X Square Capital LLC Has $1.92 Million Stock Holdings in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)

X Square Capital LLC raised its stake in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) by 0.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 386 shares of the business services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 3 shares during the period. X Square Capital LLC’s holdings in Booking were worth $1,919,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Optimist Retirement Group LLC raised its holdings in Booking by 2.2% in the 3rd quarter. Optimist Retirement Group LLC now owns 91 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $383,000 after acquiring an additional 2 shares during the period. Dunhill Financial LLC grew its position in shares of Booking by 2.0% in the third quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 155 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $654,000 after purchasing an additional 3 shares during the last quarter. Sugarloaf Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Booking by 7.0% during the fourth quarter. Sugarloaf Wealth Management LLC now owns 46 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $229,000 after purchasing an additional 3 shares during the period. Allen Mooney & Barnes Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Booking by 4.9% during the 4th quarter. Allen Mooney & Barnes Investment Advisors LLC now owns 64 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $318,000 after purchasing an additional 3 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Marcum Wealth LLC boosted its stake in Booking by 3.5% in the 4th quarter. Marcum Wealth LLC now owns 89 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $443,000 after purchasing an additional 3 shares during the period. 92.42% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Booking Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:BKNG opened at $4,752.80 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $155.96 billion, a PE ratio of 27.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 1.40. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $4,784.95 and its 200-day moving average is $4,721.67. Booking Holdings Inc. has a 52 week low of $3,180.00 and a 52 week high of $5,337.24.

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

Booking Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 7th will be issued a $9.60 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 7th. This represents a $38.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.81%. This is an increase from Booking’s previous quarterly dividend of $8.75. Booking’s dividend payout ratio is currently 22.19%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have weighed in on the company. Cfra upgraded Booking from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 18th. JMP Securities reaffirmed a “market outperform” rating and set a $5,400.00 price target on shares of Booking in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on shares of Booking from $4,600.00 to $5,000.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, January 13th. Benchmark increased their target price on shares of Booking from $5,000.00 to $5,900.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, February 21st. Finally, Piper Sandler reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $5,120.00 price target (up from $4,900.00) on shares of Booking in a research report on Friday, February 21st. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $5,370.43.

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.