BNP Paribas Exane Initiates Coverage on Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG)

Analysts at BNP Paribas Exane started coverage on shares of Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday. The firm set an “outperform” rating and a $6,100.00 price target on the business services provider’s stock. BNP Paribas Exane’s target price would suggest a potential upside of 25.94% from the stock’s previous close.

Several other brokerages also recently commented on BKNG. Rothschild & Co Redburn raised their price objective on shares of Booking from $6,250.00 to $6,400.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 30th. BTIG Research reissued a “buy” rating and set a $6,250.00 price target on shares of Booking in a report on Monday. Seaport Global Securities upped their price objective on Booking from $6,030.00 to $6,260.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. Gordon Haskett cut their target price on Booking from $5,680.00 to $5,620.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Finally, Citigroup reissued a “market outperform” rating on shares of Booking in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-six have assigned a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $6,142.90.

Booking Price Performance

NASDAQ:BKNG opened at $4,843.52 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $156.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.57 and a beta of 1.34. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $5,182.84 and a 200-day moving average price of $5,401.84. Booking has a one year low of $4,096.23 and a one year high of $5,839.41.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 28th. The business services provider reported $99.50 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $95.56 by $3.94. Booking had a negative return on equity of 134.86% and a net margin of 19.37%.The firm had revenue of $9.01 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $8.71 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $83.39 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 12.7% on a year-over-year basis. Booking has set its FY 2025 guidance at EPS. Q4 2025 guidance at EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that Booking will post 209.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Robert J. Mylod, Jr. sold 40 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, November 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $5,000.00, for a total value of $200,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 960 shares in the company, valued at $4,800,000. This trade represents a 4.00% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Glenn D. Fogel sold 1,013 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $5,516.92, for a total transaction of $5,588,639.96. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 23,607 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $130,237,930.44. This trade represents a 4.11% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last three months, insiders have sold 3,452 shares of company stock worth $17,987,397. Insiders own 0.16% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Booking

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC grew its position in Booking by 150.0% in the 3rd quarter. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC now owns 5 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 3 shares during the last quarter. Guerra Advisors Inc bought a new stake in Booking during the 3rd quarter valued at about $27,000. Strive Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Booking in the 3rd quarter valued at about $27,000. Wealth Preservation Advisors LLC bought a new position in Booking in the 1st quarter worth about $28,000. Finally, Atwood & Palmer Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Booking during the second quarter worth approximately $29,000. 92.42% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.