Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) Short Interest Up 23.1% in September

Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) was the target of a large growth in short interest in September. As of September 15th, there was short interest totalling 774,900 shares, a growth of 23.1% from the August 31st total of 629,500 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 249,500 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 3.1 days. Approximately 2.3% of the company’s shares are short sold.

Booking Price Performance

Booking stock traded down $20.84 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $4,248.10. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 162,713 shares, compared to its average volume of 219,904. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $3,789.54 and its 200 day moving average is $3,750.42. The company has a market cap of $142.40 billion, a PE ratio of 31.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 1.40. Booking has a 52-week low of $2,733.04 and a 52-week high of $4,272.88.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The business services provider reported $41.90 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $39.22 by $2.68. Booking had a negative return on equity of 200.87% and a net margin of 22.46%. The company had revenue of $5.86 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.77 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $37.62 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 7.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts forecast that Booking will post 176.92 EPS for the current year.

Booking Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 6th will be paid a dividend of $8.75 per share. This represents a $35.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.82%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 6th. Booking’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 26.25%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the company. Barclays cut their target price on Booking from $4,300.00 to $3,900.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, August 2nd. Royal Bank of Canada restated an “outperform” rating and set a $3,900.00 price objective on shares of Booking in a research note on Monday, August 5th. B. Riley lowered their price objective on Booking from $4,900.00 to $4,650.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, August 2nd. Benchmark decreased their price target on Booking from $4,700.00 to $4,600.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, August 2nd. Finally, Bank of America decreased their price target on Booking from $3,950.00 to $3,750.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, August 2nd. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-one have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $4,064.21.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Paulo Pisano sold 100 shares of Booking stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $3,887.61, for a total value of $388,761.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 3,787 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $14,722,379.07. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Booking news, CEO Glenn D. Fogel sold 750 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $4,067.65, for a total value of $3,050,737.50. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 24,721 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $100,556,375.65. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider Paulo Pisano sold 100 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $3,887.61, for a total value of $388,761.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 3,787 shares in the company, valued at $14,722,379.07. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.12% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. ICA Group Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Booking during the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Grove Bank & Trust grew its holdings in Booking by 133.3% in the 2nd quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 7 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 4 shares during the last quarter. POM Investment Strategies LLC acquired a new stake in Booking in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Kings Path Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Booking in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Finally, Financial Connections Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Booking in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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.