Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH) Hits New 52-Week High – Still a Buy?

Shares of Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH) hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $153.95 and last traded at $152.89, with a volume of 18306 shares. The stock had previously closed at $151.15.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently commented on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on 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 target on Choice Hotels International from $150.00 to $152.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, January 2nd. Bank of America increased their price objective on shares of Choice Hotels International from $160.00 to $165.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, January 27th. Truist Financial boosted their target price on shares of Choice Hotels International from $134.00 to $136.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 4th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an “underweight” rating and set a $129.00 target price (down from $145.00) on shares of Choice Hotels International in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. Five 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. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $136.33.

Choice Hotels International Trading Down 1.1 %

The business has a fifty day moving average of $144.72 and a two-hundred day moving average of $136.83. The company has a market cap of $7.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.55, a PEG ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 1.23.

Choice Hotels International Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 16th. Investors 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 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.75%. Choice Hotels International’s dividend payout ratio is currently 22.03%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Choice Hotels International

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Blue Trust Inc. raised its position in shares of Choice Hotels International by 81.4% during the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 399 shares of the company’s stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 179 shares during the last quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Choice Hotels International during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $55,000. Tortoise Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Choice Hotels International by 55.8% during the fourth quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC now owns 430 shares of the company’s stock valued at $61,000 after acquiring an additional 154 shares during the last quarter. Quarry LP purchased a new position in shares of Choice Hotels International in the third quarter valued at approximately $63,000. Finally, Jones Financial Companies Lllp boosted its stake in shares of Choice Hotels International by 165.5% in the fourth quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 600 shares of the company’s stock worth $85,000 after acquiring an additional 374 shares during the last quarter. 65.57% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Choice Hotels International

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.