Kestra Investment Management LLC Acquires Shares in Expedia Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPE)

Kestra Investment Management LLC has made a notable move by acquiring a new stake in Expedia Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPE) during the fourth quarter. This acquisition was highlighted in the firm’s latest Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Kestra acquired a total of 3,403 shares of the prominent online travel company, valued at an estimated $634,000.

Institutional Investment Changes

In recent months, other institutional investors have also adjusted their holdings in Expedia Group. For instance, Exchange Traded Concepts LLC significantly increased its stake by an impressive 1,353.9% in the third quarter, bringing their total to 1,105 shares valued at $164,000 after acquiring an additional 1,029 shares during that period. Additionally, Bleakley Financial Group LLC raised its position by 5.2%, now owning 2,076 shares worth $307,000 after buying 102 more shares.

Moreover, Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd expanded its stake by 2.6%, now holding 13,163 shares valued at around $1,948,000, following a purchase of 331 additional shares. Another firm, Blue Trust Inc., increased its position by a remarkable 296.3% in the same quarter, resulting in ownership of 860 shares valued at $127,000 after purchasing 643 more shares. Furthermore, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC boosted its stake by 54.6%, now owning a substantial 97,953 shares valued at $14,499,000 after acquiring an additional 34,581 shares. Currently, institutional investors collectively hold approximately 90.76% of Expedia Group’s stock.

Insider Transactions

In other related news, insider activity at Expedia Group has garnered attention. Director Dara Khosrowshahi sold 10,000 shares on January 2nd, marking a total transaction of $1,851,500 at an average price of $185.15 per share. Following this sale, Khosrowshahi retains ownership of 168,505 shares, which are valued at roughly $31,198,700.75. This transaction indicated a 5.60% decrease in the director's position.

Additionally, insider Robert J. Dzielak sold 1,951 shares on November 21st for roughly $351,180 at an average price of $180.00. Dzielak now owns 85,250 shares valued at around $15,345,000, representing a 2.24% decrease in ownership. Over the last three months, insiders have collectively sold 21,951 shares worth approximately $3,900,580. Currently, insiders hold about 6.80% of the company's stock.

Stock Performance Overview

As of Wednesday, shares of NASDAQ:EXPE opened at $204.21. The stock boasts a market capitalization of $26.21 billion, with a price-to-earnings (PE) ratio of 22.56. Additionally, the company holds a PEG ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 1.82. Its current ratio and quick ratio stand at 0.73, while the debt-to-equity ratio is 2.03. The firm has recorded a 50-day moving average of $184.07 and a 200-day moving average of $164.01. Over the past year, Expedia Group, Inc. has witnessed a low of $107.25 and a high of $207.73.

Quarterly Earnings Results

Expedia Group last released its quarterly earnings on February 6th, where it reported an earnings per share (EPS) of $1.84, which fell short of the consensus estimate of $2.06 by $0.22. The online travel company recorded a net margin of 9.01% and a return on equity of 55.42%. Analysts generally expect that Expedia Group will report an EPS of 10.75 for the current fiscal year.

Dividend Announcement

The company has also announced an increase in its quarterly dividend, which is set to be paid on March 27th. Shareholders on record as of March 6th will receive a dividend of $0.40 per share, up from the previous quarterly dividend of $0.34. This change reflects an annualized dividend of $1.60, resulting in a dividend yield of 0.78%. Notably, Expedia Group's payout ratio is 17.68%.

Analyst Ratings and Target Prices

Investment analysts have recently provided their opinions on EXPE shares. For example, HSBC upgraded its stance on Expedia Group from a "hold" to a "buy" and set a target price of $215.00. Similarly, Barclays increased its target price from $166.00 to $187.00 while maintaining an "equal weight" rating. Argus also raised their target price from $210.00 to $220.00, giving the stock a "buy" rating. Additionally, Goldman Sachs increased its target from $208.00 to $236.00, also rating it a "buy." The results show a mixture of ratings, leading to an overall average rating of "Moderate Buy" with a target price of $192.64 based on MarketBeat analysis.

Company Profile

Expedia Group, Inc. operates as a leading online travel service provider in the United States and worldwide. The company functions through various segments including B2C, B2B, and trivago. Its B2C segment encompasses well-known brands such as Brand Expedia, Hotels.com, Vrbo, and several others dedicated to travel-related services.

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