On Friday, Benchmark upgraded shares of Booking Holdings (NASDAQ:BKNG) from Hold to Buy, setting a new price target of $4,700. The firm's decision is rooted in a positive outlook for the company's performance over the next 18 months, despite current economic concerns and competitive market conditions.
The analyst at Benchmark highlighted the inconsistency of the previous rating with their long-term view. The upgrade is supported by Booking Holdings' increasing resilience in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region, along with stronger than anticipated growth in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) and, to some extent, Latin America (LatAm) markets.
The analyst expressed confidence in Booking Holdings' ability to exceed consensus expectations, citing no imminent factors that would disrupt the company's ongoing gains in market share. The expectation is that Booking will continue to make inroads in North America over the medium term.
The new price target of $4,700 per share is based on 20 times the firm's 2025 estimated cash earnings per share (EPS) of $235, or 16 times adjusted EBITDA. This valuation reflects the firm's belief in the company's growth potential and its ability to navigate through the crowded and competitive travel booking industry.
In other recent news, Booking Holdings has seen significant financial developments. Barclays raised its price target for the company to $4,300, citing robust performance and optimistic market sentiment. The company's first-quarter 2024 results showed a 9% increase in room nights and a 17% rise in revenue, reaching $4.4 billion. Adjusted EBITDA also increased by 53% to approximately $900 million.
However, Booking Holdings anticipates a slowdown in room night growth for the second quarter due to geopolitical issues.
BTIG maintained a neutral stance, predicting a room night growth of approximately 7% for the second quarter. Erste Group upgraded Booking Holdings to a buy rating, citing the company's high operating margin and strong global presence. Argus raised its price target for Booking Holdings to $4,342, reflecting a positive outlook on online travel companies and the company's strong presence in Europe.
These are recent developments that investors should be aware of.
InvestingPro Insights
In light of Benchmark's recent upgrade of Booking Holdings (NASDAQ:BKNG), real-time data and insights from InvestingPro can provide additional context for investors considering the company's stock. Booking Holdings boasts an impressive gross profit margin, which stands at 84.65% for the last twelve months as of Q1 2024, underscoring the company's efficiency in generating revenue relative to its cost of goods sold. This aligns with the analyst's positive sentiment regarding the company's performance.
The company's market capitalization is a robust $133.55 billion, and it trades at a P/E ratio of 28.91, reflecting investor confidence in its earnings potential. Moreover, Booking Holdings has been trading near its 52-week high, with the price at 97.44% of this peak, which may indicate strong market momentum in favor of the stock. Investors can also take note of the InvestingPro Tip that highlights the company's low price volatility, which could be a reassuring factor for those concerned about market fluctuations.
For those seeking a deeper dive into Booking Holdings' financials and strategic positioning, InvestingPro offers additional tips, including the company's share buyback activities and its status as a prominent player in the Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure industry. There are a total of 12 additional InvestingPro Tips available for Booking Holdings, which can be accessed at: https://www.investing.com/pro/BKNG. For access to these insights, use coupon code PRONEWS24 to get up to 10% off a yearly Pro and a yearly or biyearly Pro+ subscription.
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