Strategic Investment Advisors MI Decreases Stake in Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR)

Strategic Investment Advisors MI lowered its stake in Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR) by 10.2% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,537 shares of the company’s stock after selling 288 shares during the period. Strategic Investment Advisors MI’s holdings in Marriott International were worth $708,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in MAR. Public Sector Pension Investment Board raised its holdings in shares of Marriott International by 63.7% during the second quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 8,444 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,042,000 after purchasing an additional 3,287 shares during the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Marriott International by 59.9% during the second quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 123,973 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,973,000 after purchasing an additional 46,420 shares during the last quarter. Susquehanna Fundamental Investments LLC purchased a new position in shares of Marriott International during the second quarter worth $3,844,000. Waterfall Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Marriott International during the second quarter worth $2,853,000. Finally, Creative Planning increased its holdings in Marriott International by 19.0% in the second quarter. Creative Planning now owns 93,482 shares of the company’s stock valued at $22,601,000 after buying an additional 14,897 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.70% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Marriott International news, EVP Benjamin T. Breland sold 500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $274.49, for a total transaction of $137,245.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 12,286 shares in the company, valued at $3,372,384.14. The trade was a 3.91 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CAO Felitia Lee sold 916 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $276.48, for a total transaction of $253,255.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 5,609 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,550,776.32. The trade was a 14.04 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 13,815 shares of company stock valued at $3,919,739 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 12.32% of the company’s stock.

Marriott International Stock Performance

Marriott International stock opened at $284.11 on Monday. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $282.24 and its 200-day simple moving average is $257.46. The company has a market capitalization of $78.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.64 and a beta of 1.57. Marriott International, Inc. has a 1 year low of $204.55 and a 1 year high of $295.45.

Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, November 4th. The company reported $2.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.31 by ($0.05). Marriott International had a net margin of 11.18% and a negative return on equity of 177.91%. The company had revenue of $6.26 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.27 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.11 earnings per share. Marriott International’s revenue was up 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts expect that Marriott International, Inc. will post 9.25 earnings per share for the current year.

Marriott International Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Thursday, November 21st were paid a dividend of $0.63 per share. This represents a $2.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.89%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, November 21st. Marriott International’s payout ratio is currently 26.36%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Mizuho lifted their price objective on shares of Marriott International from $233.00 to $246.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on shares of Marriott International from $280.00 to $314.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. Sanford C. Bernstein lifted their price objective on shares of Marriott International from $262.00 to $290.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on shares of Marriott International from $258.00 to $264.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. Finally, TD Cowen dropped their target price on shares of Marriott International from $295.00 to $283.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. Fourteen research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $272.15.

Marriott International 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.