Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR) Reaches New 12-Month High – Time to Buy?

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR)’s stock price hit a new 52-week high on Monday . The stock traded as high as $289.18 and last traded at $289.07, with a volume of 226983 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $284.29.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MAR has been the subject of several analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on shares of Marriott International in a report on Wednesday, September 18th. They set a “buy” rating and a $267.00 price target for the company. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on Marriott International from $238.00 to $261.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 22nd. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on Marriott International from $252.00 to $283.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on Marriott International from $255.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Finally, Robert W. Baird increased their price target on shares of Marriott International from $258.00 to $264.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Fourteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $260.20.

Marriott International Stock Down 0.9 %

The company has a market cap of $79.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.67 and a beta of 1.58. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $264.98 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $244.43.

Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, November 4th. The company reported $2.26 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.31 by ($0.05). The company had revenue of $6.26 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.27 billion. Marriott International had a negative return on equity of 177.91% and a net margin of 11.18%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.11 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that Marriott International, Inc. will post 9.26 EPS for the current year.

Marriott International Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, November 21st will be issued a dividend of $0.63 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 21st. This represents a $2.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.88%. Marriott International’s payout ratio is currently 26.36%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Marriott International news, CAO Felitia Lee sold 916 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $276.48, for a total value of $253,255.68. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 5,609 shares in the company, valued at $1,550,776.32. The trade was a 14.04 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Benjamin T. Breland sold 500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $274.49, for a total value of $137,245.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 12,286 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,372,384.14. This trade represents a 3.91 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 13,815 shares of company stock valued at $3,919,739. Insiders own 10.07% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Marriott International

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC raised its position in shares of Marriott International by 4.8% during the 3rd quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 1,024,187 shares of the company’s stock valued at $254,613,000 after acquiring an additional 46,563 shares in the last quarter. National Pension Service lifted its stake in Marriott International by 11.6% in the third quarter. National Pension Service now owns 719,613 shares of the company’s stock valued at $178,896,000 after buying an additional 74,832 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its position in shares of Marriott International by 5.1% during the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 679,757 shares of the company’s stock worth $164,355,000 after acquiring an additional 33,149 shares during the last quarter. First Pacific Advisors LP boosted its stake in Marriott International by 2.1% during the 2nd quarter. First Pacific Advisors LP now owns 613,205 shares of the company’s stock valued at $148,255,000 after purchasing an additional 12,499 shares during the period. Finally, Janus Henderson Group PLC increased its stake in shares of Marriott International by 8.4% in the third quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 613,052 shares of the company’s stock valued at $152,399,000 after purchasing an additional 47,551 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 70.70% of the company’s stock.

Marriott International Company Profile

Marriott International, Inc engages in operating, franchising, and licensing hotel, residential, timeshare, and other lodging properties worldwide. It operates its properties under the JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, The Luxury Collection, W Hotels, St. Regis, EDITION, Bvlgari, Marriott Hotels, Sheraton, Westin, Autograph Collection, Renaissance Hotels, Le Méridien, Delta Hotels by Marriott, Tribute Portfolio, Gaylord Hotels, Design Hotels, Marriott Executive Apartments, Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy, Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield by Marriott, Residence Inn by Marriott, SpringHill Suites by Marriott, Four Points by Sheraton, TownePlace Suites by Marriott, Aloft Hotels, AC Hotels by Marriott, Moxy Hotels, Element Hotels, Protea Hotels by Marriott, City Express by Marriott, and St.