BNP Paribas Financial Markets Boosts Holdings in Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH)

BNP Paribas Financial Markets increased its stake in shares of Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH - Free Report) by 256.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 27,719 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 19,939 shares during the quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets owned 0.06% of Choice Hotels International worth $3,612,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Raymond James Trust N.A. grew its holdings in shares of Choice Hotels International by 14.5% in the third quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 2,937 shares of the company's stock valued at $383,000 after acquiring an additional 371 shares in the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Choice Hotels International during the 3rd quarter valued at $358,000. Huntington National Bank raised its stake in shares of Choice Hotels International by 4.7% during the 3rd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 2,267 shares of the company's stock worth $295,000 after purchasing an additional 101 shares during the period. Versor Investments LP purchased a new position in shares of Choice Hotels International in the 3rd quarter worth about $860,000. Finally, Venturi Wealth Management LLC grew its position in Choice Hotels International by 42.0% during the third quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,481 shares of the company's stock valued at $323,000 after buying an additional 734 shares during the period. 65.57% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have commented on CHH. Wells Fargo & Company began coverage on shares of Choice Hotels International in a research report on Thursday. They issued an "underweight" rating and a $133.00 price objective on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded Choice Hotels International from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and set a $150.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Barclays raised their target price on Choice Hotels International from $112.00 to $123.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on Choice Hotels International from $105.00 to $118.00 and gave the company a "sell" rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Finally, Robert W. Baird increased their price target on Choice Hotels International from $138.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $130.45.

Choice Hotels International Price Performance

CHH stock traded down $1.89 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $149.00. 299,764 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 467,123. Choice Hotels International, Inc. has a 52-week low of $108.91 and a 52-week high of $153.81. The company has a market capitalization of $6.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.04, a P/E/G ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 1.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 177.75, a current ratio of 0.71 and a quick ratio of 0.71. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $140.40 and a 200-day moving average price of $128.39.

Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, November 4th. The company reported $2.23 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.92 by $0.31. Choice Hotels International had a net margin of 16.27% and a negative return on equity of 659.01%. The business had revenue of $428.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $432.62 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.82 EPS. Choice Hotels International's revenue was up .6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts anticipate that Choice Hotels International, Inc. will post 6.84 earnings per share for the current year.

Choice Hotels International Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, October 16th. Investors of record on Tuesday, October 1st were paid a dividend of $0.2875 per share. This represents a $1.15 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.77%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, October 1st. Choice Hotels International's dividend payout ratio is 22.03%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, SVP Simone Wu sold 7,840 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.08, for a total value of $1,019,827.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 45,669 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,940,623.52. The trade was a 14.65 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Patrick Pacious sold 7,192 shares of Choice Hotels International stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.95, for a total value of $1,042,480.40. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 404,666 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $58,656,336.70. This trade represents a 1.75 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 71,437 shares of company stock worth $9,788,980 over the last ninety days. 24.02% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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.