Derivatives

A Closer Look at Booking Holdings's Options Market Dynamics

Published November 28, 2024

Recent activity in the options market for Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG) reveals some interesting dynamics that investors should consider. Notably, large investors, often referred to as "whales," have displayed a predominantly bearish outlook on the company.

Upon reviewing the options history for Booking Holdings, we identified a total of 34 trades. Among these transactions, only 32% were initiated by investors with bullish expectations, while a larger portion, 44%, indicated a bearish sentiment. This trend reflects a degree of caution among significant market players regarding the stock's potential performance.

Breaking down the types of trades observed, there were 5 put options, totaling approximately $298,400, compared to 29 call options amounting to about $3,095,714. This ratio further underscores the prevailing sentiment as more money has been funneled into bullish call options, despite the substantial number of bearish trades.

Predicted Price Range

Analyzing the trading volumes alongside the open interest reveals that major market movers expect Booking Holdings to trade within a price range of $3,800.00 to $7,500.00 over the past three months. This expected range is essential for investors to consider when planning their trading strategies.

Analyzing Volume & Open Interest

Volume and open interest are critical metrics in assessing the stock's options and gauging market liquidity. A closer examination of these metrics for Booking Holdings shows varying trends among calls and puts, particularly within the strike price range of $3,800.00 to $7,500.00 over the last month. Tracking these details helps investors identify levels of interest and potential future movements of the stock.

Booking Holdings Options Activity: Recent Highlights

Symbol PUT/CALL Trade Type Sentiment Exp. Date Ask Bid Price Strike Price Total Trade Price Open Interest Volume
BKNG CALL TRADE BULLISH 04/17/25 $565.5 $555.3 $565.5 $4900.00 $791.7K 34 29
BKNG CALL TRADE BEARISH 04/17/25 $570.5 $559.0 $559.0 $4900.00 $279.5K 34 5
BKNG CALL TRADE BULLISH 04/17/25 $557.9 $547.9 $557.9 $4900.00 $278.9K 34 14
BKNG CALL TRADE NEUTRAL 04/17/25 $567.9 $547.9 $558.0 $4900.00 $223.2K 34 9
BKNG CALL TRADE BULLISH 03/21/25 $1466.0 $1456.1 $1466.0 $3800.00 $146.6K 52 38

Overview of Booking Holdings

Booking Holdings is recognized as the largest online travel agency globally, facilitating bookings and payments for a variety of travel-related services. This includes hotel bookings, airline tickets, car rentals, restaurant reservations, cruises, and more. The company operates under well-known brands like Booking.com, Agoda, OpenTable, and Rentalcars.com, and has made expansions into travel media through acquisitions such as Kayak and Momondo. The majority of its revenue is generated from transaction fees linked to online bookings.

Current Status of Booking Holdings

  • As of now, Booking Holdings is trading at a price of $5,214.28, reflecting a slight decline of -0.01% with a volume of 82,428.
  • Relative Strength Index (RSI) indicators suggest that the stock might be currently overbought.
  • Upcoming earnings are anticipated to be disclosed in approximately 85 days.

Insights from Financial Experts

In the past month, five financial analysts have released ratings for Booking Holdings, averaging a target price of $5,221.00.

Noteworthy Options Activity Detected: Potential Market Movers

Recent observations from options trading indicate movements in the market that investors should be aware of. A report from an analyst at Truist Securities suggests a Hold rating with a price target of $4,700, while RBC Capital maintains an Outperform rating targeting $5,250. Analysts from BMO Capital, Mizuho, and Tigress Financial have respective targets of $5,155, $5,400, and $5,600, all categorized as Outperform or Strong Buy. This consensus indicates a generally optimistic view on the company's long-term potential.

Trading options can be associated with higher risk but also comes with the potential for significant rewards. Investors who wish to manage these risks effectively often engage in continual learning, adjust their trading strategies as necessary, and utilize various market indicators. Keeping up with the latest trades for Booking Holdings can aid in making informed decisions.

options, trading, investors