Barclays PLC Decreases Stake in Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH)

Barclays PLC decreased its holdings in Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH) by 62.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 11,409 shares of the company’s stock after selling 19,055 shares during the period. Barclays PLC’s holdings in Choice Hotels International were worth $1,486,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Tortoise Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Choice Hotels International by 129.4% in the second quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC now owns 250 shares of the company’s stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 141 shares during the period. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its position in Choice Hotels International by 81.4% during the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 399 shares of the company’s stock worth $47,000 after acquiring an additional 179 shares in the last quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. purchased a new position in Choice Hotels International in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $56,000. Quarry LP acquired a new stake in Choice Hotels International in the third quarter valued at approximately $63,000. Finally, Quest Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Choice Hotels International in the second quarter valued at approximately $69,000. 65.57% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Choice Hotels International news, insider Patrick Cimerola sold 1,714 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $135.00, for a total value of $231,390.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 18,084 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,441,340. This represents a 8.66 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Dominic Dragisich sold 9,138 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, October 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $134.88, for a total transaction of $1,232,533.44. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 68,509 shares in the company, valued at $9,240,493.92. The trade was a 11.77 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 53,572 shares of company stock valued at $7,562,444. Insiders own 24.02% of the company’s stock.

Choice Hotels International Stock Performance

Shares of CHH opened at $140.82 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.61 billion, a PE ratio of 26.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 1.23. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $144.22 and its 200 day moving average price is $131.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 177.75, a current ratio of 0.71 and a quick ratio of 0.71. Choice Hotels International, Inc. has a 12-month low of $108.91 and a 12-month high of $153.81.

Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, November 4th. The company reported $2.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.92 by $0.31. Choice Hotels International had a net margin of 16.27% and a negative return on equity of 659.01%. The company had revenue of $428.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $432.62 million. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.82 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up .6% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that Choice Hotels International, Inc. will post 6.84 EPS for the current year.

Choice Hotels International Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 16th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 2nd will be given a dividend of $0.2875 per share. This represents a $1.15 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.82%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 2nd. Choice Hotels International’s payout ratio is 22.03%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com raised shares of Choice Hotels International from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, October 3rd. Susquehanna lifted their target price on Choice Hotels International from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Jefferies Financial Group cut Choice Hotels International from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $150.00 price target on the stock. in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Wells Fargo & Company started coverage on Choice Hotels International in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. They set an “underweight” rating and a $133.00 price objective for the company. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Choice Hotels International from $122.00 to $135.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research report on Friday, December 13th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $134.18.

Choice Hotels International Profile

Choice Hotels International, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a hotel franchisor in the United States and internationally. It operates through Hotel Franchising & Management and Corporate & Other segments. The company franchises lodging properties under the brand names of Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Clarion, Clarion Pointe, Sleep Inn, Ascend Hotel Collection, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn, MainStay Suites, Suburban Studios, WoodSpring Suites, Everhome Suites, Cambria Hotels, Radisson Blu, Radisson RED, Radisson, Park Plaza, Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Radisson Inn & Suites, Park Inn by Radisson, Radisson Individuals, and Radisson Collection.