Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT) Given Consensus Rating of “Hold” by Brokerages

Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT) has received a consensus recommendation of “Hold” from the nineteen analysts that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $252.71.

A number of research analysts recently commented on HLT shares. Susquehanna upped their target price on Hilton Worldwide from $247.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 25th. Macquarie increased their price objective on Hilton Worldwide from $248.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, February 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Hilton Worldwide from $219.00 to $226.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, December 13th. Barclays increased their price objective on Hilton Worldwide from $270.00 to $287.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Hilton Worldwide from $232.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th.

Insider Activity at Hilton Worldwide

In related news, insider Christopher J. Nassetta sold 40,653 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $268.83, for a total value of $10,928,745.99. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 77,383 shares in the company, valued at $20,802,871.89. This trade represents a 34.44 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 2.50% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hilton Worldwide

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Hilton Worldwide by 15.3% during the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 10,756,416 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,479,354,000 after buying an additional 1,429,537 shares during the last quarter. GSA Capital Partners LLP bought a new position in Hilton Worldwide during the third quarter worth about $226,000. Empowered Funds LLC boosted its holdings in Hilton Worldwide by 4.8% during the third quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 3,722 shares of the company’s stock worth $858,000 after buying an additional 172 shares during the last quarter. AMG National Trust Bank bought a new position in Hilton Worldwide during the third quarter worth about $213,000. Finally, Quest Partners LLC boosted its holdings in Hilton Worldwide by 133.9% during the third quarter. Quest Partners LLC now owns 4,388 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,011,000 after buying an additional 2,512 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 95.90% of the company’s stock.

Hilton Worldwide Trading Down 0.5 %

Shares of NYSE HLT opened at $231.75 on Friday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $252.46 and a 200 day simple moving average of $244.02. The firm has a market capitalization of $55.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.68, a PEG ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 1.29. Hilton Worldwide has a one year low of $193.86 and a one year high of $275.22.

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

Hilton Worldwide Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Investors of record on Friday, February 21st will be issued a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.26%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 21st. Hilton Worldwide’s dividend payout ratio is 9.76%.

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.