Range Financial Group LLC Buys 7,215 Shares of Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR)

Range Financial Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR) by 484.2% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 8,705 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 7,215 shares during the quarter. Marriott International makes up 1.1% of Range Financial Group LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 21st biggest position. Range Financial Group LLC’s holdings in Marriott International were worth $2,428,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in MAR. PointState Capital LP purchased a new stake in shares of Marriott International during the third quarter valued at $98,249,000. Canoe Financial LP bought a new position in shares of Marriott International in the third quarter worth about $77,331,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Marriott International by 15,148.3% in the third quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 302,527 shares of the company’s stock worth $75,208,000 after buying an additional 300,543 shares during the period. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund raised its stake in Marriott International by 36,856.7% during the 2nd quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund now owns 241,327 shares of the company’s stock valued at $58,346,000 after purchasing an additional 240,674 shares during the period. Finally, AXA S.A. raised its stake in Marriott International by 133.4% during the 2nd quarter. AXA S.A. now owns 221,045 shares of the company’s stock valued at $53,442,000 after purchasing an additional 126,323 shares during the period. 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 dated Wednesday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $274.49, for a total transaction of $137,245.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 12,286 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,372,384.14. The trade was a 3.91 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CAO Felitia Lee sold 916 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $276.48, for a total value of $253,255.68. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 5,609 shares in the company, 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 worth $3,919,739 in the last ninety days. 12.32% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Marriott International Trading Down 1.0 %

Shares of MAR traded down $2.84 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $269.78. The company had a trading volume of 1,132,130 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,336,631. The company has a market capitalization of $74.97 billion, a PE ratio of 28.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.47 and a beta of 1.57. Marriott International, Inc. has a one year low of $204.55 and a one year high of $295.45. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $281.21 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $254.12.

Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR) last announced its earnings results on Monday, November 4th. The company reported $2.26 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.31 by ($0.05). Marriott International had a negative return on equity of 177.91% and a net margin of 11.18%. The business had revenue of $6.26 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.27 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.11 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 5.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that Marriott International, Inc. will post 9.26 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. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, November 21st. This represents a $2.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.93%. Marriott International’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 26.36%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have weighed in on MAR. Mizuho raised their price target on Marriott International from $233.00 to $246.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Sanford C. Bernstein lifted their target price on Marriott International from $262.00 to $290.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Marriott International from $238.00 to $261.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 22nd. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on Marriott International from $252.00 to $283.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 26th. Finally, Barclays boosted their price objective on Marriott International from $249.00 to $286.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, December 13th. Fourteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $269.65.

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.