Multiple brokerages, including Barclays and Oppenheimer, slashed their price targets despite a better-than-expected fourth quarter print.
- Oppenheimer said BKNG shares are trading at depressed valuations due to concerns about potential AI disruption.
- Barclays noted that Booking’s margin expansion was “a touch light.”
- Earlier, Booking’s board approved a 25-for-1 stock split, which will take effect on April 2.
Shares of Booking Holdings (BKNG) fell more than 8%, hitting their lowest level since September 2024, after a wave of bearish brokerage calls overshadowed the company’s better-than-expected fourth-quarter results.
Booking posted a 16% increase in its fourth-quarter (Q4) revenue to $6.3 billion, above the $6.13 billion Street estimates, according to Fiscal AI data, and projected low-double-digit revenue growth for fiscal 2026. The company also announced reinvestments of around $700 million above its baseline investments in 2026 to advance GenAI capabilities.
Separately, its board approved a 25-for-1 stock split, which will take effect on April 2, with shares set to begin trading on a split-adjusted basis on April 6.
Analysts Say AI Disruption Could Weigh On Stock’s Valuation
Cantor Fitzgerald reduced its price target to $4,495 from $5,830 and maintained a ‘Neutral’ rating. Analyst Deepak Mathivanan noted that while Booking’s underlying fundamentals remain solid, uncertainty around AI developments could weigh on valuation multiples in the near- to medium-term.
Oppenheimer noted the shares are trading at depressed valuations due to concerns about potential AI disruption, which it believes are overstated. While the firm slashed the price target to $6,000 from $6,500, it maintained an ‘Outperform’ rating.
Barclays cut Booking’s price target to $5,500 from $6,250 while maintaining an ‘Overweight’ rating, according to The Fly. However, it still represents a 40% premium over the current price of about $3,954. While the firm described the earnings as “decent,” it noted that Booking’s margin expansion was “a touch light” and the shares may face near-term pressure.
How Did Stocktwits Users React?
Despite the intraday slide, retail sentiment on Stocktwits turned ‘extremely bullish’ amid ‘extremely high’ message volumes.
One Stocktwits user sees the dip as a buying opportunity.
Year-to-date, the stock has declined more than 25%.
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