XML Financial LLC Grows Position in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)

XML Financial LLC increased its position in shares of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) by 23.7% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 141 shares of the business services provider’s stock after buying an additional 27 shares during the quarter. XML Financial LLC’s holdings in Booking were worth $512,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in BKNG. Global Assets Advisory LLC purchased a new position in shares of Booking in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $401,371,000. Crestwood Advisors Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Booking by 3.0% in the 4th quarter. Crestwood Advisors Group LLC now owns 16,248 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $57,635,000 after purchasing an additional 470 shares during the last quarter. Boston Trust Walden Corp purchased a new position in shares of Booking in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $24,841,000. Baader Bank Aktiengesellschaft grew its stake in shares of Booking by 35.7% in the 4th quarter. Baader Bank Aktiengesellschaft now owns 1,889 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $6,699,000 after purchasing an additional 497 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Artisan Partners Limited Partnership grew its stake in shares of Booking by 2.3% in the 4th quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership now owns 32,089 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $113,827,000 after purchasing an additional 729 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.42% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Paulo Pisano sold 227 shares of Booking stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $3,580.75, for a total value of $812,830.25. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 4,233 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $15,157,314.75. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Booking news, CEO Glenn D. Fogel sold 750 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $4,067.65, for a total transaction of $3,050,737.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 24,721 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $100,556,375.65. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Paulo Pisano sold 227 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $3,580.75, for a total value of $812,830.25. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 4,233 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $15,157,314.75. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.12% of the company’s stock.

Booking Trading Down 1.4 %

Shares of NASDAQ BKNG traded down $50.83 during trading on Thursday, reaching $3,664.18. The company had a trading volume of 548,375 shares, compared to its average volume of 252,166. Booking Holdings Inc. has a twelve month low of $2,733.04 and a twelve month high of $4,144.32. The stock has a market capitalization of $124.32 billion, a PE ratio of 27.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 1.38. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $3,883.15 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $3,690.77.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 2nd. The business services provider reported $20.39 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $14.03 by $6.36. The business had revenue of $4.42 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.25 billion. Booking had a negative return on equity of 288.35% and a net margin of 21.81%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 16.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $11.60 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Booking Holdings Inc. will post 178.55 EPS for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have weighed in on BKNG shares. Argus lifted their target price on Booking from $4,200.00 to $4,342.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 4th. Tigress Financial raised their price target on Booking from $4,285.00 to $4,580.00 and gave the company a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 9th. BMO Capital Markets reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $4,205.00 price target (up from $4,150.00) on shares of Booking in a report on Friday, May 3rd. HSBC raised their price target on Booking from $4,220.00 to $4,230.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, May 7th. Finally, DA Davidson raised their price target on Booking from $4,100.00 to $4,150.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, May 3rd. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-two have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $4,092.56.

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.