Short Interest in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) Expands By 8.1%

Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) was the target of a significant increase in short interest during the month of January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 715,700 shares, an increase of 8.1% from the January 15th total of 662,100 shares. Approximately 2.2% of the company’s shares are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 238,400 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 3.0 days.

Booking Stock Performance

NASDAQ BKNG opened at $5,084.73 on Tuesday. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $4,917.64 and a 200 day moving average price of $4,520.66. Booking has a one year low of $3,180.00 and a one year high of $5,337.24. The company has a market cap of $168.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.48, a P/E/G ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 1.39.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have recently weighed in on BKNG shares. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on Booking from $4,205.00 to $5,155.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Benchmark restated a “buy” rating and issued a $4,600.00 price objective on shares of Booking in a report on Tuesday, October 29th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price objective on Booking from $4,900.00 to $5,200.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Cantor Fitzgerald decreased their price objective on Booking from $5,100.00 to $4,900.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 29th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on Booking from $3,900.00 to $5,250.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-two have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $5,044.43.

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.