Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) Posts Quarterly Earnings Results, Beats Estimates By $0.11 EPS

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) released its quarterly earnings data on Monday. The business services provider reported $2.54 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.43 by $0.11, FiscalAI reports. The business had revenue of $7.35 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.19 billion. Booking had a net margin of 22.23% and a negative return on equity of 117.14%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $55.40 EPS.

Booking Trading Up 0.8%

Shares of Booking stock opened at $194.27 on Wednesday. Booking has a twelve month low of $150.14 and a twelve month high of $231.80. The stock has a market cap of $150.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.21 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $176.96 and a 200 day moving average price of $176.82.

Key Stories Impacting Booking

Here are the key news stories impacting Booking this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q2 earnings and revenue beat expectations: Booking reported adjusted earnings of $2.54 per share versus the $2.43 consensus estimate, while revenue rose 8.1% year over year to $7.35 billion, ahead of the $7.19 billion forecast. Booking Holdings earnings report
• Positive Sentiment: Operating metrics exceeded guidance: Management reportedly surpassed expectations for room nights, gross bookings and EBITDA, supported by steady domestic and regional travel demand. The company is also advancing AI-powered personalization and its connected-trip strategy. Booking Holdings Q2 earnings call highlights
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts raised or maintained bullish views: BTIG reaffirmed a Buy rating and set a $250 price target, while Cantor Fitzgerald raised its target to $220 from $175, although it retained a Neutral rating. Analyst rating and price target updates
• Neutral Sentiment: Booking’s results suggest travel demand remains healthy despite geopolitical concerns and weaker long-haul international travel. However, growth has decelerated from recent quarters, and investors remain focused on the sustainability of demand and shareholder returns. Booking Holdings reports higher revenue
• Negative Sentiment: Q3 revenue guidance was below expectations: Booking forecast third-quarter revenue of $9.4 billion to $9.5 billion, below the roughly $9.7 billion analyst consensus. Rising marketing costs, which grew faster than revenue, also point to competitive pressure from Google and potentially higher customer-acquisition costs. Booking Holdings Q2 investment analysis

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on BKNG shares. BMO Capital Markets reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $250.00 price objective (up from $240.00) on shares of Booking in a report on Wednesday. Argus set a $210.00 price target on shares of Booking and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 9th. Mizuho cut their price objective on Booking from $230.00 to $220.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. Tigress Financial reaffirmed a “strong-buy” rating and issued a $260.00 price objective (up from $244.00) on shares of Booking in a research note on Wednesday, April 8th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on Booking from $224.00 to $208.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-seven have given a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $228.84.

Insider Buying and Selling at Booking

In other news, Director Robert J. Mylod, Jr. sold 5,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $200.00, for a total value of $1,000,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 16,000 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,200,000. This represents a 23.81% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, Director Vanessa Ames Wittman sold 1,125 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $192.00, for a total value of $216,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 16,508 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,169,536. This trade represents a 6.38% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders have sold 68,625 shares of company stock valued at $11,445,375 over the last three months. 0.17% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Booking

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of BKNG. Swiss RE Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Booking during the fourth quarter worth $27,000. Strive Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Booking during the 3rd quarter valued at $27,000. Mcguire Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Booking during the 4th quarter worth $27,000. Triumph Capital Management bought a new stake in shares of Booking in the 3rd quarter worth about $32,000. Finally, IFC & Insurance Marketing Inc. bought a new stake in Booking in the fourth quarter valued at about $32,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.42% of the company’s stock.

Booking Company Profile

Booking Holdings Inc is a global online travel company that operates a portfolio of consumer brands and technology platforms that facilitate the search for and booking of travel services. The company’s businesses focus on accommodations, transportation and related travel services through consumer-facing websites and apps as well as partner distribution channels. Booking Holdings was originally founded as Priceline in the late 1990s and adopted the Booking Holdings name in 2018; it is headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut.

Its core offerings include online reservations for hotels, vacation rentals and other lodging; flight and car rental search and booking; and ancillary services that support travel planning and on-property experiences.