Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) Shares Sold by United Community Bank

United Community Bank lessened its stake in shares of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) by 21.4% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 220 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 60 shares during the quarter. United Community Bank’s holdings in Booking were worth $1,093,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp grew its holdings 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 valued at $15,392,000 after buying an additional 322 shares during the last quarter. Dorsey & Whitney Trust CO LLC grew its holdings 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 valued at $1,068,000 after buying an additional 4 shares during the last quarter. Banco Santander S.A. grew its holdings in Booking by 52.1% during the 4th quarter. Banco Santander S.A. now owns 5,061 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $25,145,000 after buying an additional 1,734 shares during the last quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich grew its holdings in Booking by 8.6% during the 4th quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 31,817 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $169,598,000 after buying an additional 2,517 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Machina Capital S.A.S. acquired a new stake in shares of Booking during the fourth quarter worth $1,133,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.42% of the company’s stock.

Booking Stock Performance

NASDAQ:BKNG opened at $4,673.38 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $153.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 1.40. Booking Holdings Inc. has a one year low of $3,180.00 and a one year high of $5,337.24. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $4,872.56 and a 200 day simple moving average of $4,656.42.

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

Booking Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 7th will be paid a $9.60 dividend. This is an increase from Booking’s previous quarterly dividend of $8.75. This represents a $38.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.82%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 7th. Booking’s payout ratio is presently 22.19%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on BKNG shares. Benchmark raised their price objective on Booking from $5,000.00 to $5,900.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. JMP Securities restated a “market outperform” rating and set a $5,400.00 price objective on shares of Booking in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Oppenheimer raised their price objective on Booking from $5,500.00 to $6,000.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, December 6th. Citigroup increased 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. Finally, UBS Group increased their target price on Booking from $5,560.00 to $5,960.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, February 21st. Nine equities research 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 stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Booking has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $5,370.43.

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.