Booking Beats on Room Nights During Holiday Travel Season

Booking Holdings Inc., the parent to travel brands such as Kayak and Priceline, delivered better-than-expected fourth-quarter results following a bustling holiday season.

Room nights booked in ther period grew 13% to 261 million, the company said in a statement Thursday, exceeding Wall Street’s estimates and its own guidance range of 6% to 8% growth. Gross travel bookings, which include taxes and fees, were $37.2 billion, compared with a projection of $34.5 billion. Adjusted earnings per share were $41.55, also well ahead of expectations.