Tocqueville Asset Management L.P. Sells 206 Shares of Booking Holdings Inc.

Tocqueville Asset Management L.P. has made a slight adjustment to its holdings in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) by reducing its position by 2.2% in the fourth quarter, as reported in its latest filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This institutional investor now possesses 9,204 shares of the travel giant after selling 206 shares during the period. At the conclusion of the latest quarter, Tocqueville's investment in Booking was valued at approximately $45,729,000.

Changes by Other Institutional Investors

Several other significant investors have also adjusted their stakes in Booking Holdings recently. Garner Asset Management Corp lifted its stake by 0.8% during the third quarter, acquiring an additional 2 shares, bringing its total to 258 shares valued at around $1,087,000. Similarly, Optimist Retirement Group LLC increased its investment in Booking by 2.2%, holding 91 shares now worth $383,000 after a purchase of 2 shares. Raymond James Trust N.A. edged up its holding by 0.5%, now owning 662 shares around $2,788,000 following an addition of 3 shares. Nicolet Advisory Services LLC raised its stake by 1.3% and now holds 241 shares valued at approximately $989,000, thanks to acquiring 3 more shares. Lastly, Crewe Advisors LLC grew its stake by 1.9%, owning 160 shares valued at $674,000 after also buying 3 shares last quarter. Notably, a staggering 92.42% of Booking's shares are held by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings and Price Targets

In recent evaluations, several analysts have commented on Booking's stock. DA Davidson increased their price target from $5,005.00 to $5,800.00 and issued a "buy" rating. Meanwhile, JPMorgan Chase & Co. adjusted their price target to $5,750.00, giving it an "overweight" rating. Mizuho announced a revised price target of $6,000.00 with an "outperform" rating, while Robert W. Baird began coverage with a positive outlook and a $5,850.00 price target. A total of nine financial analysts recommend holding the stock, while twenty-one suggest buying it, and two analysts have issued a "strong buy" rating. Current consensus reflects an average rating of "Moderate Buy" with a projected price target of $5,370.43.

Recent Performance of Booking Stock

Booking’s stock price opened at $4,465.48 recently. The company boasts a market capitalization of $146.53 billion, with a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.81 and a beta of 1.40. Over the past year, the stock has fluctuated between a low of $3,180.00 and a high of $5,337.24. Furthermore, its 50-day and 200-day moving average prices are approximately $4,816.74 and $4,682.53, respectively.

Earnings and Dividends

In its latest earnings announcement on February 20, Booking reported a remarkable $41.55 earnings per share (EPS), surpassing the analysts' expectation of $35.82 by $5.73. The company recorded revenue of $5.47 billion, exceeding predictions by analysts who anticipated $5.18 billion. As a whole, analysts are forecasting a projected EPS of 209.92 for the current year.

Moreover, Booking has declared a quarterly dividend expected to be paid on March 31. The dividend will amount to $9.60 for shareholders registered by March 7, marking an annualized figure of $38.40, which reflects a yield of 0.86%. This is an increase from the prior dividend of $8.75, with a payout ratio currently estimated at 22.19%.

Understanding Booking Holdings Inc.

Booking Holdings Inc., formerly known as The Priceline Group Inc., is a major player in the travel and restaurant reservation sectors. The company operates through various online travel brands, linking consumers with service providers worldwide. Its offerings span a wide array of accommodations, including hotels, hostels, apartments, and vacation rentals via platforms such as Booking.com, priceline.com, and agoda.com.

Tocqueville, Investment, Booking