Booking Holdings Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides online and traditional travel and restaurant reservations and related services in the United States, the Netherlands, and internationally. The company operates Booking.com, which offers online accommodation reservations; and Priceline, which provides online travel reservation services, as well as consumers hotel, flight, activity, rental car reservation, vacation packages, cruises, and hotel distribution services. It also operates Agoda that offers online accommodation reservation, flight, ground transportation, and activities reservation services. In addition, the company operates KAYAK, an online meta-search service that allows consumers to search and compare travel itineraries and prices; OpenTable for booking online restaurant reservations, as well as reservation management services to restaurants; and Rentalcars.com. Further, it offers travel-related insurance products and restaurant management services to consumers, travel service providers, and restaurants; and advertising services. The company was formerly known as The Priceline Group Inc. and changed its name to Booking Holdings Inc. in February 2018. Booking Holdings Inc. was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut.

Компания Booking Holdings Inc. демонстрирует высокие показатели эффективности, включая ROA и ROI, значительно превышающие медиану отрасли, что свидетельствует о сильной способности генерировать прибыль с активов и инвестированного капитала. При этом, несмотря на высокие P/E и P/S мультипликаторы, которые указывают на потенциальную переоцененность, компания имеет устойчивые показатели выручки и прибыли, что может оправдывать такие значения. Долговая нагрузка (debt-equity ratio) остается на нулевом уровне, что является положительным показателем финансовой устойчивости. Однако отсутствие дивидендов и отрицательный показатель book value могут вызывать опасения у инвесторов. В то же время, рост чистой прибыли и операционной прибыли по годам подтверждает положительную динамику компании. Сравнение с конкурентами показывает, что Booking Holdings имеет значительное преимущество в ряде ключевых метрик, однако высокие мультипликаторы могут сигнализировать о рисках, связанных с перегревом акций. В целом, компания демонстрирует сильные фундаментальные показатели, но стоит учитывать потенциальные риски, связанные с её текущей оценкой.

Booking Holdings Inc. Common Stock

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (Symbol: XLY) where we have detected an approximate $268.2 million dollar inflow -- that's a 1.2% increase week over week in outstanding units (from 194,706,504 to 197,056,504). Among the largest underlying components of XLY, in trading today Booking Holdings Inc (Symbol: BKNG) is off about 0.2%, Lowe's Companies Inc (Symbol: LOW) is off about 1.6%, and O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. (Symbol: ORLY) is up by about 0.5%. For a complete list of holdings, visit the XLY Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of XLY, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, XLY's low point in its 52 week range is $86.55 per share, with $125.01 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $112.92. Comparing the most recent share price to the 200 day moving average can also be a useful technical analysis technique -- learn more about the 200 day moving average ».
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Exchange traded funds (ETFs) trade just like stocks, but instead of ''shares'' investors are actually buying and selling ''units''. These ''units'' can be traded back and forth just like stocks, but can also be created or destroyed to accommodate investor demand. Each week we monitor the week-over-week change in shares outstanding data, to keep a lookout for those ETFs experiencing notable inflows (many new units created) or outflows (many old units destroyed). Creation of new units will mean the underlying holdings of the ETF need to be purchased, while destruction of units involves selling underlying holdings, so large flows can also impact the individual components held within ETFs.
Also see:
SYK Technical Analysis
Funds Holding NSPL
ATA market cap history
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Noteworthy ETF Inflows: XLY, BKNG, LOW, ORLY

Booking Holdings (BKNG) closed the most recent trading day at $4,322.42, moving -1.13% from the previous trading session. The stock trailed the S&P 500, which registered a daily loss of 0.08%. Elsewhere, the Dow saw a downswing of 0.61%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq appreciated by 0.08%.
The online booking service's stock has climbed by 2.12% in the past month, exceeding the Retail-Wholesale sector's loss of 1.45% and the S&P 500's loss of 2.16%.
The investment community will be closely monitoring the performance of Booking Holdings in its forthcoming earnings report. It is anticipated that the company will report an EPS of $29.5, marking a 18.9% rise compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Our most recent consensus estimate is calling for quarterly revenue of $5.5 billion, up 15.45% from the year-ago period.
In terms of the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates predict earnings of $266.13 per share and a revenue of $30.01 billion, indicating changes of +16.69% and +11.49%, respectively, from the former year.
Investors should also pay attention to any latest changes in analyst estimates for Booking Holdings. Such recent modifications usually signify the changing landscape of near-term business trends. As such, positive estimate revisions reflect analyst optimism about the business and profitability.
Based on our research, we believe these estimate revisions are directly related to near-term stock moves. 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.
Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 0.04% lower. Currently, Booking Holdings is carrying a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
In the context of valuation, Booking Holdings is at present trading with a Forward P/E ratio of 16.43. This denotes a premium relative to the industry average Forward P/E of 16.04.
It's also important to note that BKNG currently trades at a PEG ratio of 1. 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. The average PEG ratio for the Internet - Commerce industry stood at 0.91 at the close of the market yesterday.
The Internet - Commerce industry is part of the Retail-Wholesale sector. This industry, currently bearing a Zacks Industry Rank of 157, finds itself in the bottom 36% echelons of all 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.
Be sure to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and many more, on Zacks.com.
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Senior Stock Strategist Kevin Cook reveals 7 carefully selected stocks poised to dominate the quantum computing landscape in his report, Beyond AI: The Quantum Leap in Computing Power.
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Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Booking Holdings (BKNG) Sees a More Significant Dip Than Broader Market: Some Facts to Know

Booking Holdings (BKNG) 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.
Over the past month, shares of this online booking service have returned +2.1%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -2.2% change. During this period, the Zacks Internet - Commerce industry, which Booking Holdings falls in, has lost 0.6%. 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.
Earnings Estimate Revisions
Here 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.
For the current quarter, Booking Holdings is expected to post earnings of $29.50 per share, indicating a change of +18.9% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -6.6% over the last 30 days.
The consensus earnings estimate of $266.13 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +16.7%. This estimate has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $312.29 indicates a change of +17.3% from what Booking Holdings is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +1.9%.
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 Forecast
While 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.
In the case of Booking Holdings, the consensus sales estimate of $5.5 billion for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of +15.5%. The $30.01 billion and $32.27 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of +11.5% and +7.5%, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise History
Booking Holdings reported revenues of $6.35 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +16%. EPS of $48.8 for the same period compares with $41.55 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.11 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +3.87%. The EPS surprise was +1.18%.
The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.
Valuation
Without 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.
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.
Conclusion
The 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.
Radical New Technology Could Hand Investors Huge Gains
Quantum Computing is the next technological revolution, and it could be even more advanced than AI.
While some believed the technology was years away, it is already present and moving fast. Large hyperscalers, such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Oracle, and even Meta and Tesla, are scrambling to integrate quantum computing into their infrastructure.
Senior Stock Strategist Kevin Cook reveals 7 carefully selected stocks poised to dominate the quantum computing landscape in his report, Beyond AI: The Quantum Leap in Computing Power.
Kevin was among the early experts who recognized NVIDIA's enormous potential back in 2016. Now, he has keyed in on what could be "the next big thing" in quantum computing supremacy. Today, you have a rare chance to position your portfolio at the forefront of this opportunity.
See Top Quantum Stocks Now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Here is What to Know Beyond Why Booking Holdings Inc. (BKNG) is a Trending Stock

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) on Thursday closed down -0.56%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) closed down -1.61%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed down -0.29%. March E-mini S&P futures (ESH26) fell -0.60%, and March E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQH26) fell -0.35%.
Stock indexes retreated on Thursday, with the Dow Jones Industrials falling to a 2.75-month low. Stocks were under pressure Thursday amid concerns about inflation, as oil prices surged amid mounting disruptions to energy markets from the war in Iran. WTI crude (CLJ26) soared more than +8% at a 19.5-month high, fueling inflation concerns and sending bond yields higher. However, crude prices fell by more than $3 a barrel from their high in late trading Thursday afternoon when US Secretary of the Interior Burgum said the government is considering emergency measures to stabilize crude prices. The 10-year T-note yield rose to a 3-week high on Thursday of 4.15%.
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Losses in stocks were contained amid underlying support from some of Thursday’s positive economic and corporate news. Weekly US jobless claims rose less than expected, and Q4 nonfarm productivity rose more than expected. Also, Broadcom rose by more than +5% after CEO Tan said the company expects AI chip sales to top $100 billion next year. In addition, strength in software stocks on Thursday limited losses in the broader market.
The US-Israeli war on Iran entered a sixth day on Thursday with Iran pledging to escalate its retaliation. Arab states across the Persian Gulf reported interceptions of Iranian missiles and drones overnight and into Thursday.
Crude prices continued to climb and posted a 19.5-month high Thursday as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, halting most energy shipments from the Persian Gulf. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has warned ships not to sail through the passageway, saying that vessels "could be at risk from missiles or rogue drones." The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which handles a fifth of the world's oil, has curbed exports and forced Gulf producers to stockpile the crude locally in storage tanks. Iraq, OPEC's second-largest producer, shut down oil production at its largest oil fields in Rumalia as local storage tanks filled up. Also, Kayrros reported on Wednesday that four of six tanks at Saudi Arabia's Ras Tanura refinery were full, and the Ju'aymah terminal on the country's east coast is quickly running out of spare capacity. Goldman Sachs estimates the real-time risk premium for crude oil at $18/bbl, corresponding to its estimate of the impact of a six-week full halt to tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.
In addition, damage from an intercepted Iranian drone caused a major fire on Tuesday at the United Arab Emirates' major oil-trading hub, Fujairah, one of the largest oil storage centers in the Middle East. European natural gas prices surged to a 3-year high on Tuesday after Qatar shut its Ras Laffan plant, the world's largest natural gas export facility, after it was targeted by an Iranian drone attack. The Ras Laffan plant accounts for about 20% of the global liquefied natural gas supply. On Thursday, China told its largest refiner to suspend exports of diesel and gasoline due to the escalating conflict in the Persian Gulf, which will tighten global fuel supplies and push fuel prices even higher.
US Feb Challenger job cuts fell -71.9% y/y to 48,307.
US weekly initial unemployment claims were unchanged at 213,000, showing a slightly stronger labor market than expectations of 215,000.
Q4 nonfarm productivity rose +2.8%, better than expectations of +1.9%. Q4 unit labor costs rose by +2.8%, stronger than expectations of +2.0%.
Hawkish comments today from Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin were bearish for stocks when he said recent and expected data reflect "a couple months of relatively high inflation," which "certainly puts pause to any conclusion that we're done fighting this."
This week's market focus will be on US-Iran war news, corporate earnings, and economic news. On Friday, Feb nonfarm payrolls are expected to increase by +60,000, and the Feb unemployment rate is expected to remain unchanged at 4.3%. Also, Feb average hourly earnings are expected to increase by +0.3% m/m and +3.7% y/y. In addition, Feb retail sales are expected to fall -0.3% m/m and Feb retail sales ex-autos are expected to remain unchanged m/m.
Q4 earnings season is nearing its end, with more than 90% of the S&P 500 companies having reported earnings results. Earnings have been a positive factor for stocks, with 73% of the 481 S&P 500 companies that have reported beating expectations. According to Bloomberg Intelligence, S&P earnings growth is expected to climb by +8.4% in Q4, marking the tenth consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth. Excluding the Magnificent Seven megacap technology stocks, Q4 earnings are expected to increase by +4.6%.
The markets are discounting a 4% chance for a -25 bp rate cut at the next policy meeting on March 17-18.
Overseas stock markets settled mixed on Thursday. The Euro Stoxx 50 closed down -1.50%. China’s Shanghai Composite closed up +0.64%. Japan’s Nikkei Stock 225 closed up +1.90%.
Interest Rates
June 10-year T-notes (ZNM6) on Thursday closed down by -16 ticks. The 10-year T-note yield rose by +3.5 bp to 4.131%. Jun T-notes fell to a 3-week low on Thursday, and the 10-year T-note yield rose to a 3-week high of 4.148%. Growing inflation fears are weighing on T-note prices after WTI crude oil rallied to a 19.5-month high Thursday, boosting inflation expectations, with the 10-year breakeven rate climbing to a 3-week high of 2.329%. Also, Thursday’s US economic reports, which showed weekly jobless claims rose less than expected, and Q4 unit labor costs rose more than expected, were hawkish for Fed policy and bearish for T-notes.
European government bond yields moved higher on Thursday. The 10-year German bund yield rose to a 3.5-week high of 2.854% and finished up +9.1 bp to 2.841%. The 10-year UK gilt yield climbed toa 3.5-week high of 4.558% and finished up +10.1 bp to 4.542%.
Eurozone Jan retail sales unexpectedly fell -0.1% m/m, weaker than expectations of +0.3% m/m
ECB Vice President Luis de Guindos said a prolonged conflict in the Middle East would risk pushing inflation expectations higher.
ECB Governing Council member and Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel said inflation is a bigger concern than economic growth as the ECB assesses the implications of the war in Iran.
Swaps are discounting a 5% chance of a -25 bp rate hike by the ECB at its next policy meeting on March 19.
US Stock Movers
Chipmakers and AI-infrastructure stocks were under pressure on Thursday, weighing on the broader market. Lam Research (LRCX) closed down more than -4%, and ARM Holdings Plc (ARM), Analog Devices (ADI), Applied Materials (AMAT), KLA Corp (KLAC), NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI), Marvell Technology (MRVL), and Microchip Technology (MCHP) closed down more than -3%. Also, Seagate Technology Holdings Plc (STX), ASML Holding NV (ASML), and Texas Instruments (TXN) closed down more than -2%.
Airline stocks sold off on Thursday as crude oil prices soared more than +8% to a 19.5-month high, boosting jet fuel prices and potentially cutting into airlines’ profits. Alaska Air Group (ALK) closed down more than -9%, and Southwest Airlines (LUV) closed down more than -6%. Also,
American Airlines Group (AAL) and United Airlines Holdings (UAL) closed down more than -5%, and Delta Air Lines (DAL) closed down more than -3%.
Homebuilders moved lower on Thursday after the 10-year T-note yield jumped to a 3-week high, which boosts mortgage rates and is a negative factor for housing demand. Lennar (LEN), Toll Brothers (TOL), and KB Home (KBH) closed down more than -2%. Also, PulteGroup (PHM) and DR Horton (DHI) closed down more than -1%.
Software stocks rose on Thursday to limit losses in the broader market. Atlassian (TEAM) closed up more than +7%, and ServiceNow (NOW) and Intuit (INTU) closed up more than +5%. Also, Salesforce (CRM) closed up more than +4% to lead gainers in the Dow Jones Industrials, and Thomson Reuters (TRI) closed up more than +4%. In addition, Datadog (DDOG) and Adobe Systems (ADBE) closed up more than +3%, and Workday (WDAY) and Autodesk (ADSK) closed up more than +2%.
Online travel agencies rallied on Thursday after Mizuho Securities said a report that ChatGPT is pivoting away from on-platform shopping checkout, if true, would be a “waterloo moment for AI-disruption of e-commerce.” Expedia Group (EXPE) closed up more than +13%, and Booking Holdings (BKNG) closed up more than +8%. Also, DoorDash (DASH) closed up more than +3%, and TripAdvisor (TRIP) closed up more than +2%.
American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) closed down more than -13% after CFO Mathias said that most of the company’s profit will be generated in the second half of the year.
Stubhub Holdings (STUB) closed down more than -12% after reporting Q4 loss per share of -$1.56, a much bigger loss than the consensus of -$0.03, and forecasting 2026 gross merchandise sales of $9.9 billion to $10.1 billion, well below the consensus of $12.3 billion.
IREN Ltd (IREN) closed down more than -8% after filing for the possible offering of up to $6 billion shares of common stock.
McKesson Corp (MCK) closed down more than -4% after CFO Vitalone said he will retire on May 29.
Walmart (WMT) closed down more than -3% after Erste Group downgraded the stock to hold from buy.
BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings (BJ) is down more than -2% after forecasting 2027 adjusted EPS of $4.40 to $4.60, below the consensus of $4.66.
Trade Desk (TTD) closed up more than +18% to lead gainers in the S&P 500 after The Information reported that the company held talks to help OpenAI sell ads.
Burlington Stores (BURL) closed up more than +7% after reporting Q4 adjusted EPS of $4.89, better than the consensus of $4.72, and forecasting 2027 adjusted EPS of $10.95 to $11.45, the midpoint above the consensus of $11.11.
Broadcom (AVGO) closed up more than +5% after CEO Tan said the company expects its AI chip sales to top $100 billion next year.
Astera Labs (ALAB) closed up more than +5% after Loop Capital Markets initiated coverage on the stock with a buy recommendation and a $250 price target.
Veeva Systems (VEEV) closed up more than +4% after reporting Q4 revenue of $836.0 million, better than the consensus of $810.4 million, and forecasting 2027 revenue of $3.59 billion to $3.60 billion, stronger than the consensus of $3.57 billion.
Fastenal (FAST) closed up more than +2% after reporting that its daily sales rate for February increased by 13%, well above Barclays’ estimate of 7.2%.
Earnings Reports(3/6/2026)
Aldeyra Therapeutics Inc (ALDX), America's Car-Mart Inc/TX (CRMT), ECB Bancorp Inc/MD (ECBK), Eve Holding Inc (EVEX), Foghorn Therapeutics Inc (FHTX), Genesco Inc (GCO), Greene County Bancorp Inc (GCBC), Kingstone Cos Inc (KINS), Mammoth Energy Services Inc (TUSK), National Beverage Corp (FIZZ), National Presto Industries Inc (NPK), NI Holdings Inc (NODK), Oruka Therapeutics Inc (ORKA), Prairie Operating Co (PROP), Silvercrest Asset Management Group (SAMG), Solid Biosciences Inc (SLDB), Tejon Ranch Co (TRC), Vox Royalty Corp (VOXR).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Stocks Finish Lower as War Rages in the Middle East

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is down -0.67%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) is down -1.46%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is down -0.36%. March E-mini S&P futures (ESH26) are down -0.70%, and March E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQH26) are down -0.45%.
Stock indexes are under pressure today amid concerns about inflation, as oil prices rose amid mounting disruptions to energy markets from the war in Iran. WTI crude (CLJ26) is up more than +6% at a 13.5-month high, fueling inflation concerns and sending bond yields higher. The 10-year T-note yield rose to a 3-week high today of 4.15%.
Join 200K+ Subscribers: Find out why the midday Barchart Brief newsletter is a must-read for thousands daily.
Stocks have underlying support from some positive economic and corporate news. Weekly US jobless claims rose less than expected, and Q4 nonfarm productivity rose more than expected. Also, Broadcom is up by more than 5% after CEO Tan said the company expects AI chip sales to top $100 billion next year. In addition, strength in software stocks today is limiting losses in the broader market.
The US-Israeli war on Iran entered a sixth day with Iran pledging to escalate its retaliation. Arab states across the Persian Gulf reported interceptions of Iranian missiles and drones overnight and into today.
Crude prices continued to climb and posted a 13.5-month high today as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, halting most energy shipments from the Persian Gulf. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has warned ships not to sail through the passageway, saying that vessels "could be at risk from missiles or rogue drones." The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which handles a fifth of the world's oil, has curbed exports and forced Gulf producers to stockpile the crude locally in storage tanks. Iraq, OPEC's second-largest producer, shut down oil production at its largest oil fields in Rumalia as local storage tanks filled up. Also, Kayrros reported on Wednesday that four of six tanks at Saudi Arabia's Ras Tanura refinery were full, and the Ju'aymah terminal on the country's east coast is quickly running out of spare capacity. Goldman Sachs estimates the real-time risk premium for crude oil at $18/bbl, corresponding to its estimate of the impact of a six-week full halt to tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.
In addition, damage from an intercepted Iranian drone caused a major fire on Tuesday at the United Arab Emirates' major oil-trading hub, Fujairah, one of the largest oil storage centers in the Middle East. European natural gas prices surged to a 3-year high on Tuesday after Qatar shut its Ras Laffan plant, the world's largest natural gas export facility, after it was targeted by an Iranian drone attack. The Ras Laffan plant accounts for about 20% of the global liquefied natural gas supply. China today told its largest refiner to suspend exports of diesel and gasoline due to the escalating conflict in the Persian Gulf, which will tighten global fuel supplies and push fuel prices even higher.
US Feb Challenger job cuts fell -71.9% y/y to 48,307.
US weekly initial unemployment claims were unchanged at 213,000, showing a slightly stronger labor market than expectations of 215,000.
Q4 nonfarm productivity rose +2.8%, better than expectations of +1.9%. Q4 unit labor costs rose by +2.8%, stronger than expectations of +2.0%.
Hawkish comments today from Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin were bearish for stocks when he said recent and expected data reflect "a couple months of relatively high inflation," which "certainly puts pause to any conclusion that we're done fighting this."
This week's market focus will be on US-Iran war news, corporate earnings, and economic news. On Friday, Feb nonfarm payrolls are expected to increase by +60,000, and the Feb unemployment rate is expected to remain unchanged at 4.3%. Also, Feb average hourly earnings are expected to increase by +0.3% m/m and +3.7% y/y. In addition, Feb retail sales are expected to fall -0.3% m/m and Feb retail sales ex-autos are expected to remain unchanged m/m.
Q4 earnings season is nearing its end, with more than 90% of the S&P 500 companies having reported earnings results. Earnings have been a positive factor for stocks, with 73% of the 481 S&P 500 companies that have reported beating expectations. According to Bloomberg Intelligence, S&P earnings growth is expected to climb by +8.4% in Q4, marking the tenth consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth. Excluding the Magnificent Seven megacap technology stocks, Q4 earnings are expected to increase by +4.6%.
The markets are discounting a 4% chance for a -25 bp rate cut at the next policy meeting on March 17-18.
Overseas stock markets are mixed today. The Euro Stoxx 50 is down -0.94%. China’s Shanghai Composite closed up +0.64%. Japan’s Nikkei Stock 225 closed up +1.90%.
Interest Rates
June 10-year T-notes (ZNM6) today are down -13 ticks. The 10-year T-note yield is up +3.5 bp to 4.131%. Jun T-notes fell to a 3-week low today, and the 10-year T-note yield rose to a 3-week high of 4.146%. Growing inflation fears are weighing on T-note prices after WTI crude oil rallied to a 13.5-month high today, boosting inflation expectations, with the 10-year breakeven rate climbing to a 2.5-week high of 2.318%. Also, today’s US economic reports, which showed weekly jobless claims rose less than expected, and Q4 unit labor costs rose more than expected, were hawkish for Fed policy and bearish for T-notes.
European government bond yields are moving higher today. The 10-year German bund yield rose to a 3.5-week high of 2.840% and is up +8.9 bp to 2.839%. The 10-year UK gilt yield is up +8.5 bp to 4.525%.
Eurozone Jan retail sales unexpectedly fell -0.1% m/m, weaker than expectations of +0.3% m/m
ECB Vice President Luis de Guindos said a prolonged conflict in the Middle East would risk pushing inflation expectations higher.
ECB Governing Council member and Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel said inflation is a bigger concern than economic growth as the ECB assesses the implications of the war in Iran.
Swaps are discounting a 6% chance of a -25 bp rate hike by the ECB at its next policy meeting on March 19.
US Stock Movers
Chipmakers and AI-infrastructure stocks are under pressure today, weighing on the broader market. ARM Holdings Plc (ARM) is down more than -2%. Also, Applied Materials (AMAT), Lam Research (LRCX), Analog Devices (ADI), KLA Corp (KLAC), NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI), and Texas Instruments (TXN) are down more than -1%.
Airline stocks are sliding today amid a surge in crude oil prices, which are up by more than 6% to a 13.5-month high, boosting jet fuel prices and potentially cutting into airlines’ profits. Alaska Air Group (ALK) is down more than -7%, and American Airlines Group (AAL), United Airlines Holdings (UAL), and Delta Air Lines (DAL) are down more than -5%. Also, Southwest Airlines (LUV) is down more than -4%.
Software stocks are climbing today to limit losses in the broader market. Atlassian (TEAM) and ServiceNow (NOW) are up more than+5%, and Intuit (INTU) and Thomson Reuters (TRI) are up more than +4%. Also, Salesforce (CRM) is up more than +3% to lead gainers in the Dow Jones Industrials, and Datadog (DDOG) and Workday (WDAY) are up more than +3%. In addition, Adobe Systems (ADBE) is up more than +2%, and Oracle (ORCL) and Autodesk (ADSK) are up more than +1%.
Online travel agencies are climbing today after Mizuho Securities said a report that ChatGPT is pivoting away from on-platform shopping checkout, if true, would be a “waterloo moment for AI-disruption of e-commerce.” Expedia Group (EXPE) is up more than +8%, and Booking Holdings (BKNG) is up more than +6%. Also, TripAdvisor (TRIP) is up more than +4%, and DoorDash (DASH) is up more than +3%.
American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) is down more than -12% after CFO Mathias said that most of the company’s profit will be generated in the second half of the year.
Stubhub Holdings (STUB) is down more than -11% after reporting Q4 loss per share of -$1.56, a much bigger loss than the consensus of -$0.03, and forecasting 2026 gross merchandise sales of $9.9 billion to $10.1 billion, well below the consensus of $12.3 billion.
IREN Ltd (IREN) is down more than -7% after filing for the possible offering of up to $6 billion shares of common stock.
McKesson Corp (MCK) is down more than -4% after CFO Vitalone said he will retire on May 29.
Walmart (WMT) is down more than -3% to lead losers in the Dow Jones Industrials and Nasdaq 100 after Erste Group downgraded the stock to hold from buy.
BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings (BJ) is down more than -2% after forecasting 2027 adjusted EPS of $4.40 to $4.60, below the consensus of $4.66.
Trade Desk (TTD) is up more than +19% to lead gainers in the S&P 500 after The Information reported that the company held talks to help OpenAI sell ads.
Astera Labs (ALAB) is up more than +6% after Loop Capital Markets initiated coverage on the stock with a buy recommendation and a $250 price target.
Broadcom (AVGO) is up more than +5% after CEO Tan said the company expects its AI chip sales to top $100 billion next year.
Burlington Stores (BURL) is up more than +3% after reporting Q4 adjusted EPS of $4.89, better than the consensus of $4.72, and forecasting 2027 adjusted EPS of $10.95 to $11.45, the midpoint above the consensus of $11.11.
Veeva Systems (VEEV) is up more than +2% after reporting Q4 revenue of $836.0 million, better than the consensus of $810.4 million, and forecasting 2027 revenue of $3.59 billion to $3.60 billion, stronger than the consensus of $3.57 billion.
Fastenal (FAST) is up more than +1% after reporting that its daily sales rate for February increased by 13%, well above Barclays’ estimate of 7.2%.
Earnings Reports(3/5/2026)
BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings Inc (BJ), Burlington Stores Inc (BURL), Ciena Corp (CIEN), Cooper Cos Inc/The (COO), Costco Wholesale Corp (COST), Gap Inc/The (GAP), Guidewire Software Inc (GWRE), Kroger Co/The (KR), Marvell Technology Inc (MRVL), Samsara Inc (IOT), Toro Co/The (TTC).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Stocks Fall as Crude Oil Surge Stokes Inflation Fears

Among the underlying components of the S&P 500 index, we saw noteworthy options trading volume today in The Trade Desk Inc (Symbol: TTD), where a total of 276,113 contracts have traded so far, representing approximately 27.6 million underlying shares. That amounts to about 146.4% of TTD's average daily trading volume over the past month of 18.9 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $29 strike put option expiring March 06, 2026, with 14,153 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 1.4 million underlying shares of TTD. Below is a chart showing TTD's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $29 strike highlighted in orange:
Ciena Corp (Symbol: CIEN) options are showing a volume of 32,485 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 3.2 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 73.4% of CIEN's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 4.4 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $170 strike put option expiring April 17, 2026, with 5,500 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 550,000 underlying shares of CIEN. Below is a chart showing CIEN's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $170 strike highlighted in orange:
And Booking Holdings Inc (Symbol: BKNG) saw options trading volume of 4,742 contracts, representing approximately 474,200 underlying shares or approximately 72.7% of BKNG's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 652,165 shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $4700 strike call option expiring March 20, 2026, with 202 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 20,200 underlying shares of BKNG. Below is a chart showing BKNG's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $4700 strike highlighted in orange:
For the various different available expirations for TTD options, CIEN options, or BKNG options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
Also see:
OAKU shares outstanding history
ARKR shares outstanding history
Funds Holding PRIF
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Notable Thursday Option Activity: TTD, CIEN, BKNG

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (Symbol: XLY) where we have detected an approximate $343.1 million dollar inflow -- that's a 1.6% increase week over week in outstanding units (from 191,706,504 to 194,706,504). Among the largest underlying components of XLY, in trading today Booking Holdings Inc (Symbol: BKNG) is up about 1.6%, O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. (Symbol: ORLY) is down about 0.3%, and Marriott International, Inc. (Symbol: MAR) is higher by about 0.1%. For a complete list of holdings, visit the XLY Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of XLY, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, XLY's low point in its 52 week range is $86.55 per share, with $125.01 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $116.59. Comparing the most recent share price to the 200 day moving average can also be a useful technical analysis technique -- learn more about the 200 day moving average ».
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) trade just like stocks, but instead of ''shares'' investors are actually buying and selling ''units''. These ''units'' can be traded back and forth just like stocks, but can also be created or destroyed to accommodate investor demand. Each week we monitor the week-over-week change in shares outstanding data, to keep a lookout for those ETFs experiencing notable inflows (many new units created) or outflows (many old units destroyed). Creation of new units will mean the underlying holdings of the ETF need to be purchased, while destruction of units involves selling underlying holdings, so large flows can also impact the individual components held within ETFs.
Also see:
Railroads Dividend Stocks
PBIB Split History
CMK Historical Stock Prices
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Notable ETF Inflow Detected - XLY, BKNG, ORLY, MAR

Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel, on 3/6/26, Booking Holdings Inc (Symbol: BKNG), Teleflex Incorporated (Symbol: TFX), and CRH plc (Symbol: CRH) will all trade ex-dividend for their respective upcoming dividends. Booking Holdings Inc will pay its quarterly dividend of $10.50 on 3/31/26, Teleflex Incorporated will pay its quarterly dividend of $0.34 on 3/31/26, and CRH plc will pay its quarterly dividend of $0.39 on 4/8/26. As a percentage of BKNG's recent stock price of $4153.87, this dividend works out to approximately 0.25%, so look for shares of Booking Holdings Inc to trade 0.25% lower — all else being equal — when BKNG shares open for trading on 3/6/26. Similarly, investors should look for TFX to open 0.28% lower in price and for CRH to open 0.34% lower, all else being equal.
Below are dividend history charts for BKNG, TFX, and CRH, showing historical dividends prior to the most recent ones declared.
Booking Holdings Inc (Symbol: BKNG):
Teleflex Incorporated (Symbol: TFX):
CRH plc (Symbol: CRH):
In general, dividends are not always predictable, following the ups and downs of company profits over time. Therefore, a good first due diligence step in forming an expectation of annual yield going forward, is looking at the history above, for a sense of stability over time. This can help in judging whether the most recent dividends from these companies are likely to continue. If they do continue, the current estimated yields on annualized basis would be 1.01% for Booking Holdings Inc, 1.11% for Teleflex Incorporated, and 1.37% for CRH plc.
In Wednesday trading, Booking Holdings Inc shares are currently down about 0.6%, Teleflex Incorporated shares are down about 0.6%, and CRH plc shares are off about 3.5% on the day.
Click here to learn which 25 S.A.F.E. dividend stocks should be on your radar screen »
Also see:
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Ex-Dividend Reminder: Booking Holdings, Teleflex and CRH

Key Points
Investors have been gravitating toward high-profile stock-split stocks for years.
An industry-leading online travel company, with ironclad overseas market share, is trading at a 41% discount to its average forward earnings multiple over the last five years.
Meanwhile, Wall Street's highest-profile reverse stock split of 2025 is rife with red flags.
Although artificial intelligence (AI) has dominated Wall Street headlines for years, it's not the only trend that investors have been gravitating toward. On top of AI euphoria, investors can't get enough of stock-split stocks.
A stock split is an event that allows a publicly traded company to cosmetically adjust its share price and outstanding share count by the same factor. These changes are superficial in the sense that they don't affect a company's market cap or its operating performance.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
While stock splits come in two varieties -- forward and reverse -- investors typically flock to the former and shun the latter. Reverse splits are designed to increase a company's share price, often with the purpose of avoiding delisting from a major stock exchange. It's the type of split typically enacted by a struggling business.
Meanwhile, forward stock splits aim to make a company's shares more nominally affordable for investors who can't purchase fractional shares through their broker. Most companies that need to make their stock more nominally affordable for retail investors are out-innovating and out-executing their peers.
Additionally, public companies that fall into the forward split camp have historically outperformed Wall Street's benchmark index, the S&P 500, in the 12 months following their announcement. This is why investors are usually on the lookout for Wall Street's next blockbuster stock split.
As we ready for spring, one stock-split stock, which has skyrocketed 27,500% (including dividends) over the last quarter century, makes for a no-brainer buy in March. Meanwhile, another ultra-popular stock-split stock is best left in the display window.
The stock split-stock that makes for a no-brainer buy in March: Booking Holdings
Though a handful of high-profile companies have announced forward splits in recent memory, including streaming giant Netflix and digital workflow titan ServiceNow, it's online travel leader Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG) that stands out for all the right reasons in March.
On Feb. 18, the parent company of Booking.com, Kayak, Priceline, and OpenTable lifted the hood on its fourth-quarter and full-year operating results, which included news that its board approved a historic 25-for-1 forward split. With shares ending the Feb. 26 trading session at $4,250.26, a 25-for-1 split will lower each share to about $170 while simultaneously increasing the outstanding share count by a factor of 25. This should make it significantly easier for retail investors to participate in Booking's ongoing growth story.
Online travel companies tend to be highly cyclical, which is a good thing from a long-term investment standpoint. While economic slowdowns and recessions are inevitable, they're historically short-lived. Since periods of economic growth last notably longer than recessions, Booking Holdings is positioned to spend more time expanding than navigating choppy waters.
On a more company-specific basis, Booking is a juggernaut in select international markets. It's a major player in Europe and is generating meaningful sales growth from Asia. The ironclad market share it holds in both regions has helped it sustain high-single-digit to low-double-digit sales growth.
Booking's Connected Trip strategy, along with its incorporation of generative AI, is also pivotal to its future success. Management is leaning into generative AI for personalized travel recommendations and to assist virtual agents with automated replies. Booking's goal is to earn a bigger piece of the travel industry's pie by encouraging customers to bundle hotels, car rentals, and attractions with their flight purchases.
Lastly, its valuation is attractive following a nearly 30% pullback. Shares of Booking Holdings can be purchased for less than 14 times forecast earnings in 2027, representing a 41% discount to its average forward price-to-earnings ratio over the trailing five years.
The stock-split stock investors would be wise to avoid in March: Lucid Group
However, not all stock-split stocks are destined to be winners. Whereas Booking Holdings appears to be a bona fide bargain, investors would be best off keeping their distance from electric-vehicle (EV) maker Lucid Group (NASDAQ: LCID).
Lucid was Wall Street's highest-profile reverse stock split of 2025, with the luxury EV manufacturer completing a 1-for-10 split that took effect before trading began on Sept. 2, 2025. At the time, it increased Lucid's share price from nearly $2 to almost $20.
A reverse split made sense for Lucid for two reasons. One, it was getting dangerously close to falling below $1 per share -- the minimum required for continued listing on the Nasdaq exchange. Secondly, some fund managers won't buy stocks trading below $5. This move, in theory, put Lucid Group back on the radar for select money managers.
Unfortunately, cosmetic changes to Lucid's share price haven't improved its subpar operating performance.
With Tesla shifting away from its premium Model S to the mass-produced and considerably more affordable Model 3, the luxury EV sedan market was ripe for Lucid's taking. However, persistent supply chain issues, coupled with waning demand for EVs, have led to ongoing disappointment for Lucid and its shareholders.
When Lucid became a public company in the summer of 2021, management was forecasting 90,000 units of production by 2024. But by 2024, the company's EV output projection had fallen to around 9,000 units. While Lucid's production forecast of 25,000 to 27,000 EVs in 2026 represents more than 40% growth at the midpoint, it has consistently failed to meet its own guidance.
But arguably the most damning headwind for Lucid Group is its balance sheet. Despite ample financial backing from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Lucid's working capital is dwindling. It burned more than $2.9 billion in cash from its operating activities in 2025 and has racked up $15.6 billion in losses since inception.
Lucid's EVs may be aesthetically pleasing, but its stock certainly isn't. It's a stock-split stock that investors can confidently avoid in March.
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Sean Williams has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Booking Holdings, Netflix, ServiceNow, and Tesla. The Motley Fool recommends Nasdaq. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Booking Holdings Inc. Common Stock

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