Analysts Set Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT) Price Target at $246.61

Shares of Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT) have been given a consensus recommendation of “Hold” by the twenty brokerages that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Twelve investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and eight have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $248.56.

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on HLT shares. Susquehanna upped their price objective on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $247.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $270.00 to $287.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, February 7th. 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 report on Tuesday, December 10th. Raymond James increased their target price on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $250.00 to $290.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, February 10th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $219.00 to $226.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, December 13th.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Michael W. Duffy sold 23,366 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $251.66, for a total value of $5,880,287.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 22,833 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,746,152.78. This trade represents a 50.58 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Christopher J. Nassetta sold 40,653 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $268.83, for a total transaction of $10,928,745.99. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 77,383 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $20,802,871.89. The trade was a 34.44 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 2.50% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Private Advisor Group LLC raised its holdings in Hilton Worldwide by 7.2% during the third quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 3,560 shares of the company’s stock worth $820,000 after purchasing an additional 240 shares in the last quarter. Lake Street Advisors Group LLC boosted its position in shares of Hilton Worldwide by 3.8% during the 3rd quarter. Lake Street Advisors Group LLC now owns 1,537 shares of the company’s stock worth $354,000 after purchasing an additional 56 shares in the last quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. boosted its position in shares of Hilton Worldwide by 5.7% during the 3rd quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 22,858 shares of the company’s stock worth $5,357,000 after purchasing an additional 1,223 shares in the last quarter. Forsta AP Fonden boosted its position in shares of Hilton Worldwide by 10.8% in the 3rd quarter. Forsta AP Fonden now owns 56,200 shares of the company’s stock worth $12,954,000 after buying an additional 5,500 shares in the last quarter. Finally, NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC raised its stake in Hilton Worldwide by 4.4% in the 3rd quarter. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC now owns 3,126 shares of the company’s stock valued at $721,000 after purchasing an additional 132 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.90% of the company’s stock.

Hilton Worldwide Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE HLT opened at $259.81 on Monday. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $254.01 and its 200 day moving average price is $241.00. The company has a market capitalization of $62.51 billion, a PE ratio of 42.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 1.29. Hilton Worldwide has a 1 year low of $193.86 and a 1 year high of $275.22.

Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $1.76 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.67 by $0.09. Hilton Worldwide had a net margin of 13.74% and a negative return on equity of 54.47%. On average, equities analysts expect that Hilton Worldwide will post 7.89 EPS for the current year.

Hilton Worldwide Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.15 per share. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.23%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 21st. Hilton Worldwide’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 9.76%.

Hilton Worldwide declared that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock buyback program on Thursday, November 14th that authorizes the company to buyback $3.50 billion in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the company to reacquire up to 5.7% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are usually an indication that the company’s board of directors 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.