Financial Enhancement Group LLC Trims Stock Position in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)

Financial Enhancement Group LLC cut its stake in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) by 24.4% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 155 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 50 shares during the quarter. Financial Enhancement Group LLC’s holdings in Booking were worth $738,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Booking by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 797,116 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $3,350,605,000 after acquiring an additional 11,211 shares in the last quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC grew its holdings in Booking by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 492,274 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $2,073,508,000 after buying an additional 2,321 shares in the last quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Booking by 3.3% in the 3rd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 418,742 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $1,763,797,000 after acquiring an additional 13,429 shares during the last quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC lifted its holdings in Booking by 4.1% in the third quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 296,599 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $1,249,311,000 after acquiring an additional 11,649 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Icon Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in Booking by 342,723.5% in the third quarter. Icon Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 233,120 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $981,929,000 after acquiring an additional 233,052 shares during the period. 92.42% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Booking Price Performance

Booking stock opened at $4,829.64 on Thursday. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $5,057.06 and its 200 day moving average price is $4,363.83. Booking Holdings Inc. has a 1-year low of $3,180.00 and a 1-year high of $5,337.24. The company has a market cap of $159.86 billion, a PE ratio of 32.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.60 and a beta of 1.41.

Booking Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 6th were given a dividend of $8.75 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 6th. This represents a $35.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.72%. Booking’s payout ratio is currently 23.75%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the company. Argus downgraded Booking from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $3,590.00 price objective on shares of Booking in a research report on Monday, October 7th. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of Booking from $4,100.00 to $5,500.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, November 4th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on shares of Booking from $3,940.00 to $4,510.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Finally, Bank of America upped 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 note on Wednesday, December 18th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-one have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $4,987.04.

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.