HighTower Advisors LLC Raises Holdings in Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR)

HighTower Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR - Free Report) by 2.7% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 97,065 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 2,588 shares during the quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC's holdings in Marriott International were worth $27,075,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Larson Financial Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Marriott International by 10.8% in the third quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 379 shares of the company's stock worth $94,000 after purchasing an additional 37 shares in the last quarter. TFG Advisers LLC lifted its position in shares of Marriott International by 0.8% in the fourth quarter. TFG Advisers LLC now owns 4,426 shares of the company's stock worth $1,235,000 after purchasing an additional 37 shares in the last quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management lifted its position in shares of Marriott International by 1.2% in the fourth quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management now owns 3,290 shares of the company's stock worth $918,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. Evermay Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Marriott International by 1.1% in the fourth quarter. Evermay Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,415 shares of the company's stock worth $953,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Essex Financial Services Inc. lifted its position in shares of Marriott International by 1.3% in the fourth quarter. Essex Financial Services Inc. now owns 3,004 shares of the company's stock worth $838,000 after purchasing an additional 39 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 70.70% of the company's stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. Evercore ISI raised shares of Marriott International from an "in-line" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $330.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of Marriott International from $287.00 to $283.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of Marriott International from $251.00 to $269.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, December 13th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on shares of Marriott International from $252.00 to $283.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, November 26th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on shares of Marriott International from $280.00 to $314.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. Thirteen research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Marriott International currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $286.45.

Marriott International Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ MAR traded up $7.23 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $247.62. 1,373,364 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,693,555. Marriott International, Inc. has a 1 year low of $204.55 and a 1 year high of $307.52. The stock has a market capitalization of $68.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.42 and a beta of 1.58. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $277.29 and a 200 day moving average of $270.12.

Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 11th. The company reported $2.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.37 by $0.08. Marriott International had a negative return on equity of 116.67% and a net margin of 9.46%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Marriott International, Inc. will post 10.1 earnings per share for the current year.

Marriott International Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 27th will be paid a $0.63 dividend. This represents a $2.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.02%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 27th. Marriott International's payout ratio is currently 30.29%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CFO Kathleen K. Oberg sold 14,498 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $278.07, for a total transaction of $4,031,458.86. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 14,282 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,971,395.74. This represents a 50.38 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Susan C. Schwab sold 1,054 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $277.48, for a total transaction of $292,463.92. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 4,551 shares in the company, valued at $1,262,811.48. This represents a 18.80 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 31,694 shares of company stock worth $8,938,132 in the last 90 days. 12.32% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Marriott International Company Profile

Marriott International, Inc engages in operating, franchising, and licensing hotel, residential, timeshare, and other lodging properties worldwide. It operates its properties under the JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, The Luxury Collection, W Hotels, St. Regis, EDITION, Bvlgari, Marriott Hotels, Sheraton, Westin, Autograph Collection, Renaissance Hotels, Le Méridien, Delta Hotels by Marriott, Tribute Portfolio, Gaylord Hotels, Design Hotels, Marriott Executive Apartments, Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy, Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield by Marriott, Residence Inn by Marriott, SpringHill Suites by Marriott, Four Points by Sheraton, TownePlace Suites by Marriott, Aloft Hotels, AC Hotels by Marriott, Moxy Hotels, Element Hotels, Protea Hotels by Marriott, City Express by Marriott, and St.