Rice Partnership LLC Grows Position in Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT)

Rice Partnership LLC lifted its stake in Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT) by 4.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 31,007 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 1,312 shares during the quarter. Hilton Worldwide makes up about 1.5% of Rice Partnership LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 23rd largest position. Rice Partnership LLC’s holdings in Hilton Worldwide were worth $7,664,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new stake in Hilton Worldwide during the third quarter valued at $765,000. Franklin Resources Inc. raised its stake in Hilton Worldwide by 3.1% during the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 4,090,950 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,012,069,000 after purchasing an additional 121,900 shares in the last quarter. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new stake in Hilton Worldwide during the third quarter valued at $38,000. Fiduciary Alliance LLC purchased a new stake in Hilton Worldwide during the fourth quarter valued at $1,246,000. Finally, Chartwell Investment Partners LLC raised its stake in Hilton Worldwide by 35.8% during the third quarter. Chartwell Investment Partners LLC now owns 28,756 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,628,000 after purchasing an additional 7,583 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.90% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

HLT has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Barclays increased their target price on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $243.00 to $268.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, December 13th. Robert W. Baird increased their target price on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $235.00 to $236.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 24th. Bank of America increased their target price on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $230.00 to $265.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, October 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $247.00 to $277.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 10th. Finally, TD Cowen reduced their target price on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $265.00 to $256.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 24th. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $238.24.

Insider Buying and Selling at Hilton Worldwide

In other Hilton Worldwide news, insider Michael W. Duffy sold 23,366 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $251.66, for a total transaction of $5,880,287.56. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 22,833 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,746,152.78. This represents a 50.58 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 2.50% of the company’s stock.

Hilton Worldwide Price Performance

Shares of Hilton Worldwide stock opened at $256.24 on Monday. The stock has a market cap of $62.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 54.99, a PEG ratio of 2.67 and a beta of 1.29. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $249.60 and its two-hundred day moving average is $234.56. Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. has a 1 year low of $186.83 and a 1 year high of $259.01.

Hilton Worldwide announced that its board has approved a stock buyback plan on Thursday, November 14th that permits the company to buyback $3.50 billion in shares. This buyback authorization permits the company to purchase up to 5.7% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are typically an indication that the company’s board believes its stock is undervalued.

Hilton Worldwide Company Profile

Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc, a hospitality company, engages in managing, franchising, owning, and leasing hotels and resorts. It operates through two segments, Management and Franchise, and Ownership. The company engages in the hotel management and licensing of its brands. It operates luxury hotels under the Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, LXR Hotels & Resorts, and Conrad Hotels & Resorts brand; lifestyle hotels under the Canopy by Hilton, Curio Collection by Hilton, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, Tempo by Hilton, and Motto by Hilton brand; full service hotels under the Signia by Hilton, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, and DoubleTree by Hilton brand; service hotels under the Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton by Hilton, and Tru by Hilton brand; all-suite hotels under the Embassy Suites by Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton, and Home2 Suites by Hilton brand; and economy hotel under the Spark by Hilton brand, as well as Hilton Grand Vacations.