Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Posted by Defense World Staff on Jul 24th, 2026

Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership grew its holdings in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG – Free Report) by 20.0% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 261,383 shares of the business services provider’s stock after buying an additional 43,602 shares during the period. Booking accounts for approximately 0.6% of Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership’s portfolio, making the stock its 28th largest position. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership’s holdings in Booking were worth $1,100,506,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Daytona Street Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Booking during the fourth quarter worth approximately $27,000. Legacy Bridge LLC purchased a new position in Booking in the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Camelot Portfolios LLC acquired a new position in Booking in the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Osbon Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Booking in the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Finally, Mcguire Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in Booking during the 4th quarter worth $27,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.42% of the company’s stock.

Booking Stock Performance Booking stock opened at $172.83 on Friday. Booking Holdings Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $150.14 and a fifty-two week high of $231.80. The firm has a market capitalization of $133.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 1.07. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $171.52 and its two-hundred day moving average is $178.12.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 28th. The business services provider reported $1.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.08 by $0.06. Booking had a negative return on equity of 117.14% and a net margin of 22.23%.The business had revenue of $5.53 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.52 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.99 EPS. The business’s revenue was up 16.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Booking Holdings Inc. will post 10.45 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Booking Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 5th were given a dividend of $0.42 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 5th. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.0%. Booking’s payout ratio is presently 22.11%.

Insider Transactions at Booking In other Booking news, VP Peter J. Millones sold 62,500 shares of Booking stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $163.67, for a total transaction of $10,229,375.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president owned 425,075 shares in the company, valued at approximately $69,572,025.25. The trade was a 12.82% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders own 0.17% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts have recently commented on BKNG shares. TD Cowen restated a “buy” rating and issued a $230.00 target price (down from $240.00) on shares of Booking in a research note on Wednesday, April 29th. Citigroup cut their price target on shares of Booking from $250.00 to $225.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. Robert W. Baird reduced their price objective on shares of Booking from $234.00 to $215.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 29th. Wall Street Zen lowered Booking from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Sunday, March 29th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their target price on Booking from $244.00 to $220.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-eight have assigned a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $227.05.

Read Our Latest Analysis on Booking

About Booking (Free Report)

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.

Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than Booking Premium Retail’s Stress Test Is Separating Winners From Losers D-Wave Quantum or a Quantum ETF: Which Is the Better Bet? GE Vernova Just Sent a Mixed AI Signal to Investors Alphabet Crushed Earnings, But One Number Spooked the Market Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BKNG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG – Free Report).

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Posted by Defense World Staff on Jul 24th, 2026

Bank of Nova Scotia boosted its position in shares of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG – Free Report) by 1,497.3% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 870,520 shares of the business services provider’s stock after buying an additional 816,022 shares during the quarter. Booking makes up about 6.0% of Bank of Nova Scotia’s holdings, making the stock its 2nd biggest holding. Bank of Nova Scotia owned about 0.11% of Booking worth $3,665,168,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Daytona Street Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Booking during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Legacy Bridge LLC bought a new position in Booking in the fourth quarter worth $27,000. Camelot Portfolios LLC purchased a new position in Booking during the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Osbon Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Booking during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Finally, Mcguire Capital Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Booking in the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.42% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, VP Peter J. Millones sold 62,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $163.67, for a total transaction of $10,229,375.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president directly owned 425,075 shares in the company, valued at approximately $69,572,025.25. This represents a 12.82% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. 0.17% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the company. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price objective on Booking from $248.00 to $240.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 29th. Mizuho reduced their price target on Booking from $230.00 to $220.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued a “market perform” rating on shares of Booking in a research report on Thursday, June 11th. Barclays set a $210.00 target price on shares of Booking and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. Finally, DA Davidson cut their price target on shares of Booking from $240.00 to $230.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-eight have issued a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $227.05.

Read Our Latest Research Report on Booking

Booking Trading Down 2.8% Shares of BKNG stock opened at $172.83 on Friday. Booking Holdings Inc. has a 12 month low of $150.14 and a 12 month high of $231.80. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $171.52 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $178.12. The stock has a market cap of $133.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.73, a P/E/G ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 1.07.

Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 28th. The business services provider reported $1.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.08 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $5.53 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.52 billion. Booking had a negative return on equity of 117.14% and a net margin of 22.23%.The firm’s revenue was up 16.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.99 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Booking Holdings Inc. will post 10.45 earnings per share for the current year.

Booking Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 5th were issued a dividend of $0.42 per share. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 5th. Booking’s dividend payout ratio is 22.11%.

About Booking (Free Report)

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.

Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than Booking Premium Retail’s Stress Test Is Separating Winners From Losers D-Wave Quantum or a Quantum ETF: Which Is the Better Bet? GE Vernova Just Sent a Mixed AI Signal to Investors Alphabet Crushed Earnings, But One Number Spooked the Market

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Booking Holdings (BKNG - Free Report) is one of the stocks most watched by Zacks.com visitors lately. So, it might be a good idea to review some of the factors that might affect the near-term performance of the stock.

Shares of this online booking service have returned -1.9% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.4% change. The Zacks Internet - Commerce industry, to which Booking Holdings belongs, has gained 6.4% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.

Earnings Estimate RevisionsRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.

We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

Booking Holdings is expected to post earnings of $2.46 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +10.8%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -0.2%.

The consensus earnings estimate of $10.45 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +14.6%. This estimate has changed +0.1% over the last 30 days.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $12.33 indicates a change of +18% from what Booking Holdings is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -0.2%.

Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Booking Holdings is rated Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Revenue Growth ForecastEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.

In the case of Booking Holdings, the consensus sales estimate of $7.19 billion for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of +5.7%. The $29.4 billion and $32.09 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of +9.2% and +9.2%, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryBooking Holdings reported revenues of $5.53 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +16.2%. EPS of $1.14 for the same period compares with $0.99 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.5 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +0.61%. The EPS surprise was +3.64%.

The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.

ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.

Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.

As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Booking Holdings is graded C on this front, indicating that it is trading at par with its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Booking Holdings. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

New summer campaign turns "we should go" into "we're booked" with billboard-sized reminders and AI tools that help group trips finally take off, so travelers can see more and spend less together

, /PRNewswire/ -- This summer, KAYAK is on a mission to get group trips out of the chat and into the calendar. New KAYAK research reveals that 84% of travelers have had a group trip get stuck in the chat, with plans spending an average of one to three months in group chat limbo. The culprit? 90% of travelers say it comes down to one friend who just won't commit.

KAYAK Bookboard in New York City

KAYAK Bookboard in Los Angeles

KAYAK Bookboard in Chicago

To help those group trips finally take off, KAYAK is launching a series of BookBoards, billboard-sized reminders across New York, Chicago and Los Angeles that give that one friend a nudge they can't ignore. The fleet of digital billboards will feature personalized callouts for nominated friends, popping up in Times Square, near their offices and neighborhoods that gently encourage them to commit while inspiring all travelers to make their group trips happen. Nominations are now open at kayak.com/bookboards.

Friends Who Travel Together, Save Together

The campaign comes as travelers look for smarter ways to stretch their vacation budgets. With domestic airfare up 23% year over year and hotel rates up 3%, group travel offers one of the easiest ways to make a trip more affordable. Splitting accommodations and experiences amongst a group means seeing more and likely spending significantly less. From upgrading to a larger hotel room to booking a standout vacation rental together, KAYAK helps groups compare those options side by side, making it easier to find the right trip at the right price.

"Group trips don't fail because people don't want to go, they fail because planning gets complicated," said Carolina Montenegro, SVP of Global Brand Marketing at KAYAK. "BookBoards are a playful way to remind us that we've all been that friend at one point. Sometimes, all we need is a little push to get the trip over the finish line."

Group Travel Takes Center Stage

At the center of the summer travel campaign is a 90-second hero film starring actress, comedian and content creator Grace Reiter and her real-life friend and American High co-star Julia Dicesare, who sends an increasingly unhinged series of BookBoards to Grace to get her to finally book their group trip.

To nominate your group chat for a BookBoard, visit kayak.com/bookboards from July 21 through August 4. Throughout August, KAYAK will select submissions to appear on digital billboards across New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.

Because this year, the group trip isn't staying in the chat. It's finally getting booked.

KAYAK Names Top Destinations for 2026 Group Trips

To jumpstart group travel planning, these are the KAYAK's top destinations (based on popularity and affordability) for groups based on 5+ travelers.

Destination

Flight Price

(per person)

Hotel Price

(per night)

Las Vegas, Nevada

$340

$188

Nashville, Tennessee

$334

$254

Miami, Florida

$352

$261

Chicago, Illinois

$306

$321

San Diego, California

$333

$305

San Juan, Puerto Rico

$400

$308

New York, New York

$332

$394

Seattle, Washington

$407

$324

Vancouver, Canada

$479

$460

Nassau, Bahamas

$492

$479

For more inspiration, KAYAK is also introducing a new "Group Trip" feature built within KAYAK Explore. Travelers can easily filter for the most popular and affordable group getaway destinations with average round-trip airfare and nightly hotel rates each under $500.

AI-Powered Planning for Group Trips

While BookBoards inspire groups to finally commit to a trip, KAYAK's AI-powered planning tools can help turn trip ideas into bookable travel plans. With Ask AI on KAYAK, travelers can chat naturally about their group's preferences, priorities and dealbreakers while real-time travel options appear alongside the conversation, making it easy to search and compare as plans take shape.

Below are a few of KAYAK's best group travel prompts to try with Ask AI:

Help us plan a trip that fits different budgets and vibes Which group trip destination gives us the most value for a long weekend in September? What is the best hotel in Miami for a big group? Compare destinations in the US for a group with different interests - some want to try good food, others want to relax by the water Find us a hotel in a city known for live music that sleeps six without blowing the budget About KAYAK
KAYAK, part of Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG), is a leading travel search engine. With billions of queries across our platforms, we help people find their perfect flight, stay, rental car and vacation package. Trusted by millions of travelers, the KAYAK app makes travel planning seamless on iOS and Android and we also support business travelers with our corporate travel solution.

Methodology 
Group chat survey: Based on a poll of 2,000 U.S. adults (ages 18-45) who have booked travel online in the past year.

Summer Travel prices: Based on flight and hotel searches between Mar. 1, 2026 and Jun. 29, 2026 for travel between May 21, 2026 and Sept. 8, 2026. They were compared to searches between Mar. 1, 2025 and Jun. 29, 2025 for travel between May 22, 2025 and Sept. 9, 2025. Changes in searches are approximate.

Group Travel destinations: Based on flight and hotel searches between Jan. 1, 2026 and Jun. 11, 2026 for travel between May 1, 2026 and Dec. 31, 2026 for 5+ travelers. Flight prices are based on round-trip, economy tickets; hotel rates are based on standard, double occupancy rooms. Prices are on average and are subject to change.

SOURCE KAYAK

Booking Holdings (BKNG - Free Report) ended the recent trading session at $181.68, demonstrating a -1.59% change from the preceding day's closing price. This change lagged the S&P 500's daily loss of 1.01%. Elsewhere, the Dow lost 0.77%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 1.4%.

The stock of online booking service has risen by 7.47% in the past month, leading the Retail-Wholesale sector's gain of 0.78% and the S&P 500's gain of 0.32%.

The investment community will be closely monitoring the performance of Booking Holdings in its forthcoming earnings report. The company is scheduled to release its earnings on August 4, 2026. On that day, Booking Holdings is projected to report earnings of $2.47 per share, which would represent year-over-year growth of 11.26%. Alongside, our most recent consensus estimate is anticipating revenue of $7.19 billion, indicating a 5.71% upward movement from the same quarter last year.

BKNG's full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates are calling for earnings of $10.43 per share and revenue of $29.4 billion. These results would represent year-over-year changes of +14.36% and +9.23%, respectively.

It is also important to note the recent changes to analyst estimates for Booking Holdings. These latest adjustments often mirror the shifting dynamics of short-term business patterns. As such, positive estimate revisions reflect analyst optimism about the business and profitability.

Our research shows that these estimate changes are directly correlated with near-term stock prices. To take advantage of this, we've established the Zacks Rank, an exclusive model that considers these estimated changes and delivers an operational rating system.

The Zacks Rank system ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell). It has a remarkable, outside-audited track record of success, with #1 stocks delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 0.09% lower. As of now, Booking Holdings holds a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

In terms of valuation, Booking Holdings is currently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 17.7. Its industry sports an average Forward P/E of 17.3, so one might conclude that Booking Holdings is trading at a premium comparatively.

We can also see that BKNG currently has a PEG ratio of 1.1. The PEG ratio bears resemblance to the frequently used P/E ratio, but this parameter also includes the company's expected earnings growth trajectory. The Internet - Commerce industry currently had an average PEG ratio of 1.1 as of yesterday's close.

The Internet - Commerce industry is part of the Retail-Wholesale sector. With its current Zacks Industry Rank of 170, this industry ranks in the bottom 31% of all industries, numbering over 250.

The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Be sure to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and many more, on Zacks.com.

Booking Holdings, Alphabet, and six other companies have underperformed their sectors despite improving earnings expectations, setting up potential upside during second-quarter earnings season.

New data shows restaurants are influencing where travelers go, where they stay and how they plan, with 61% of Americans having chosen a destination because of its food or restaurant scene

, /PRNewswire/ -- OpenTable today revealed its 2026 Top 100 Hotel Restaurants in America, as new consumer research and dining data show that hotel restaurants are playing a bigger role in how Americans plan their travel, where to stay, and where to eat. Timed to the launch of its latest top dining list, OpenTable is also unveiling an evolution to Concierge, its AI-powered dining assistant, now available directly on the OpenTable homepage to power restaurant discovery and booking.

OpenTable's latest dining insights show that hotel restaurants are playing a bigger role in how people plan where to go, where to stay and what to book before they arrive. 61% of Americans have chosen a destination because of its food or restaurant scene, and among respondents planning to travel this summer, 60% have booked a hotel specifically because of its restaurant.1

That momentum is showing up in reservations. OpenTable data shows hotel restaurant dining by travelers this year is up 13% year-over-year and up 7% across all diners.2 To help diners decide where to book next, OpenTable revealed the 2026 Top 100 Hotel Restaurants in America, a guide to the hotel dining rooms worth planning around.3

"Restaurants aren't just an itinerary line item anymore, they're the anchor. Our research backs this up, as half of Americans have booked a hotel specifically because of its restaurant,"1 said Matt Davis, Head of North America Hotels at OpenTable. "This year's Top 100 list spotlights the hotel hotspots worth traveling for, and with our AI Concierge helping diners get instant answers to their culinary questions, OpenTable is making it even easier to turn inspiration into a seat at the table."

OpenTable's 2026 Travel and Dining Trends:

No Room Key Required: Hotel restaurants are no longer just for overnight guests. 92% of respondents have dined at a hotel restaurant when they were not staying at the hotel, showing how these dining rooms are becoming destinations for travelers and locals alike.1 Reservations Are Driving the Itinerary: Younger travelers are planning where to eat before they arrive. 88% of Gen Z plan restaurant reservations ahead of time, with 46% thinking about reservations at the same time as booking their hotel.1 Table for One, Away from Home: Solo dining is finding a natural home in hotel restaurants and bars. OpenTable data shows parties of one by travelers are up 30% year-over-year to date2, while 71% of respondents would consider dining solo at a hotel restaurant or bar in the future.1 The Dining Concierge Goes Digital: Travelers want easier and convenient ways to find the right restaurant for every trip. 51% of respondents say they plan to use AI tools to help discover and book restaurant reservations while traveling this year, rising to 65% among Gen Z and 60% among Millennials.1 Digital Inspiration, Real-World Connection: Social media may help shape the dining experience, but travelers still want to be present once they arrive. While 58% of respondents say social media enhances dining, nearly three-quarters (71%) make a point to reduce their screen time while traveling to focus on in-person connection.1 "A great hotel restaurant immerses guests in the local culture, telling the story of a destination through its seasons, local ingredients and customs. Guests want to truly experience a city or a place through their stay. At SingleThread, we embrace the philosophy of Ichigo ichie - 'one chance and one encounter' - ensuring that no matter how many times a guest returns, they always experience a unique moment in time," said Kyle Connaughton, Chef-Owner of SingleThread Farm | Restaurant | Inn. "Guests are also embracing being present in the moment; more than ever, we notice that guests deeply value the opportunity to step away from screens and the busy, modern world to connect with both the land and each other."

OpenTable Launches Update to AI-Powered Dining Assistant

Nearly half of Americans (48%) say they spend more time researching where to eat and drink than any other part of a trip.1 Against that backdrop, OpenTable's updated Concierge tool can now help diners compare options and move from inspiration to booking more quickly.

Diners can describe exactly what they are looking for using natural language, from a spot locals love to the perfect date night nearby, and Concierge will surface options across OpenTable's global network of more than 65,000 restaurants, powered by verified reviews, menus and real-time availability.

The 2026 Top 100 Hotel Restaurants in America

For travelers looking to make dining part of the destination, the 2026 Top 100 Hotel Restaurants in America3 offers a guide to the restaurants worth adding to the itinerary - whether they are booking a summer getaway, planning a staycation or looking for a hotel dining room locals love.

To explore the full list, city-specific guides and understand flight and hotel pricing with the help of KAYAK, visit OpenTable's top hotel restaurant hub at: opentable.com/c/top-restaurants/top-100-hotel/.

The 2026 Top 100 Hotel Restaurants in America:

Arizona

Different Pointe of View (Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort) - Phoenix, AZ Le Âme Parisian Steakhouse at The Global Ambassador (The Global Ambassador) - Phoenix, AZ théa Mediterranean Rooftop at The Global Ambassador (The Global Ambassador) - Phoenix, AZ California

Gemma at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills (Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills) - Los Angeles, CA SingleThread Restaurant & Inn (SingleThread Inn) - Healdsburg, CA Sky Room (Fairmont Breakers Long Beach) - Long Beach, CA Splashes at Surf & Sand Resort (Surf & Sand Resort) - Laguna Beach, CA The girl & the fig (Sonoma Hotel) - Sonoma, CA The Pony Room (Rancho Valencia Resort) - Rancho Santa Fe, CA Colorado

Alteno (Clayton Hotel & Members Club) - Denver, CO Quality Italian (HALCYON, a hotel in Cherry Creek) - Denver, CO The Grand Atrium at the Brown Palace (Brown Palace Hotel) - Denver, CO Wildflower (Gravity Haus Denver) - Denver, CO Slope Room (Gravity Haus Vail) - Vail, CO Swiss Chalet (Sonnenalp Hotel Vail) - Vail, CO Connecticut

Michael Jordan's Steak House (Mohegan Sun) - Uncasville, CT Florida

Akira Back (The Ray Hotel Delray Beach, Curio by Hilton) - Delray Beach, FL Bull & Bear Steakhouse (Waldorf Astoria Orlando) - Orlando, FL Capa (Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort) - Lake Buena Vista, FL Ceiba (Evermore Orlando Resort) - Orlando, FL Elliott Aster (The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, Autograph Collection) - St. Petersburg, FL Evelyn's (Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Fort Lauderdale) - Fort Lauderdale, FL Gianni's at the Former Versace Mansion (The Villa Casa Casuarina) - Miami Beach, FL Knife & Spoon (The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes) - Orlando, FL Lilac (The Tampa EDITION) - Tampa, FL Nami (Lake Nona Wave Hotel) - Orlando, FL Ocean Prime (Inn on Fifth) - Naples, FL Old Hickory Steakhouse (Gaylord Palms Resort) - Kissimmee, FL Ravello (Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort) - Lake Buena Vista, FL Salt (The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island) - Amelia Island, FL Sear + Sea (JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek) - Orlando, FL Sushi by Bou (PGA National Resort) - Palm Beach Gardens, FL Takato (Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach) - Fort Lauderdale, FL The London Club (Bellasera Hotel) - Naples, FL Hawaii

Alan Wong's (Kahari Resort) - Honolulu, HI Arancino at The Kahala (The Kahala Resort) - Honolulu, HI CanoeHouse (Mauna Lani Resort) - Kamuela, HI Ferraro's Restaurant & Bar (Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea) - Wailea, HI Michel's at the Colony Surf (Colony Surf) - Honolulu, HI Mina's Fish House (Four Seasons Resort O'ahu at Ko Olina) - Kapolei, HI Nobu Grand Wailea Maui (Grand Wailea Resort - Maui) - Wailea, HI NOE Italian (Four Seasons Resort O'ahu at Ko Olina) - Kapolei, HI The Signature Prime Steak & Seafood (Ala Moana Honolulu by Mantra) - Honolulu, HI Tidepools (Grand Hyatt Kauai) - Poipu, HI Ulu (Four Seasons Resort Hualalai) - Kailua-Kona, HI Wolfgang Puck's Spago (Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea) - Wailea, HI Idaho

Chandlers Steakhouse (Hotel 43) - Boise, ID Illinois

Cabra (The Hoxton Chicago) - Chicago, IL Cindy's Rooftop (Chicago Athletic Association) - Chicago, IL Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse (DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chicago O'Hare Airport - Rosemont) - Rosemont, IL Shanghai Terrace (The Peninsula Chicago) - Chicago, IL Kentucky

Repeal Oak Fired Steakhouse (Hotel Distil, Autograph Collection) - Louisville, KY Louisiana

Compère Lapin (Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery) - New Orleans, LA Jack Rose (Pontchartrain Hotel) - New Orleans, LA Massachusetts

Contessa (The Newbury, Boston) - Boston, MA Mooo Beacon Hill (XV Beacon) - Boston, MA Maryland

Ammoora (Ritz-Carlton Residences, Baltimore) - Baltimore, MD Bygone (Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore) - Baltimore, MD Maine

Earth at Hidden Pond (Hidden Pond) - Kennebunkport, ME White Barn Inn (White Barn Inn) - Kennebunk, ME North Carolina

Blue Ridge (Omni Grove Park Inn) - Asheville, NC Herons (The Umstead Hotel and Spa) - Cary, NC Luminosa (The Flat Iron Hotel) - Asheville, NC The Dining Room at Biltmore Estate (The Inn on Biltmore Estate) - Asheville, NC The Restaurant at Gideon Ridge (The Inn At Gideon Ridge) - Blowing Rock, NC New Jersey

Il Mulino New York (Hard Rock Hotel & Casino) - Atlantic City, NJ Nevada

Anthony's Prime Steak & Seafood (M Resort Spa Casino) - Henderson, NV Beauty & Essex (The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas Autograph Collection) - Las Vegas, NV CATCH - ARIA (ARIA Resort & Casino) - Las Vegas, NV Cheri Rooftop (Paris Las Vegas) - Las Vegas, NV Eiffel Tower Restaurant (Paris Las Vegas) - Las Vegas, NV Gallagher's Steakhouse (New York Hotel & Casino) - Las Vegas, NV Hank's Fine Steaks & Martinis at Green Valley Ranch Resort Spa & Casino (Green Valley Ranch Resort Spa & Casino) - Henderson, NV Javier's Restaurant (ARIA Resort & Casino) - Las Vegas, NV Lago at Bellagio (Bellagio Hotel & Casino) - Las Vegas, NV Oscar's Steakhouse at the Plaza Hotel & Casino (Plaza Hotel & Casino) - Las Vegas, NV Wolf by Vanderpump at Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe (Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe) - Stateline, NV Zuma Las Vegas (The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas Autograph Collection) - Las Vegas, NV New York

Cecconi's Dumbo (Soho House) - Brooklyn, NY Majorelle at The Lowell (The Lowell Hotel) - New York, NY Nubeluz (Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad) - New York, NY TAO Downtown (The Maritime Hotel) - New York, NY The Palm Court at The Plaza Hotel (The Plaza Hotel) - New York, NY Zou Zou's (Pendry Manhattan West) - New York, NY Pennsylvania

Jean-Georges Philadelphia (Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia) - Philadelphia, PA SkyHigh (Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia) - Philadelphia, PA Vernick Fish (Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia) - Philadelphia, PA Puerto Rico

Levant by Chef Michael White (La Concha Resort) - San Juan, PR South Carolina

Post House (Post House Inn) - Mount Pleasant, SC River House at Montage Palmetto Bluff (Montage Palmetto Bluff) - Bluffton, SC Texas

97 West Kitchen & Bar at Hotel Drover (Hotel Drover, Autograph Collection) - Fort Worth, TX Dean's Italian Steakhouse (JW Marriott Austin) - Austin, TX Kappo Kappo (Austin Proper Hotel) - Austin, TX Lutie's (Commodore Perry Estate, Auberge Resorts Collection) - Austin, TX Mastro's Steakhouse (The Post Oak Hotel) - Houston, TX Signature (Signia by Hilton La Cantera Resort & Spa) - San Antonio, TX Sister (Casa Duro) - Dallas, TX Stillwell's (Hôtel Swexan) - Dallas, TX Trick Rider (Omni PGA Frisco Resort) - Frisco, TX Washington, D.C.

Bourbon Steak (Four Seasons Hotel Washington, D.C.) - Washington D.C. 1 Consumer Research Methodology: An online survey was conducted by Ripple Research among 1500 US residents who have dined in a restaurant located in a hotel within the last 5 years or less, and major cities weighted at 200. Fieldwork was carried out between May 28th, 2026 and June 2nd, 2026. All data was collected in accordance with MRS (Market Research Society) and ESOMAR guidelines, ensuring ethical standards and robust data quality.
2 OpenTable Dining Data: OpenTable looked at seated diners from online reservations for all active hotel restaurants on the OpenTable platform in the US from January 1, 2026 - April 19, 2026, and compared it to the same time period the year prior. 
3 The Top 100 Hotel Restaurants in America: The Top 100 Hotel Restaurants in America for 2026 list is generated from over 10,000,000 reviews from verified OpenTable diners and dining metrics from May 1, 2025 - April 30, 2026. Restaurants with a minimum threshold of diner reviews were considered and evaluated by a compilation of unique data points, including diner ratings and the percentage of five star reviews. Metrics were weighted to comprise an overall score. The resulting list appears A-Z, not in ranked order.

About OpenTable
OpenTable, a global leader in restaurant tech and part of Booking Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG), helps more than 65,000 restaurants worldwide fill 1.9 billion seats a year. OpenTable's world-class technology empowers restaurants to focus on what matters most - their team, their guests, and their bottom line - while enabling diners to discover and book the perfect restaurant for every occasion.

SOURCE OpenTable, Inc.

New loyalty benefit in the U.S. gives diners with Gold status access to a curated selection of hard-to-book tables while helping restaurants connect with high-value guests

, /PRNewswire/ -- OpenTable, a global leader in restaurant tech, today announced Gold Tables, a new OpenTable loyalty benefit that gives diners with Gold status access to tables at participating in-demand restaurants while helping restaurants reach highly engaged guests.

Through the recently relaunched OpenTable Regulars loyalty program, diners unlock Gold status after completing six OpenTable reservations within 12 months. At launch, Gold Tables includes more than 500 participating restaurants across more than 50 cities nationwide, spanning major dining destinations including New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Austin, Miami and Washington, D.C. Participating restaurants at launch include sought-after destinations such as Soothr in New York City, Elena's in San Francisco, Saffy's in Los Angeles, Fiorella in Philadelphia and Esme in Chicago, with new restaurants added regularly.

"Gold Tables rewards our most loyal diners with something increasingly valuable: real access to sought-after restaurants, and it only takes six reservations a year," said John Tsou, SVP of Growth for OpenTable. "For diners, that means a simple path to tables that may be hard to get. For restaurants, it means deeper relationships with the guests who keep coming back. We're thrilled to bring this benefit to OpenTable Regulars, with more to come."

Gold Tables builds on OpenTable's continued investment in diner loyalty at a time when access to sought-after reservations in select cities has become increasingly competitive. Rather than rewarding engagement with discounts or points alone, Gold Tables gives members access to coveted tables while helping restaurants connect with some of OpenTable's most valuable guests: globally, diners with Gold status typically dine out five times as often, spend more, no-show 50% less frequently, and leave three times as many reviews compared to non-Gold diners.*

"At Nami Nori, we prioritize building lasting relationships with great guests," said Jihan Lee, Chef Partner and Co-Founder of Launchpad Hospitality (Nami Nori). "Gold Tables helps connect us with people who love dining out and return to the restaurant often. For restaurateurs like myself, it also means having our restaurant on a marketplace geared toward high-intent, highly valuable diners."

Additional Benefits of OpenTable Gold in the U.S.:

Priority Notify Me: Diners with Gold status who activate OpenTable's Notify Me feature will be alerted to last-minute restaurant openings earlier than other diners. Uber One Membership: Six months of Uber One membership for free (offer excludes current Uber One members). Enjoy Uber One credits on eligible Uber rides, $0 Delivery Fee on Uber Eats orders, and more. "A reservation is never just a reservation; it's the beginning of a relationship," said June Rodil, CEO & Partner of Goodnight Hospitality. "Gold Tables gives restaurants like The Marigold Club a meaningful way to connect with diners who are intentional about where they spend their time, celebrate their milestones, and build their dining rituals. For restaurateurs, that kind of connection is incredibly valuable because it helps bring the right guests into the right rooms and gives us the chance to turn a first visit into something lasting."

Visit the Gold Tables page at opentable.com/gold-tables-dining-program. OpenTable Rewards members can track their status and points balance and access Gold Tables through OpenTable's rewards hub: www.opentable.com/rewards.

About OpenTable
OpenTable, a global leader in restaurant tech and part of Booking Holdings, Inc.  (NASDAQ: BKNG), helps more than 65,000 restaurants worldwide fill 1.9 billion seats a year. OpenTable's world-class technology empowers restaurants to focus on what matters most - their team, their guests, and their bottom line - while enabling diners to discover and book the perfect restaurant for every occasion.

*Methodology: Based on OpenTable global booking and review data from the last 12 months ending June 23, 2026.

SOURCE OpenTable, Inc.

Booking.com's chief business officer said he uses AI to analyze how rivals are tackling strategic problems. James Waters, who oversees areas like product, said AI helps with research that would otherwise take days.

Booking Holdings (BKNG - Free Report) has recently been on Zacks.com's list of the most searched stocks. Therefore, you might want to consider some of the key factors that could influence the stock's performance in the near future.

Over the past month, shares of this online booking service have returned +10.8%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -1.4% change. During this period, the Zacks Internet - Commerce industry, which Booking Holdings falls in, has lost 7.3%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?

While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.

Revisions to Earnings EstimatesRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.

Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.

For the current quarter, Booking Holdings is expected to post earnings of $2.47 per share, indicating a change of +11.3% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

The consensus earnings estimate of $10.44 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +14.5%. This estimate has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $12.35 indicates a change of +18.3% from what Booking Holdings is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has remained unchanged.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) for Booking Holdings.

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Projected Revenue GrowthWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.

For Booking Holdings, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $7.19 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +5.7%. For the current and next fiscal years, $29.4 billion and $32.08 billion estimates indicate +9.2% and +9.1% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryBooking Holdings reported revenues of $5.53 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +16.2%. EPS of $1.14 for the same period compares with $0.99 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.5 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +0.61%. The EPS surprise was +3.64%.

The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.

ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.

While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.

As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Booking Holdings is graded D on this front, indicating that it is trading at a premium to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Booking Holdings. However, its Zacks Rank #4 does suggest that it may underperform the broader market in the near term.

Booking Holdings is reiterated as a "Buy," supported by robust Q1 2026 results and a compelling valuation discount. BKNG delivered 16.2% revenue growth and 15.2% adjusted EPS growth, consistently beating consensus despite geopolitical headwinds. The Connected Trip strategy and strong merchant booking growth underpin long-term double-digit EPS growth expectations and platform resilience.

When deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock, investors often rely on analyst recommendations. Media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts often influence a stock's price, but are they really important?

Let's take a look at what these Wall Street heavyweights have to say about Booking Holdings (BKNG - Free Report) before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage.

Booking Holdings currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.56, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 39 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.56 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.

Of the 39 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 27 are Strong Buy and two are Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 69.2% and 5.1% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for BKNG

Check price target & stock forecast for Booking Holdings here>>>

While the ABR calls for buying Booking Holdings, it may not be wise to make an investment decision solely based on this information. Several studies have shown limited to no success of brokerage recommendations in guiding investors to pick stocks with the best price increase potential.

Are you wondering why? The vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover often results in a strong positive bias of their analysts in rating it. Our research shows that for every "Strong Sell" recommendation, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations.

This means that the interests of these institutions are not always aligned with those of retail investors, giving little insight into the direction of a stock's future price movement. It would therefore be best to use this information to validate your own analysis or a tool that has proven to be highly effective at predicting stock price movements.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, which classifies stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), is a reliable indicator of a stock's near-term price performance. So, validating the Zacks Rank with ABR could go a long way in making a profitable investment decision.

Zacks Rank Should Not Be Confused With ABRAlthough both Zacks Rank and ABR are displayed in a range of 1--5, they are different measures altogether.

Broker recommendations are the sole basis for calculating the ABR, which is typically displayed in decimals (such as 1.28). The Zacks Rank, on the other hand, is a quantitative model designed to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.

Analysts employed by brokerage firms have been and continue to be overly optimistic with their recommendations. Since the ratings issued by these analysts are more favorable than their research would support because of the vested interest of their employers, they mislead investors far more often than they guide.

In contrast, the Zacks Rank is driven by earnings estimate revisions. And near-term stock price movements are strongly correlated with trends in earnings estimate revisions, according to empirical research.

In addition, the different Zacks Rank grades are applied proportionately to all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide current-year earnings estimates. In other words, this tool always maintains a balance among its five ranks.

Another key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank is freshness. The ABR is not necessarily up-to-date when you look at it. But, since brokerage analysts keep revising their earnings estimates to account for a company's changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in indicating future price movements.

Is BKNG Worth Investing In?In terms of earnings estimate revisions for Booking Holdings, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has remained unchanged over the past month at $10.44.

Analysts' steady views regarding the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by an unchanged consensus estimate, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Booking Holdings. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

It may therefore be prudent to be a little cautious with the Buy-equivalent ABR for Booking Holdings.

In the latest close session, Booking Holdings (BKNG - Free Report) was down 2.32% at $177.05. This change lagged the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.01%. At the same time, the Dow added 0.14%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 0.46%.

Coming into today, shares of the online booking service had gained 7.65% in the past month. In that same time, the Retail-Wholesale sector lost 5.64%, while the S&P 500 lost 1.4%.

Analysts and investors alike will be keeping a close eye on the performance of Booking Holdings in its upcoming earnings disclosure. On that day, Booking Holdings is projected to report earnings of $2.47 per share, which would represent year-over-year growth of 11.26%. At the same time, our most recent consensus estimate is projecting a revenue of $7.19 billion, reflecting a 5.74% rise from the equivalent quarter last year.

Looking at the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates suggest analysts are expecting earnings of $10.44 per share and revenue of $29.4 billion. These totals would mark changes of +14.47% and +9.23%, respectively, from last year.

It's also important for investors to be aware of any recent modifications to analyst estimates for Booking Holdings. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. Hence, positive alterations in estimates signify analyst optimism regarding the business and profitability.

Based on our research, we believe these estimate revisions are directly related to near-term stock moves. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model.

The Zacks Rank system, stretching from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has a noteworthy track record of outperforming, validated by third-party audits, with stocks rated #1 producing an average annual return of +25% since the year 1988. The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate remained stagnant within the past month. Booking Holdings currently has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

From a valuation perspective, Booking Holdings is currently exchanging hands at a Forward P/E ratio of 17.36. This signifies no noticeable deviation in comparison to the average Forward P/E of 17.36 for its industry.

We can also see that BKNG currently has a PEG ratio of 1.08. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. Internet - Commerce stocks are, on average, holding a PEG ratio of 1.06 based on yesterday's closing prices.

The Internet - Commerce industry is part of the Retail-Wholesale sector. At present, this industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank of 104, placing it within the top 43% of over 250 industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Ensure to harness Zacks.com to stay updated with all these stock-shifting metrics, among others, in the next trading sessions.

HomeStock IdeasLong IdeasConsumer 

SummaryBooking Holdings maintains a dominant position in online travel, supported by global inventory, loyalty, and direct app engagement.AI-driven disruption fears have weighed on BKNG’s valuation, yet AI is already delivering operating efficiencies and margin expansion.Despite Middle East conflict headwinds, BKNG expects 'low to mid-teens' FY 2026 EPS growth and continued EBITDA margin improvement.Shares trade at a forward P/E of 16x, historically low, presenting an attractive risk/reward if AI disintermediation remains gradual. 10'000 Hours/DigitalVision via Getty Images

Booking Holdings (BKNG) is the world’s largest online travel agency group. Its competitive position rests on a vast global inventory of hotels and alternative accommodations, an effective Genius loyalty programme, marketing scale, and direct-app engagement.

1.23K Followers

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Booking Holdings (BKNG - Free Report) has recently been on Zacks.com's list of the most searched stocks. Therefore, you might want to consider some of the key factors that could influence the stock's performance in the near future.

Over the past month, shares of this online booking service have returned +9.4%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.3% change. During this period, the Zacks Internet - Commerce industry, which Booking Holdings falls in, has lost 9.5%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?

While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.

Revisions to Earnings EstimatesHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.

Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.

Booking Holdings is expected to post earnings of $2.47 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +11.3%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged.

The consensus earnings estimate of $10.44 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +14.5%. This estimate has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $12.35 indicates a change of +18.3% from what Booking Holdings is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has remained unchanged.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Booking Holdings.

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Projected Revenue GrowthEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.

In the case of Booking Holdings, the consensus sales estimate of $7.19 billion for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of +5.7%. The $29.4 billion and $32.08 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of +9.2% and +9.1%, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryBooking Holdings reported revenues of $5.53 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +16.2%. EPS of $1.14 for the same period compares with $0.99 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.5 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +0.61%. The EPS surprise was +3.64%.

The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.

ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.

Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.

The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Booking Holdings is graded C on this front, indicating that it is trading at par with its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Booking Holdings. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

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SAO PAULO, June 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- KAYAK surveyed 2,000 travellers to find out which football player they'd most want to travel with, and where in Brazil they'd take them.

Passport stamped for the Portuguese star

Cristiano Ronaldo was chosen by 60% of respondents, followed by Vinícius Júnior (19%) and Endrick (9%). The reasons? 41% cited personal admiration, 23% want to see what goes on behind the scenes of an athlete's holiday, and 15% want to live a once in a lifetime experience alongside one of football's biggest names.

The Northeast Steals the Show

When asked where they'd take their football idol, 59% of Brazilians pointed to the Northeast region of the country, with destinations like Bahia. Another 17% would go for the South, with cities like Gramado.

From the month of football to the next trip

Cristiano Ronaldo was born in Funchal, Madeira, accessible from Brazil via Lisbon. Fans can explore where he grew up and stay at the Pestana CR7 hotel. Round-trip flights to Lisbon between July and December average R$5,296.

Planning your trip? Use Ask AI on KAYAK for real-time results on flights, hotels, and car rentals.

Methodology

Research Insights

KAYAK conducted an online survey with The Ripple Effect among 2,000 adults (18+) in Brazil who had traveled for leisure within or outside the country in the last 1-2 years and who also intend to travel in the next 12 months. Fieldwork was conducted between May 15 and 18, 2026.

Flights data

Based on flight searches conducted on KAYAK.com.br and associated brands between January 1, 2026 and June 10, 2026 for flights between July 1, 2026 and December 31, 2026 departing from any Brazilian airport. All prices are averages for round-trip tickets in economy class, may vary, and cannot be guaranteed.

About KAYAK

KAYAK, part of Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG), is the world's leading travel search engine. With billions of searches on our platforms, we help people find their perfect flight, accommodation, car rental, and holiday package. We also support business travellers with

our corporate travel solution.

Media contact:

[email protected]

A buy-and-hold strategy can generate life-changing returns for investors, and the stocks listed below are prime examples of that. While there can be risks with investing in companies in their early stages, there can also be considerable gains to be made, which is why it can be enticing to do so, particularly if you have many investing years left and can take on some uncertainty.

Nvidia (NVDA +0.15%), Netflix (NFLX 1.20%), and Booking Holdings (BKNG +0.80%) have been tremendous investments over the past 20 years. If you invested $5,000 into each one of these stocks in May 2006, your portfolio would be worth roughly $4 million right now. Here's a look at how much these investments have grown over the past 20 years, and why they can still be good growth stocks to buy and hold.

Image source: Getty Images.

Nvidia: up 44,000% A $5,000 investment 20 years ago in leading chipmaker Nvidia would today be worth roughly $2.2 million. While Nvidia has been a big name in tech for years, things really took off within the past few years, with the emergence of ChatGPT and the soaring demand that artificial intelligence (AI) investments created for its cutting-edge chips.

It's been an incredible transformation for Nvidia, which went from generating $27 billion in revenue for its 2023 fiscal year (which ends in January) to just under $216 billion three years later. It wasn't a predictable path, especially the speed at which it took place.

Today's Change

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0.15

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0.30

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$

205.18

Today, Nvidia is the most valuable company in the world, with a market cap of around $5.5 trillion. Given its strong position in AI and the ongoing need for its chips, the stock may still possess some more gains in the future, but it may be a good idea to temper your expectations because with such a rich valuation and it trading at 46 times earnings, its upside, particularly in the near term, may be limited.

Netflix: up 20,000% Streaming giant Netflix has been another tremendously successful growth stock over the past 20 years. It transformed how people watch TV and movies and has proven that streaming can be a profitable business to be in. While other companies struggle, Netflix has been thriving, even as it has developed its own content.

A $5,000 investment in the stock 20 years ago would now be worth just over $1 million. The business has evolved from mailing out DVDs to now allowing people to stream movies, TV shows, and even live content, including sports. And what's particularly impressive is that Netflix has been able to accomplish all this while generating terrific margins. Last year, it generated $45 billion in sales, and its earnings totaled $11 billion, which equates to a profit margin of 24%.

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80.30

Today, the stock trades at 28 times earnings and continues to be a solid growth stock to own. Netflix is a company that remains in pursuit of more growth opportunities, which is why it may be a compelling investment to buy and hold. Like Nvidia, its gains from here on out may be much more limited, but it can still be a solid blue chip stock to hold for the long haul.

Booking Holdings: up 16,000% Although it's in the third spot on this list, Booking Holdings stock is no slouch when it comes to growth. Its 16,000% returns over the past 20 years mean that a $5,000 investment over that stretch would have turned into around $790,000 today. Combined, that means the total value of the investments in all the stocks on this list today would be worth almost exactly $4 million (assuming someone invested $5,000 into each one of them).

Booking Holdings is a top name in travel as it operates all over the world, helping people book trips through one of its many sites, including booking.com, priceline.com, and kayak.com. As the travel industry has taken off, Booking Holdings has been one of the biggest winners, with its sites providing travelers with easy and flexible ways to make travel plans. Last year, the company generated $5.4 billion in profit on revenue totaling $26.9 billion.

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164.89

This year, the travel stock is down 28% as high oil prices have the market concerned about future travel demand. And while that may be a worry in the short term, it's likely to be a temporary issue. Buying Booking Holdings stock may be a good move today, with its valuation coming down and the stock trading at a very reasonable 20 times its trailing earnings.

LONDON, May 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Although the headlines paint a bleak picture of summer travel, data from KAYAK, a leading travel search engine, shows the reality is more nuanced. For Brits willing to choose carefully, there are still ways to save on a summer getaway.

Drawing on insights from KAYAK's Travel Check-In: Summer 2026 report, KAYAK has crunched the numbers to reveal where travellers can still find great value trips this summer.

10 wallet friendly destinations

KAYAK’s guide to wallet friendly destinations proves that a week abroad doesn’t have to cost the earth. From Prague’s fairy-tale architecture and Krakow’s medieval charm to the sun drenched, buzzing waterfront of Marseilles. Enjoy a full week abroad for around £500 or less, including return flights and accommodation.

Among the best-value destinations for a week away are Prague (£427 per person), Brussels (£433), Tirana (£440), Krakow (£447) and Berlin (£447), based on average return economy flights and a double room for one person over seven days. Other wallet-friendly options include Munich (£480), Marseille (£483), Milan (£500), Madrid (£509) and Faro (£511).

Blackpool is calling: Staycations are making a confident comeback

The data also points to a comeback for UK breaks. Hotel searches for domestic stays are up 13% year-on-year – pointing to a growing appetite for homegrown getaways, with many likely opting for shorter breaks to make their money go further. KAYAK’s top-value UK destinations include Blackpool (£62 average nightly rate), Birmingham (£85), Manchester (£105), Liverpool (£105) and Scarborough (£112).

Timing is also key to save

If flexibility is an option, it pays to travel out of season. International return tickets are around one-third of peak summer prices, averaging just £209 in the week commencing 7 September and £238 the week prior, compared with £690 in the week commencing 13 July and £694 in the week commencing 20 July. That makes late August and early September the clear sweet spot for value-conscious travellers this summer.

Please visit https://www.kayak.co.uk/c/travel-check-in-summer/ to check out the full report.

For more information, please contact [email protected]

About KAYAK
KAYAK, part of Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG), is the world's leading travel search engine. With billions of searches on our platforms, we help people find their perfect flight, accommodation, car rental, and holiday package. We also support business travellers with our corporate travel solution.

Booking Holdings Inc. (BKNG) Presents at J.P. Morgan 54th Annual Global Technology, Media and Communications Conference Transcript

Booking Holdings (BKNG - Free Report) is one of the stocks most watched by Zacks.com visitors lately. So, it might be a good idea to review some of the factors that might affect the near-term performance of the stock.

Shares of this online booking service have returned -12.5% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +4.6% change. The Zacks Internet - Commerce industry, to which Booking Holdings belongs, has gained 2.5% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.

Revisions to Earnings EstimatesHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.

We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

Booking Holdings is expected to post earnings of $2.48 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +11.7%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -9.3%.

The consensus earnings estimate of $10.44 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +14.5%. This estimate has changed -2.1% over the last 30 days.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $12.35 indicates a change of +18.3% from what Booking Holdings is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -1%.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Booking Holdings.

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Revenue Growth ForecastWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.

For Booking Holdings, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $7.19 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +5.7%. For the current and next fiscal years, $29.45 billion and $32.12 billion estimates indicate +9.4% and +9% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryBooking Holdings reported revenues of $5.53 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +16.2%. EPS of $1.14 for the same period compares with $0.99 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.5 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +0.61%. The EPS surprise was +3.64%.

The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.

ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.

Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.

The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Booking Holdings is graded C on this front, indicating that it is trading at par with its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Booking Holdings. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

TORONTO, May 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OpenTable, a global leader in restaurant technology, announced today that it has signed a multi-year lease agreement for its new Toronto office at Allied’s 134 Peter Street in the city’s Downtown West neighbourhood. With over 24,000 square feet of premium office space secured, this marks a commitment to the Canadian market and a significant milestone in OpenTable’s ongoing international expansion.

Expanding upon OpenTable’s established presence in Montreal, this new Toronto location broadens the company’s office footprint in Canada, serving as a hub for its Canadian operations and global engineering team. A portion of the local team will focus on product development and backend infrastructure to support the company’s worldwide offerings. Beyond its technical core, the office will house Canadian sales, finance, marketing and customer service teams.

“Opening our new Toronto office is an important milestone in our international growth,” said John Longstreet, Chief Financial Officer, at OpenTable. “This new space allows us to tap into the city’s world-class tech talent pool, empowering our team to drive global product innovation for our restaurant partners and diners, while also deepening our overall commitment to Canada's hospitality industry.”

“Restaurants are at the heart of Canadian communities and local economies, and as the country's fourth largest private sector employer,* they need partners who are equally invested in their success," said Kelly Higginson, President and CEO at Restaurants Canada. "OpenTable has championed Canadian restaurants for more than 20 years. Growing its footprint in Toronto is a strong show of confidence in our industry, and a win for the operators, diners and communities they serve.”

With an expected capacity for over 200 employees, OpenTable is actively hiring in Toronto for roles across engineering, product, marketing and more.

CBRE Toronto and Atlanta facilitated the transaction, ensuring OpenTable secured an ideal workspace within Allied. 134 Peter Street is widely regarded as the jewel of Allied’s Toronto properties, a distinguished office building in Toronto’s Downtown West. Renovated brick-and-beam architecture, 134 Peter Street offers modern amenities and vibrant, collaborative workspaces for technology and knowledge-based organizations.

For additional information, please contact OpenTable’s media relations: [email protected]

*The source of the data is from Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey from January to December 2025. Restaurants Canada commissioned a custom tabulation to capture total foodservice employment, including both commercial and non-commercial foodservice workers. This figure was then benchmarked against total industry employment data published through the Labour Force Survey for 2025, resulting in foodservice being identified as the fourth largest private sector employer in Canada.

About OpenTable

OpenTable, a global leader in restaurant tech and part of Booking Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG), helps more than 65,000 restaurants worldwide fill 1.9 billion seats a year. OpenTable’s world-class technology empowers restaurants to focus on what matters most – their team, their guests, and their bottom line – while enabling diners to discover and book the perfect restaurant for every occasion.

About CBRE Group, INC.

CBRE Group, Inc., the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm, is recognized for delivering comprehensive solutions to property occupiers, owners, and investors.

About Allied Properties REIT

Allied is a leading owner-operator of distinctive urban workspace in Canada’s major cities. Allied’s mission is to provide knowledge-based organizations with workspace that is sustainable and conducive to human wellness, creativity, connectivity and diversity. Allied’s vision is to make a continuous contribution to cities and culture that elevates and inspires the humanity in all people.

New feature, powered by payments infrastructure from PayPal, gives travelers flexibility while helping independent travel companies compete with larger booking platforms

, /PRNewswire/ -- The Tour Guy, one of Europe's largest and most trusted tour operators and destination marketplaces, today announced the launch of its new "Reserve Now, Pay Later" feature – enabled by PayPal (NYSE: PYPL) – giving travelers the ability to secure high-demand tours in advance without being charged until closer to their travel date.

The launch reflects a growing shift in how consumers plan and pay for travel — prioritizing flexibility, convenience, and trust — while also signaling how mid-sized travel companies are leveraging modern payments infrastructure to offer capabilities traditionally associated with larger booking platforms.

For travelers, the benefit is simple: secure access to in-demand experiences — such as the Colosseum, the Vatican, or day trips from major European cities — without committing cash months in advance.

"The reality of European travel is that the best experiences require planning ahead," said Sean Finelli, Co-Founder and CEO of The Tour Guy. "But paying for everything six months before your trip doesn't match how people want to manage their money today. This gives travelers the confidence and flexibility to book early without the immediate financial pressure."

Unlike traditional "buy now, pay later" options, The Tour Guy's approach is not a loan-based product. There are no credit checks, interest rates, or third-party financing structures. Instead, the feature allows customers to reserve their spot while securely storing payment details, with charges processed closer to the travel date.

The system is powered by PayPal's payment infrastructure, utilizing its security protocols to protect transactions, while also ensuring a high level of reliability for both travelers and the business.

Beyond consumer convenience, the launch highlights a broader industry shift: the increasing ability for small and mid-sized travel companies to deliver sophisticated booking experiences once limited to large online travel agencies.

"For a long time, features like this were only available through the biggest platforms," Finelli added. "What's changing is that companies like ours can now deliver the same level of flexibility and trust — without losing the quality and depth of the experience."

This evolution is particularly important in travel, where booking decisions require balancing availability with financial flexibility. By removing the need for upfront payment, The Tour Guy aims to reduce friction in the planning process while encouraging travelers to book earlier and more confidently.

The feature is now available across select tours and experiences, with plans to expand more broadly across The Tour Guy's portfolio.

About The Tour Guy

The Tour Guy is a leading provider of curated tours and immersive travel experiences across Europe. Known for expert guides and seamless logistics, the company specializes in simplifying complex itineraries and delivering meaningful, story-driven experiences. From skip-the-line access to iconic landmarks to guided day trips from major cities like Paris and Rome, The Tour Guy helps travelers experience more while stressing less.

Media Contact:
Kelly Finelli
[email protected]

SOURCE The Tour Guy

The next generation of Priceline's AI travel assistant brings Anthropic's Claude into the company's proprietary AI stack, allowing travelers to move from trip idea to booking in one conversation

, /PRNewswire/ -- Priceline today introduced the next generation of Penny, its AI-powered travel assistant and one of the most advanced AI booking experiences in travel. Agentic by design, Penny has the ability to understand complex trip requests, evaluate real-time pricing and availability, and surface tradeoffs. Where traditional online travel search requires navigating filters, tabs and separate browser windows, Penny can take a request like, "compare flights from New York to Paris, Berlin, or Madrid for the first week of July," share options across destinations, and let travelers book their trip without leaving the conversation.

The next generation of Priceline's AI travel assistant brings Anthropic's Claude into the company's proprietary AI stack, allowing travelers to move from trip idea to booking in one conversation. The experience is built around a live, interactive map where options surface and sharpen as the conversation evolves. A preference layer combines traveler behavior with stated preferences travelers choose to share, helping Penny distinguish between what someone has done before and what matters for this trip, from budget and location to loyalty and trip purpose. Penny is designed with privacy in mind, giving travelers visibility and control over the data it can access, a foundation for the trust required as AI moves from assistant to agent.

Penny also brings a point of view to the options it surfaces, helping travelers move beyond what is available to what is most relevant. Penny's Pick highlights Penny's top recommendation across hotels, flights and rental cars, weighing the traveler's stated preferences, the context of the conversation and overall value. Penny's Take goes deeper on a single property, offering a candid read on why a hotel best fits the trip and the details worth knowing before booking. Penny's Take is in beta for hotels and will expand across the platform over time.

Penny runs on Priceline's proprietary AI stack, bringing together preference learning, memory, deals technology, and leading AI models. The result is a multi-modal planning experience where conversation, maps, recommendations and real-time travel inventory work together as travelers build their plans. The latest Claude models support core conversational reasoning and planning, marking Priceline's first Anthropic integration into a consumer-facing product. Google Cloud and OpenAI also support capabilities across search and voice. These systems connect Penny to real-time travel inventory from thousands of partners in more than 100 countries and decades of Priceline booking data. Through AI-powered translation, Penny now also converses in multiple languages, meeting travelers in the language they think and plan in.

"Our conviction from the start was that the real advantage in AI travel would not come from the model alone, but from connecting it to the context, inventory and deals that make travel bookable," said Sejal Amin, Chief Technology Officer, Priceline. "By starting Penny at more complex problems in travel booking and building outward into search, maps, preference learning and this new experience, we've designed a system that understands why a traveler makes a choice and can carry that understanding from one trip to the next."

Priceline was one of the first major travel brands to put an AI agent directly in front of customers, starting with some of the points of greatest friction in travel: checkout and customer care. That decision gave Penny a foundation in the moments closest to booking, where travelers indicate what information they need, what questions slow them down and what helps them move forward. Today, Penny operates as a coordinated system of more than 10 specialized agents that support everything from hotel search and recommendations to flights, rental cars, and customer service.

That foundation is already translating into results. In early testing, the subset of travelers who engage with Penny have shown stronger engagement and higher conversion than those who do not, while increased Penny usage has helped reduce customer support contacts. Priceline has estimated that travelers who used Penny saved an average of nearly ten minutes per trip compared with those who called customer support. A 2026 Evercore ISI analysis also found that Priceline Penny delivered the strongest end-to-end booking experience among the AI travel tools it tested.¹ The next generation of Penny builds on that momentum, advancing Priceline's role in Booking Holdings' broader vision of the Connected Trip, where every element of travel, from inspiration to the return home, works together seamlessly on behalf of the traveler.

"The value of AI in travel comes from connecting models to the real context of inventory, deals, and trip purpose," said Guillaume Princen, Head of International - Technology Companies, Anthropic. "Penny pairs that foundation with Claude's frontier capabilities in reasoning and agentic problem-solving to handle complex decisions that turn an idea into a booked trip."

"Travel planning has always been the hardest part of a trip. It doesn't have to be," said Cobus Kok, Vice President, AI Experiences, Priceline. "The next generation of Penny is built around a simple idea: describe the trip you want, and Penny handles the rest, helping travelers understand their choices, book with confidence and get to the trip they want faster."

To see Penny in action, watch the demo at youtube.com/priceline. Travelers can experience the next generation of Penny at priceline.com/penny.

About Priceline
Priceline, part of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG), has been helping travelers get better deals for more than 25 years. Using proprietary technology to analyze billions of data points, Priceline unlocks savings across hotels, flights, rental cars, cruises, vacation packages, and more. With inventory from trusted travel brands in more than 110 countries, 24/7 customer service, Priceline VIP, and Penny, its AI-powered travel assistant, Priceline helps travelers save smarter and book with confidence. No one deals more deals than Priceline.

¹ Evercore ISI, "The Agentic OTA Opportunity?," March 24, 2026.

SOURCE Priceline

When deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock, investors often rely on analyst recommendations. Media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts often influence a stock's price, but are they really important?

Before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage, let's see what these Wall Street heavyweights think about Booking Holdings (BKNG - Free Report) .

Booking Holdings currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.56, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 39 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.56 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.

Of the 39 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 27 are Strong Buy and two are Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 69.2% and 5.1% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for BKNG

Check price target & stock forecast for Booking Holdings here>>>

The ABR suggests buying Booking Holdings, but making an investment decision solely on the basis of this information might not be a good idea. According to several studies, brokerage recommendations have little to no success guiding investors to choose stocks with the most potential for price appreciation.

Are you wondering why? The vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover often results in a strong positive bias of their analysts in rating it. Our research shows that for every "Strong Sell" recommendation, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations.

In other words, their interests aren't always aligned with retail investors, rarely indicating where the price of a stock could actually be heading. Therefore, the best use of this information could be validating your own research or an indicator that has proven to be highly successful in predicting a stock's price movement.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, which classifies stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), is a reliable indicator of a stock's near-term price performance. So, validating the Zacks Rank with ABR could go a long way in making a profitable investment decision.

Zacks Rank Should Not Be Confused With ABRAlthough both Zacks Rank and ABR are displayed in a range of 1--5, they are different measures altogether.

The ABR is calculated solely based on brokerage recommendations and is typically displayed with decimals (example: 1.28). In contrast, the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model allowing investors to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.

Analysts employed by brokerage firms have been and continue to be overly optimistic with their recommendations. Since the ratings issued by these analysts are more favorable than their research would support because of the vested interest of their employers, they mislead investors far more often than they guide.

In contrast, the Zacks Rank is driven by earnings estimate revisions. And near-term stock price movements are strongly correlated with trends in earnings estimate revisions, according to empirical research.

Furthermore, the different grades of the Zacks Rank are applied proportionately across all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide earnings estimates for the current year. In other words, at all times, this tool maintains a balance among the five ranks it assigns.

Another key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank is freshness. The ABR is not necessarily up-to-date when you look at it. But, since brokerage analysts keep revising their earnings estimates to account for a company's changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in indicating future price movements.

Should You Invest in BKNG?In terms of earnings estimate revisions for Booking Holdings, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has remained unchanged over the past month at $10.44.

Analysts' steady views regarding the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by an unchanged consensus estimate, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Booking Holdings. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

It may therefore be prudent to be a little cautious with the Buy-equivalent ABR for Booking Holdings.