American Century Companies Adds $203M in Booking Holdings Inc. ($BKNG)
American Century Companies raised its Booking Holdings stake by over 1.13 million shares.
Key Points
- American Century Companies increased its Booking Holdings stake by 1,137,091 shares, bringing its total to 1,203,750 shares valued at $210.5 million as of the first quarter of 2026.
- Booking Holdings, trading on NasdaqGS under BKNG, has a market cap of $135.3 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.04, and a 52-week range of $150.14 to $233.58.
- Insider activity at Booking Holdings included multiple purchases on May 30, 2026, and analysts maintained buy ratings with price targets ranging from $205 to $249.
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American Century Companies has significantly increased its holdings in Booking Holdings Inc. (NasdaqGS: BKNG), according to its latest 13F filing with the SEC. The fund added 1,137,091 shares during the first quarter of 2026, boosting its total to 1,203,750 shares. This represents a substantial increase of over 1,705%, with the position now valued at approximately $210.5 million.
What Changed in American Century Companies' Booking Holdings Position
American Century Companies' recent activity shows a considerable boost in its stake in Booking Holdings. Previously holding 66,659 shares, the fund now owns 1,203,750 shares after the addition of 1,137,091 shares. This increase reflects a strong confidence in the travel services giant, with the position valued at around $210.5 million as of the latest reporting period.
Other Institutional Activity in Booking Holdings
Several other institutional investors have also adjusted their positions in Booking Holdings. Triglav Investments, D.O.O. increased its holdings by 150 million shares, ending with 157.5 million shares valued at $6.4 million. BlackRock, Inc. added 63,572,325 shares, now holding a total of 66,328,500 shares worth approximately $11.2 billion. Vanguard Capital Management LLC initiated a new position with 51,910,900 shares valued at about $8.7 billion. State Street Corp grew its stake by 34,084,784 shares, reaching 35,519,900 shares valued at $5.98 billion. Price T Rowe Associates Inc /MD/ also increased its position by 28,027,079 shares, totaling 28,993,200 shares worth $4.88 billion.
Booking Holdings Inc. Stock Down 13.3%
Shares of Booking Holdings (NasdaqGS: BKNG) are trading around $174.89. The company boasts a market capitalization of $135.3 billion and a P/E ratio of 23.04, with a forward P/E of 14.19. The stock's beta is 1.088, indicating moderate volatility compared to the market. Booking Holdings' 52-week range spans from $150.14 to $233.58, with a 50-day moving average of $169.70 and a 200-day moving average of $191.47. The company maintains a current ratio of 1.057 and a quick ratio of 0.987.
$BKNG stock price
Daily closing prices, year to date. Not investment advice.
Recent Earnings
Booking Holdings reported revenue of $27.7 billion with a year-over-year growth of 16.2%. The company's net margin stands at 22.23%, and it achieved an earnings per share (EPS) of $7.58. The return on equity (ROE) was not specified. Investors are looking ahead to the next earnings announcement scheduled for July 29, 2026.
Earnings drift grade
Outlook vs expectations on the last report — not price action.
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Forward outlook
13 target cuts vs 1 raises.
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EPS & revenue
EPS beat estimates by 3.6%. Revenue missed estimates by 1.7%.
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Profit surprise
EBITDA beat by 20 percent. Operating income beat by 26 percent.
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Pre-earnings setup
Bar was high, analysts already very bullish.
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Analyst signal
1 target raise, 13 target cuts.
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Earnings quality
Operating margin up 0.7 points. Positive free cash flow.
Earnings Call Summary
Booking delivered 338 million room nights in the quarter, up 6 percent year over year, with revenue of 5 point 5 billion, up 16 percent. The Middle East conflict that began late February reduced growth by roughly 2 percentage points and caused elevated cancellations in March. Despite this, U.S. room nights accelerated to low teens growth for the fourth quarter in a row, and the company remains confident in long term travel demand recovery.
Guidance Company expects 2 to 4 percent room night growth next quarter due to Middle East conflict continuing through end of June. For full year 2026, they now guide gross bookings growth to high single digits to low double digits, with adjusted EPS up low to mid teens, both down from prior guidance at midpoint but high end remains intact.
Clearly negative report. The company missed important expectations and likely triggers downward revisions.
Dividend
Booking Holdings offers a dividend with an annual rate of $1.61, yielding 0.92%. The payout ratio is 20.73%, reflecting a sustainable dividend policy.
Insider Buying and Selling at Booking Holdings Inc.
On May 30, 2026, several insiders at Booking Holdings engaged in stock transactions. Robert Mylod Jr. purchased 2,240 shares, while Sumit Singh, Kelly Grier, Nicholas Read, and Mirian Graddick Weir each bought 1,583 shares. Meanwhile, Lynn Vojvodich Radakovich sold 1,200 shares. These transactions were not part of planned trading programs.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
Analysts have maintained their positive outlook on Booking Holdings. On April 30, 2026, Argus Research maintained a 'buy' rating with a $205 price target. Similarly, JP Morgan and UBS on April 29, 2026, maintained 'buy' ratings with targets of $208 and $249, respectively. TD Cowen, RBC Capital, Citigroup, and Oppenheimer also continued their 'buy' ratings with targets ranging from $215 to $230. Wells Fargo, however, maintained a 'hold' rating with a $215 target. The consensus among 35 analysts is a 'buy', with a mean target price of $224.41.
About Booking Holdings Inc.
Booking Holdings Inc., headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut, is a leader in the travel services industry. The company operates several well-known brands, including Booking.com, Priceline, Agoda, KAYAK, and OpenTable, providing a range of online travel and restaurant reservation services. With about 24,900 employees, Booking Holdings serves a global customer base through its online platforms and traditional travel services.
Bottom Line
American Century Companies' large increase in its Booking Holdings position highlights the fund's confidence in the company's future prospects. While 13F filings like this one show past holdings, they offer insights into institutional sentiment. As Booking Holdings continues to expand its services worldwide, investors and analysts alike are keeping a close eye on its performance in the dynamic travel industry.
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