10 Best Performing Large Cap Stocks to Buy According to Analysts

8. Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)

1-Year Performance: 44.02%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 99

Analyst Upside Potential: 15.13%

Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) helps people plan and book their trips and dining experiences online. It operates through several well-known brands including Bookings.com, Priceline.com, Agoda.com, KAYAK, and OpenTable. On February 24, DA Davidson raised the price target on the stock from $5,005 to $5,800 and kept a Buy rating. The firm noted that the fiscal fourth quarter results presented a substantial upside in comparison to the market consensus. Moreover, the firm also liked the 13% room night growth, which was driven by growth across all regions.

In addition, Cooper Investors Global Equities Fund in their Q4 2024 investor letter mentioned that Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) was one of their largest contributors to returns. The fund also noted that it is a leading platform larger than two of its leading competitors combined in terms of room nights booked. Moreover, the operations trends also continue to benefit from the tailwinds coming from increased global travel. During the fiscal fourth quarter of 2024, the company grew its gross bookings by 17% and revenue by 14%, both metrics came in above the high end of management’s guidance. It is one of the best-performing large-cap stocks to buy according to analysts.

Cooper Investors Global Equities Fund stated the following regarding Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) in its Q4 2024 investor letter:

“The largest contributors to returns were Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) and Liberty Formula One (FWONK). BKNG is the leading global travel platform (larger than Airbnb and Expedia combined on an annual room nights booked basis). Operating trends continue to be strong driven by tailwinds from global travel demand and new CFO Ewout Steenbergen finding cost efficiencies following a period of investment. This resulted in third quarter revenue growth of 9% driving Earnings Per Share growth of 16%, a run rate we believe is now sustainable for the business. BKNG has been a highly successful investment, delivering returns of 130% since our first investment in December 2022. But going forward we see less value latency and have consequently begun to redeploy capital into more compelling opportunities.”