CenterBook Partners LP Has $27.72 Million Stake in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)

CenterBook Partners LP boosted its stake in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) by 98.9% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,579 shares of the business services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 2,774 shares during the quarter. Booking comprises approximately 1.7% of CenterBook Partners LP’s holdings, making the stock its 4th largest holding. CenterBook Partners LP’s holdings in Booking were worth $27,719,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc bought a new stake in Booking in the fourth quarter worth $25,000. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Booking in the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Summit Securities Group LLC bought a new stake in Booking during the fourth quarter worth approximately $30,000. Bernard Wealth Management Corp. bought a new stake in shares of Booking in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Finally, Valley National Advisers Inc. increased its position in shares of Booking by 600.0% during the 4th quarter. Valley National Advisers Inc. now owns 7 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 6 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 92.42% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Booking from $5,248.00 to $4,567.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Monday. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Booking from $4,600.00 to $5,000.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, January 13th. Barclays boosted their price target on Booking from $5,100.00 to $5,600.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on Booking from $5,250.00 to $5,900.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, February 21st. Finally, JMP Securities reaffirmed a “market outperform” rating and issued a $5,400.00 price objective on shares of Booking in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-one have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $5,320.38.

Booking Stock Down 1.9 %

NASDAQ:BKNG opened at $4,164.15 on Wednesday. Booking Holdings Inc. has a 52 week low of $3,180.00 and a 52 week high of $5,337.24. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $4,726.94 and its 200-day moving average price is $4,758.36. The stock has a market capitalization of $136.65 billion, a PE ratio of 24.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 1.37.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 20th. The business services provider reported $41.55 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $35.82 by $5.73. The business had revenue of $5.47 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.18 billion. Booking had a negative return on equity of 159.34% and a net margin of 24.78%. Sell-side analysts expect that Booking Holdings Inc. will post 209.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Booking Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, March 7th were paid a $9.60 dividend. This is an increase from Booking’s previous quarterly dividend of $8.75. This represents a $38.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.92%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 7th. Booking’s dividend payout ratio is currently 22.19%.

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.