking by 10.5% during the third quarter. Portside Wealth Group LLC now owns 84 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $354,000 after acquiring an additional 8 shares during the period. CWA Asset Management Group LLC bought a new stake in Booking in the 3rd quarter valued at $1,007,000. Assetmark Inc. boosted its stake in Booking by 3.5% in the 3rd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 1,047 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $4,408,000 after purchasing an additional 35 shares during the period. Finally, GSG Advisors LLC bought a new position in Booking during the 3rd quarter worth about $201,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.42% of the company’s stock.

Booking Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ BKNG opened at $4,673.38 on Monday. Booking Holdings Inc. has a one year low of $3,180.00 and a one year high of $5,337.24. The firm has a market cap of $153.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.01, a P/E/G ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 1.40. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $4,872.56 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $4,662.88.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 20th. The business services provider reported $41.55 EPS for the quarter, topping 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 business had revenue of $5.47 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.18 billion. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Booking Holdings Inc. will post 209.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal 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 issued a dividend of $9.60 per share. This is a positive change from Booking’s previous quarterly dividend of $8.75. This represents a $38.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.82%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 7th. Booking’s dividend payout ratio is 22.19%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have recently commented on BKNG. Citigroup boosted their price target on Booking from $5,500.00 to $5,800.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. DA Davidson upped their price target on Booking from $5,005.00 to $5,800.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, February 21st. B. Riley lifted their price objective on shares of Booking from $5,700.00 to $6,000.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. 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. Finally, Benchmark lifted their price target on shares of Booking from $5,000.00 to $5,900.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note 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. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus 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.