Secure Asset Management LLC Increases Stock Holdings in Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR)

Secure Asset Management LLC grew its stake in Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR) by 2.5% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,451 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 60 shares during the period. Secure Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Marriott International were worth $684,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC increased its position in shares of Marriott International by 4.8% during the third quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 1,024,187 shares of the company’s stock worth $254,613,000 after purchasing an additional 46,563 shares in the last quarter. National Pension Service increased its position in Marriott International by 11.6% during the third quarter. National Pension Service now owns 719,613 shares of the company’s stock worth $178,896,000 after buying an additional 74,832 shares during the period. Janus Henderson Group PLC lifted its stake in 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 buying an additional 47,551 shares during the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Marriott International by 0.5% during the third quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. now owns 566,548 shares of the company’s stock worth $140,844,000 after acquiring an additional 2,723 shares during the last quarter. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its position in Marriott International by 3.0% in the 3rd quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 443,103 shares of the company’s stock valued at $110,156,000 after purchasing an additional 12,702 shares during the last quarter. 70.70% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Marriott International Trading Down 0.3 %

NASDAQ:MAR opened at $284.11 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $78.95 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.64 and a beta of 1.57. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $282.13 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $257.01. Marriott International, Inc. has a twelve month low of $204.55 and a twelve month high of $295.45.

Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR) last posted its 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). The company had revenue of $6.26 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.27 billion. Marriott International had a net margin of 11.18% and a negative return on equity of 177.91%. Marriott International’s quarterly revenue was up 5.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.11 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Marriott International, Inc. will post 9.25 earnings per share for the current year.

Marriott International Announces Dividend

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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MAR has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective 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. Macquarie reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $245.00 price objective on shares of Marriott International in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on Marriott International from $255.00 to $265.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Barclays increased their price target on Marriott International from $249.00 to $286.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, December 13th. Finally, Argus upped their price objective on shares of Marriott International from $300.00 to $330.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 16th. Fourteen analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $272.15.

Insider Activity at Marriott International

In other Marriott International news, EVP Benjamin T. Breland sold 500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $274.49, for a total transaction of $137,245.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 12,286 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,372,384.14. This represents a 3.91 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through 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 value 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 $1,550,776.32. The trade was a 14.04 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 13,815 shares of company stock valued at $3,919,739. 12.32% of the stock is owned by insiders.

About Marriott International

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.