Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT) Given Consensus Rating of "Hold" by Analysts

Shares of Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT - Get Free Report) have been assigned an average recommendation of "Hold" from the eighteen research firms that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Twelve research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $248.88.

Several research firms have recently weighed in on HLT. Raymond James increased their price objective on Hilton Worldwide from $250.00 to $290.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, February 10th. Macquarie upped their price target on Hilton Worldwide from $248.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, February 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a "neutral" rating and issued a $235.00 target price (down from $296.00) on shares of Hilton Worldwide in a research note on Monday, April 14th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $277.00 to $228.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Finally, Mizuho restated a "neutral" rating and set a $263.00 price objective (up previously from $243.00) on shares of Hilton Worldwide in a report on Wednesday, February 5th.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Christopher J. Nassetta sold 40,653 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $268.83, for a total value of $10,928,745.99. Following the completion of the transaction, 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 transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 2.60% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hilton Worldwide

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Birch Hill Investment Advisors LLC increased its position in Hilton Worldwide by 1.3% in the 1st quarter. Birch Hill Investment Advisors LLC now owns 9,380 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,134,000 after buying an additional 117 shares in the last quarter. Sagespring Wealth Partners LLC grew its holdings in Hilton Worldwide by 5.6% during the first quarter. Sagespring Wealth Partners LLC now owns 3,346 shares of the company's stock worth $761,000 after buying an additional 176 shares in the last quarter. Sowell Financial Services LLC purchased a new stake in Hilton Worldwide in the 1st quarter valued at $314,000. Brighton Jones LLC raised its holdings in shares of Hilton Worldwide by 11.7% in the first quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 1,322 shares of the company's stock valued at $301,000 after purchasing an additional 138 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Exchange Traded Concepts LLC lifted its position in shares of Hilton Worldwide by 12.6% during the first quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 789 shares of the company's stock valued at $180,000 after purchasing an additional 88 shares in the last quarter. 95.90% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Hilton Worldwide Price Performance

Hilton Worldwide stock traded up $1.34 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $210.43. The company's stock had a trading volume of 2,144,466 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,725,189. Hilton Worldwide has a 52-week low of $194.12 and a 52-week high of $275.22. The company has a market cap of $50.42 billion, a PE ratio of 34.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 1.19. The firm's 50 day moving average is $236.33 and its 200 day moving average is $243.46.

Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $1.76 earnings per share for the quarter, topping 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%. As a group, analysts forecast that Hilton Worldwide will post 7.89 EPS for the current year.

Hilton Worldwide Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 21st were issued a $0.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 21st. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.29%. Hilton Worldwide's 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.