Hilton Worldwide Sees Unusually Large Options Volume (NYSE:HLT)

Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT - Get Free Report) saw some unusual options trading activity on Tuesday. Stock investors purchased 41,800 call options on the company. This is an increase of approximately 2,240% compared to the typical volume of 1,786 call options.

Insider Buying and Selling at Hilton Worldwide

In related news, insider Christopher J. Nassetta sold 40,653 shares of Hilton Worldwide stock in a transaction on 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 completion of the sale, the insider now owns 77,383 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $20,802,871.89. This trade represents a 34.44 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Company insiders own 2.60% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hilton Worldwide

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Noble Wealth Management PBC acquired a new stake in shares of Hilton Worldwide in the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. VSM Wealth Advisory LLC bought a new stake in Hilton Worldwide during the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. bought a new position in shares of Hilton Worldwide in the fourth quarter worth about $34,000. Sierra Ocean LLC acquired a new position in shares of Hilton Worldwide during the fourth quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, Hopwood Financial Services Inc. bought a new position in Hilton Worldwide in the 4th quarter worth approximately $41,000. Institutional investors own 95.90% of the company's stock.

Hilton Worldwide Stock Up 0.6 %

Shares of HLT stock traded up $1.34 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $210.43. The stock had a trading volume of 2,144,466 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,725,189. The firm has a market cap of $50.42 billion, a PE ratio of 34.22, a P/E/G ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 1.19. Hilton Worldwide has a one year low of $194.12 and a one year high of $275.22. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $236.33 and its 200 day simple moving average is $243.46.

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 for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.67 by $0.09. Hilton Worldwide had a net margin of 13.74% and a negative return on equity of 54.47%. Sell-side analysts forecast that Hilton Worldwide will post 7.89 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hilton Worldwide Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 21st were paid a $0.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 21st. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.29%. Hilton Worldwide's dividend payout ratio is currently 9.76%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts recently commented on HLT shares. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price objective on Hilton Worldwide from $277.00 to $228.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $265.00 to $274.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 4th. Raymond James upped their price target on Hilton Worldwide from $250.00 to $290.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, February 10th. 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. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $232.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Twelve research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $248.88.

About Hilton Worldwide

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.