Blue Trust Inc. Lowers Position in Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT)

Blue Trust Inc. decreased its position in Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT - Free Report) by 62.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,113 shares of the company's stock after selling 1,831 shares during the period. Blue Trust Inc.'s holdings in Hilton Worldwide were worth $275,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of HLT. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in Hilton Worldwide during the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. bought a new stake in Hilton Worldwide during the 4th quarter valued at $34,000. Groupama Asset Managment raised its holdings in 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 acquiring an additional 4,118 shares during the period. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new stake in Hilton Worldwide during the 3rd quarter valued at $38,000. Finally, True Wealth Design LLC raised its holdings in 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 acquiring an additional 168 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.90% of the company's stock.

Hilton Worldwide Stock Performance

HLT traded down $8.51 during trading on Friday, reaching $259.31. The stock had a trading volume of 1,797,425 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,550,284. The stock has a market cap of $62.39 billion, a PE ratio of 42.16, a PEG ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 1.29. Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. has a one year low of $193.86 and a one year high of $275.22. The business has a 50-day moving average of $253.40 and a 200-day moving average of $239.87.

Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $1.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating 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 54.47%. Equities research analysts forecast that Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. will post 7.89 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hilton Worldwide Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 21st will be given a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 21st. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.23%. Hilton Worldwide's payout ratio is 9.76%.

Hilton Worldwide announced that its board has authorized a share buyback program on Thursday, November 14th that permits the company to buyback $3.50 billion in shares. This buyback authorization permits the company to purchase up to 5.7% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are typically an indication that the company's management believes its stock is undervalued.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $232.00 to $240.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Macquarie boosted their target price 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. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $237.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, January 2nd. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $247.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $219.00 to $226.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, December 13th. Twelve analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $246.61.

Insider Buying and Selling at Hilton Worldwide

In other news, insider Michael W. Duffy sold 23,366 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $251.66, for a total transaction of $5,880,287.56. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 22,833 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,746,152.78. This represents a 50.58 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Christopher J. Nassetta sold 40,653 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, the insider now owns 77,383 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $20,802,871.89. This represents a 34.44 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 2.50% of the company's stock.

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.