Booking Holdings Inc. (BKNG) Strengthens Balance Sheet as Q1 Results Impress

Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) is one of the top stocks to buy for the long-term. On May 8, Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) completed the sale of $750 million of 5.375% Senior Notes. The notes are to mature in May 2036 unless redeemed or repurchased earlier.

Earlier on April 29, Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated a Neutral rating on Booking Holdings and lowered the price target to $175 from $180. The price target cut came on the heels of the company delivering first-quarter results with room nights and gross bookings below estimates by 1%. The underperformance came as the company felt a 2% impact of the Middle East conflict.

Nevertheless, gross bookings grew 15% compared to Q1 of 2025, while revenue grew 16%. Net income and adjusted EBITDA grew by 225% and 19%, respectively. According to its Chief Executive Officer, the results affirm the business’s resilience and execution discipline.

Amid near-term uncertainty triggered by the Middle East conflict, Booking Holdings remains focused on advancing Connected Trip’s vision, expanding its global reach, and leveraging Generative AI to enhance value for travelers and partners.

Booking Holdings is the world’s leading provider of online travel and related services. The company operates a high-frequency digital marketplace that connects global travel demand with supply-side partners (hotels, airlines, car rentals, and restaurants). It generates revenue through commissions, payment facilitation, and advertising sales.

While we acknowledge the risk and potential of BKNG as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than BKNG and that has 10,000% upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.

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