Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC Increases Stock Position in Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT)

Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its holdings in shares of Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT - Free Report) by 10.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 143,365 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 14,040 shares during the quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC owned approximately 0.06% of Hilton Worldwide worth $35,142,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of HLT. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Hilton Worldwide during the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of Hilton Worldwide during the 4th quarter valued at $34,000. Groupama Asset Managment lifted its stake in shares of Hilton Worldwide by 37.8% during the 3rd quarter. Groupama Asset Managment now owns 15,025 shares of the company's stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 4,118 shares in the last quarter. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new position in shares of Hilton Worldwide during the 3rd quarter valued at $38,000. Finally, True Wealth Design LLC lifted its stake in shares of Hilton Worldwide by 2,400.0% during the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 175 shares of the company's stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 168 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.90% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Hilton Worldwide

In other news, insider Michael W. Duffy sold 23,366 shares of the stock in a transaction 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 sale, the insider now owns 22,833 shares in the company, valued at $5,746,152.78. This represents a 50.58 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Christopher J. Nassetta sold 40,653 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $268.83, for a total transaction of $10,928,745.99. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 77,383 shares in the company, valued at $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 company insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms recently weighed in on HLT. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $232.00 to $240.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $270.00 to $287.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, February 7th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price target on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $237.00 to $277.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, January 2nd. Macquarie lifted their price target on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $248.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $247.00 to $277.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. Twelve investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Hilton Worldwide has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $246.61.

Hilton Worldwide Stock Up 0.9 %

Shares of NYSE HLT traded up $2.36 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $268.23. 743,403 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,497,761. The company has a market cap of $65.39 billion, a PE ratio of 43.58, a PEG ratio of 2.85 and a beta of 1.29. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $252.48 and a 200-day moving average price of $238.38. Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. has a 12 month low of $193.86 and a 12 month high of $275.22.

Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $1.76 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.67 by $0.09. Hilton Worldwide had a net margin of 13.74% and a negative return on equity of 57.01%. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. will post 7.76 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hilton Worldwide announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a share buyback program on Thursday, November 14th that permits the company to buyback $3.50 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the company to repurchase up to 5.7% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are usually a sign that the company's board believes its stock is undervalued.

Hilton Worldwide Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared 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. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 21st. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.22%. Hilton Worldwide's payout ratio is 9.76%.

About Hilton Worldwide

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.