Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH) Given Average Recommendation of “Reduce” by Analysts

Shares of Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH) have received an average rating of “Reduce” from the eleven ratings firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price target among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $125.64.

A number of research firms recently commented on CHH. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded Choice Hotels International from a “neutral” rating to an “underweight” rating and set a $120.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Friday, July 19th. Robert W. Baird lowered their target price on Choice Hotels International from $137.00 to $134.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, August 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on shares of Choice Hotels International in a report on Wednesday, September 18th. They issued a “sell” rating and a $105.00 target price for the company. UBS Group decreased their price target on shares of Choice Hotels International from $126.00 to $125.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, August 9th. Finally, Susquehanna began coverage on shares of Choice Hotels International in a report on Friday, June 21st. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $125.00 target price on the stock.

Choice Hotels International Trading Down 1.8 %

CHH stock opened at $130.41 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 177.75, a current ratio of 0.99 and a quick ratio of 0.99. Choice Hotels International has a 1-year low of $108.91 and a 1-year high of $134.44. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $125.87 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $122.05. The company has a market capitalization of $6.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.98, a PEG ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 1.25.

Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, August 8th. The company reported $1.84 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.86 by ($0.02). The company had revenue of $435.20 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $438.29 million. Choice Hotels International had a net margin of 15.42% and a negative return on equity of 3,953.67%. The business’s revenue was up 1.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.75 earnings per share. Research analysts anticipate that Choice Hotels International will post 6.38 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Choice Hotels International Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 16th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, October 1st will be given a dividend of $0.2875 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, October 1st. This represents a $1.15 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.88%. Choice Hotels International’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 24.68%.

Insider Transactions at Choice Hotels International

In related news, EVP Dominic Dragisich sold 13,117 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, July 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $124.45, for a total transaction of $1,632,410.65. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 69,171 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,608,330.95. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, SVP Simone Wu sold 7,840 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.08, for a total transaction of $1,019,827.20. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 45,669 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,940,623.52. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Dominic Dragisich sold 13,117 shares of Choice Hotels International stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.45, for a total transaction of $1,632,410.65. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 69,171 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $8,608,330.95. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 44,241 shares of company stock worth $5,517,383. 24.02% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Boulder Hill Capital Management LP purchased a new position in shares of Choice Hotels International during the fourth quarter valued at $2,504,000. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System increased its position in Choice Hotels International by 17.8% during the 1st quarter. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System now owns 34,074 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,993,000 after purchasing an additional 5,156 shares during the period. Congress Asset Management Co. MA raised its holdings in shares of Choice Hotels International by 29.8% in the 1st quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. MA now owns 50,479 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,378,000 after purchasing an additional 11,581 shares in the last quarter. Occudo Quantitative Strategies LP lifted its position in shares of Choice Hotels International by 136.6% in the 4th quarter. Occudo Quantitative Strategies LP now owns 48,299 shares of the company’s stock worth $5,472,000 after purchasing an additional 27,885 shares during the period. Finally, BNP Paribas Financial Markets boosted its stake in shares of Choice Hotels International by 62.8% during the first quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 21,990 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,778,000 after purchasing an additional 8,485 shares in the last quarter. 65.57% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.