Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) Downgraded by Erste Group Bank to “Hold”

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) was downgraded by equities research analysts at Erste Group Bank from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report issued on Monday,Zacks.com reports.

A number of other equities analysts also recently commented on BKNG. Citigroup raised their target price on shares of Booking from $5,500.00 to $5,800.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, February 21st. B. Riley lifted their price target on shares of Booking from $5,700.00 to $6,000.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, February 21st. UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of Booking from $5,560.00 to $5,960.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, February 21st. Wedbush lifted their price target on shares of Booking from $5,000.00 to $5,500.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald lifted their price target on shares of Booking from $4,900.00 to $5,540.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, February 21st. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Booking presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $5,370.43.

Booking Trading Down 2.0 %

Shares of BKNG stock opened at $4,471.51 on Monday. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $4,803.32 and its 200-day simple moving average is $4,691.22. Booking has a 52 week low of $3,180.00 and a 52 week high of $5,337.24. The company has a market cap of $146.73 billion, a PE ratio of 25.84, a P/E/G ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 1.40.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 20th. The business services provider reported $41.55 EPS for the quarter, beating 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 the consensus estimate of $5.18 billion. Equities research analysts expect that Booking will post 209.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Booking

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of BKNG. AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc acquired a new position in Booking during the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Booking during the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Summit Securities Group LLC bought a new stake in Booking in the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. Bernard Wealth Management Corp. bought a new stake in Booking in the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. Finally, Promus Capital LLC bought a new stake in Booking in the 4th quarter valued at $35,000. 92.42% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Booking

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.