First National Advisers LLC Boosts Position in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)

First National Advisers LLC grew its stake in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) by 6.5% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 1,192 shares of the business services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 73 shares during the quarter. Booking comprises approximately 1.0% of First National Advisers LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 19th biggest holding. First National Advisers LLC’s holdings in Booking were worth $5,922,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Sovereign Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Booking in the 4th quarter worth about $248,000. Harbour Investments Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Booking by 6.5% during the 4th quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 49 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $243,000 after buying an additional 3 shares during the period. Corient Private Wealth LLC increased its holdings in Booking by 198.9% during the 4th quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 31,850 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $158,247,000 after purchasing an additional 21,195 shares during the last quarter. Choate Investment Advisors increased its holdings in Booking by 90.3% during the 4th quarter. Choate Investment Advisors now owns 236 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $1,173,000 after purchasing an additional 112 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Booking by 64.9% during the 4th quarter. Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC now owns 437 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $2,171,000 after purchasing an additional 172 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.42% of the company’s stock.

Booking Stock Up 4.0 %

Shares of NASDAQ:BKNG opened at $4,465.48 on Friday. Booking Holdings Inc. has a 12 month low of $3,180.00 and a 12 month high of $5,337.24. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $4,816.74 and its 200 day simple moving average is $4,677.04. The firm has a market cap of $146.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.81, a PEG ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 1.40.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 20th. The business services provider reported $41.55 EPS for the quarter, topping 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 business had revenue of $5.47 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.18 billion. Research analysts expect that Booking Holdings Inc. will post 209.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Booking Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared 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 a positive change from Booking’s previous quarterly dividend of $8.75. This represents a $38.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.86%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 7th. Booking’s payout ratio is presently 22.19%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

BKNG has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. DA Davidson boosted their price target on Booking from $5,005.00 to $5,800.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. Baird R W upgraded Booking to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 27th. B. Riley increased their target price on Booking from $5,700.00 to $6,000.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, February 21st. Wedbush increased their target price on Booking from $5,000.00 to $5,500.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Booking from $4,470.00 to $5,248.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-one have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Booking has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $5,370.43.

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.