Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) Rating Lowered to “Hold” at StockNews.com

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) was downgraded by research analysts at StockNews.com from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a note issued to investors on Friday.

Other equities research analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Evercore ISI decreased their price target on shares of Booking from $4,500.00 to $4,200.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, August 2nd. JMP Securities boosted their target price on Booking from $3,950.00 to $5,000.00 and gave the company a “market outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 15th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $3,590.00 price target on shares of Booking in a research note on Monday, October 7th. Oppenheimer boosted their price objective on Booking from $5,000.00 to $5,500.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday. Finally, BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on shares of Booking from $4,205.00 to $5,155.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday. Eleven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-one have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $4,482.14.

Booking Trading Up 4.8 %

Shares of BKNG opened at $4,676.25 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $4,118.59 and a 200 day moving average of $3,872.22. The company has a market capitalization of $156.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.73, a PEG ratio of 1.44 and a beta of 1.40. Booking has a 12 month low of $2,756.13 and a 12 month high of $4,856.60.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The business services provider reported $83.89 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $77.94 by $5.95. The company had revenue of $7.99 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $7.63 billion. Booking had a negative return on equity of 200.87% and a net margin of 22.46%. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Booking will post 177.29 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Booking

In other news, insider Paulo Pisano sold 100 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $3,887.61, for a total value of $388,761.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 3,787 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,722,379.07. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.12% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Booking

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Booking in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Grove Bank & Trust lifted its stake in Booking by 133.3% in the second quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 7 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 4 shares during the period. POM Investment Strategies LLC bought a new stake in Booking in the second quarter valued at $28,000. Kings Path Partners LLC purchased a new position in Booking during the 2nd quarter valued at $28,000. Finally, West Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in Booking in the 3rd quarter worth $29,000. 92.42% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.