Baird R W Upgrades Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) to “Strong-Buy”

Baird R W upgraded shares of Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) to a strong-buy rating in a research report released on Wednesday,Zacks.com reports.

Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Wedbush raised their target price on shares of Booking from $3,900.00 to $4,750.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Booking from $3,976.00 to $4,173.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 8th. Piper Sandler increased their price target on Booking from $3,560.00 to $4,900.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on Booking from $4,200.00 to $4,300.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 22nd. Finally, Susquehanna upped their price objective on Booking from $4,100.00 to $5,500.00 and gave the stock a “positive” rating in a research note on Friday, November 1st. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-three have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $4,820.50.

Booking Stock Up 0.2 %

NASDAQ:BKNG opened at $5,223.15 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $172.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 1.38. Booking has a twelve month low of $3,079.50 and a twelve month high of $5,237.00. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $4,552.59 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $4,071.32.

Booking Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Friday, December 6th will be given a $8.75 dividend. This represents a $35.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.67%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 6th. Booking’s payout ratio is currently 23.75%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Booking

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BKNG. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. bought a new position in Booking during the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. Grove Bank & Trust raised its holdings in shares of Booking by 133.3% in the second quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 7 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 4 shares during the last quarter. POM Investment Strategies LLC bought a new position in shares of Booking during the second quarter valued at about $28,000. Kings Path Partners LLC purchased a new position in Booking during the second quarter worth about $28,000. Finally, West Financial Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Booking in the 3rd quarter worth about $29,000. Institutional investors own 92.42% of the company’s stock.

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.