Intech Investment Management LLC Boosts Stake in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)

Intech Investment Management LLC grew its stake in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) by 6.1% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,330 shares of the business services provider’s stock after buying an additional 77 shares during the period. Intech Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Booking were worth $3,591,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. ING Groep NV raised its holdings in shares of Booking by 1,687.8% in the first quarter. ING Groep NV now owns 10,727 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $28,452,000 after buying an additional 10,127 shares during the last quarter. Achmea Investment Management B.V. raised its holdings in shares of Booking by 28.9% during the second quarter. Achmea Investment Management B.V. now owns 6,785 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $18,322,000 after purchasing an additional 1,521 shares during the last quarter. Mirabella Financial Services LLP raised its holdings in shares of Booking by 46.8% during the second quarter. Mirabella Financial Services LLP now owns 652 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $1,761,000 after purchasing an additional 208 shares during the last quarter. Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Booking during the second quarter worth $216,000. Finally, Citizens Financial Group Inc RI purchased a new position in shares of Booking during the first quarter worth $207,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.13% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Booking news, CAO Susana D’emic sold 1,989 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $3,039.28, for a total transaction of $6,045,127.92. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 6,278 shares in the company, valued at approximately $19,080,599.84. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, CFO David I. Goulden sold 550 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, October 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $2,973.70, for a total value of $1,635,535.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 12,304 shares in the company, valued at approximately $36,588,404.80. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CAO Susana D’emic sold 1,989 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, November 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $3,039.28, for a total transaction of $6,045,127.92. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 6,278 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $19,080,599.84. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 4,989 shares of company stock worth $15,303,166 in the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.15% of the company’s stock.

Booking Trading Down 1.7 %

NASDAQ BKNG opened at $3,120.82 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.44, a current ratio of 1.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 11.16. Booking Holdings Inc. has a 52 week low of $1,899.31 and a 52 week high of $3,251.71. The stock has a market capitalization of $108.89 billion, a PE ratio of 21.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 1.36. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $3,002.84 and a two-hundred day moving average of $2,885.98.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 2nd. The business services provider reported $72.32 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $67.85 by $4.47. Booking had a net margin of 25.70% and a return on equity of 840.22%. The company had revenue of $7.34 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $7.27 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $53.03 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 21.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts expect that Booking Holdings Inc. will post 148.65 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have weighed in on BKNG shares. Credit Suisse Group lifted their price objective on shares of Booking from $2,950.00 to $3,325.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, August 4th. Argus reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $3,677.00 target price on shares of Booking in a research note on Tuesday, September 26th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on shares of Booking from $3,350.00 to $3,400.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 25th. Melius started coverage on shares of Booking in a research note on Monday, July 31st. They set an “overweight” rating and a $3,500.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $3,550.00 target price on shares of Booking in a research note on Friday, November 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, nineteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Booking presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $3,346.21.

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.