Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH) Reaches New 1-Year High After Better-Than-Expected Earnings

Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH) hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Thursday following a better than expected earnings announcement. The company traded as high as $157.86 and last traded at $155.45, with a volume of 42025 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $147.69.

The company reported $1.55 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.45 by $0.10. Choice Hotels International had a net margin of 16.27% and a negative return on equity of 659.01%.

Choice Hotels International Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 16th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 2nd were paid a $0.2875 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 2nd. This represents a $1.15 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.74%. Choice Hotels International’s dividend payout ratio is presently 22.03%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

CHH has been the subject of a number of research reports. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Choice Hotels International from $123.00 to $129.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a report on Friday, December 13th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on shares of Choice Hotels International from $118.00 to $138.00 and gave the company a “sell” rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price objective on shares of Choice Hotels International from $150.00 to $152.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of Choice Hotels International from $122.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research note on Friday, December 13th. Finally, Truist Financial boosted their price objective on shares of Choice Hotels International from $134.00 to $136.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $136.33.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA lifted its stake in Choice Hotels International by 2.1% during the 4th quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA now owns 3,562 shares of the company’s stock valued at $506,000 after acquiring an additional 74 shares during the period. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC increased its holdings in Choice Hotels International by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 12,944 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,838,000 after acquiring an additional 76 shares in the last quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC increased its holdings in Choice Hotels International by 30.3% in the 4th quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 370 shares of the company’s stock worth $52,000 after acquiring an additional 86 shares in the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors increased its holdings in Choice Hotels International by 4.5% in the 4th quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 2,069 shares of the company’s stock worth $294,000 after acquiring an additional 90 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Occudo Quantitative Strategies LP grew its holdings in Choice Hotels International by 3.2% during the 4th quarter. Occudo Quantitative Strategies LP now owns 3,062 shares of the company’s stock valued at $435,000 after buying an additional 95 shares in the last quarter. 65.57% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Choice Hotels International Stock Performance

The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $144.91 and its 200-day simple moving average is $138.11. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.30 billion, a PE ratio of 29.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.87 and a beta of 1.23.

Choice Hotels International Company 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.