Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT) Stock Price Expected to Rise, Macquarie Analyst Says

Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT - Free Report) had its price target upped by Macquarie from $248.00 to $260.00 in a research note issued to investors on Friday,Benzinga reports. Macquarie currently has a neutral rating on the stock.

Other research analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Mizuho reiterated a "neutral" rating and set a $263.00 price target (up previously from $243.00) on shares of Hilton Worldwide in a report on Wednesday, February 5th. Bank of America upped their price target on Hilton Worldwide from $230.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, October 21st. Evercore ISI upped their price objective on Hilton Worldwide from $210.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock an "in-line" rating in a research report on Monday, October 21st. TD Cowen cut their target price on Hilton Worldwide from $265.00 to $256.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 24th. Finally, Melius downgraded shares of Hilton Worldwide from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, October 21st. Twelve research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $246.61.

Hilton Worldwide Trading Up 0.6 %

Shares of HLT stock traded up $1.58 on Friday, reaching $269.06. 2,045,003 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,507,100. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $250.97 and its 200 day simple moving average is $236.48. Hilton Worldwide has a 52 week low of $186.83 and a 52 week high of $274.18. The stock has a market capitalization of $65.59 billion, a PE ratio of 43.75, a P/E/G ratio of 2.85 and a beta of 1.29.

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, sell-side analysts predict that Hilton Worldwide will post 7.76 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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 $0.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 21st. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.22%. Hilton Worldwide's dividend payout ratio is 9.76%.

Hilton Worldwide announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase program on Thursday, November 14th that allows the company to repurchase $3.50 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the company to buy up to 5.7% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are often a sign that the company's leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Insider Activity at Hilton Worldwide

In other news, insider Christopher J. Nassetta sold 40,653 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on 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 sale, the insider now directly owns 77,383 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $20,802,871.89. This represents a 34.44 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Michael W. Duffy sold 23,366 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, December 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $251.66, for a total transaction of $5,880,287.56. Following the transaction, 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 disclosure for this sale can be found here. 2.50% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Hilton Worldwide

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of HLT. Principal Financial Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Hilton Worldwide by 15.3% during the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 10,756,416 shares of the company's stock worth $2,479,354,000 after acquiring an additional 1,429,537 shares during the last quarter. Jennison Associates LLC grew its stake in shares of Hilton Worldwide by 33.2% in the third quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 3,234,809 shares of the company's stock worth $745,624,000 after acquiring an additional 806,029 shares during the last quarter. Stockbridge Partners LLC raised its holdings in Hilton Worldwide by 63.6% in the 3rd quarter. Stockbridge Partners LLC now owns 1,544,399 shares of the company's stock worth $355,984,000 after acquiring an additional 600,593 shares during the last quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich boosted its holdings in shares of Hilton Worldwide by 2,746.1% during the 4th quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 502,077 shares of the company's stock valued at $133,487,000 after acquiring an additional 484,436 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in Hilton Worldwide during the fourth quarter valued at $118,729,000. 95.90% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.