Astoria Portfolio Advisors LLC. Purchases New Holdings in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)

Astoria Portfolio Advisors LLC. purchased a new stake in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 60 shares of the business services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $209,000.

Other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Activest Wealth Management bought a new stake in Booking during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Naples Money Management LLC bought a new stake in Booking during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. ICA Group Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Booking during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Valued Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Booking during the fourth quarter worth $28,000. Finally, Turtle Creek Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Booking during the fourth quarter worth $28,000. 92.42% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at Booking

In related news, insider Paulo Pisano sold 227 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $3,580.75, for a total value of $812,830.25. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 4,233 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $15,157,314.75. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, insider Paulo Pisano sold 227 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $3,580.75, for a total value of $812,830.25. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 4,233 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $15,157,314.75. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Radakovich Lynn Vojvodich sold 22 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $3,583.07, for a total transaction of $78,827.54. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 211 shares in the company, valued at approximately $756,027.77. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 1,021 shares of company stock valued at $3,617,852 in the last 90 days. 0.12% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Booking Price Performance

BKNG stock opened at $3,961.50 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $134.41 billion, a PE ratio of 29.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.40. The company’s 50-day moving average is $3,759.73 and its 200-day moving average is $3,625.18. Booking Holdings Inc. has a 1 year low of $2,624.50 and a 1 year high of $4,040.00.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 2nd. The business services provider reported $20.39 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $14.03 by $6.36. The company had revenue of $4.42 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.25 billion. Booking had a net margin of 21.81% and a negative return on equity of 288.35%. The business’s revenue was up 16.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $11.60 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that Booking Holdings Inc. will post 178.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Booking Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 7th were given a dividend of $8.75 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 7th. This represents a $35.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.88%. Booking’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 26.25%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have weighed in on BKNG. DA Davidson upped their target price on Booking from $4,100.00 to $4,150.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, May 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Booking from $3,950.00 to $4,025.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, May 3rd. Argus upped their price target on shares of Booking from $4,200.00 to $4,342.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, June 4th. Wedbush reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $3,850.00 price target on shares of Booking in a report on Tuesday, April 30th. Finally, JMP Securities reiterated a “market outperform” rating and set a $3,950.00 price target on shares of Booking in a report on Monday, May 6th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-two have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Booking has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $3,902.54.

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.