Stevens Capital Management LP Buys Shares of 450 Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)

Stevens Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in shares of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) during the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund purchased 450 shares of the business services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $2,236,000. Booking accounts for approximately 0.9% of Stevens Capital Management LP’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 18th largest position.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of BKNG. AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc bought a new position in shares of Booking during the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Booking during the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Promus Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Booking during the 4th quarter valued at $35,000. Valley National Advisers Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Booking by 600.0% during the 4th quarter. Valley National Advisers Inc. now owns 7 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 6 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Roxbury Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Booking during the 4th quarter valued at $42,000. Institutional investors own 92.42% of the company’s stock.

Booking Stock Up 0.6 %

NASDAQ BKNG opened at $4,617.26 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $151.52 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.68, a PEG ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 1.40. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $4,789.60 and its 200 day simple moving average is $4,700.90. Booking Holdings Inc. has a twelve month low of $3,180.00 and a twelve month high of $5,337.24.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 20th. The business services provider reported $41.55 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $35.82 by $5.73. The firm had revenue of $5.47 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.18 billion. Booking had a net margin of 24.78% and a negative return on equity of 159.34%. Research analysts anticipate that Booking Holdings Inc. will post 209.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Booking Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 7th will be paid a dividend of $9.60 per share. This represents a $38.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.83%. This is a boost from Booking’s previous quarterly dividend of $8.75. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 7th. Booking’s dividend payout ratio is currently 22.19%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald raised their price target on shares of Booking from $4,900.00 to $5,540.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on shares of Booking from $4,600.00 to $5,000.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, January 13th. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Booking from $5,500.00 to $5,800.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, February 21st. Oppenheimer boosted their target price on shares of Booking from $5,500.00 to $6,000.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, December 6th. Finally, Bank of America boosted their target price on shares of Booking from $4,850.00 to $5,522.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 18th. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Booking presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $5,370.43.

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.