Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) Upgraded by StockNews.com to Buy Rating

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) was upgraded by investment analysts at StockNews.com from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report issued on Friday.

A number of other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on the company. Citigroup upped their target price on Booking from $5,500.00 to $5,800.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, February 21st. DA Davidson upped their price objective on Booking from $5,005.00 to $5,800.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. Cantor Fitzgerald raised their target price on Booking from $4,900.00 to $5,540.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, February 21st. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on shares of Booking from $5,250.00 to $5,900.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted 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. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $5,370.43.

Booking Trading Down 0.2 %

NASDAQ:BKNG opened at $4,752.80 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $155.96 billion, a PE ratio of 27.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 1.40. Booking has a 52 week low of $3,180.00 and a 52 week high of $5,337.24. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $4,784.95 and a 200-day moving average of $4,721.67.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 20th. The business services provider reported $41.55 earnings per share (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 firm had revenue of $5.47 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.18 billion. As a group, analysts predict that Booking will post 209.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Booking

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Optimist Retirement Group LLC raised its holdings in Booking by 2.2% during the third quarter. Optimist Retirement Group LLC now owns 91 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $383,000 after buying an additional 2 shares in the last quarter. Covestor Ltd raised its stake in shares of Booking by 6.9% in the 4th quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 31 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $158,000 after acquiring an additional 2 shares in the last quarter. SageView Advisory Group LLC lifted its holdings in Booking by 1.6% in the 4th quarter. SageView Advisory Group LLC now owns 124 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $616,000 after purchasing an additional 2 shares during the last quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in Booking by 2.2% in the 4th quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 95 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $472,000 after purchasing an additional 2 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Elequin Capital LP boosted its position in Booking by 20.0% during the fourth quarter. Elequin Capital LP now owns 12 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $60,000 after purchasing an additional 2 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.42% of the company’s stock.

About Booking

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.