Janney Montgomery Scott LLC Cuts Stock Position in Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH)

Janney Montgomery Scott LLC lowered its position in Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH - Free Report) by 12.7% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 50,078 shares of the company's stock after selling 7,316 shares during the quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC owned approximately 0.11% of Choice Hotels International worth $7,110,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Blue Trust Inc. raised its position in Choice Hotels International by 81.4% during the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 399 shares of the company's stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 179 shares during the last quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Choice Hotels International in the third quarter valued at approximately $55,000. Quarry LP bought a new stake in shares of Choice Hotels International during the 3rd quarter valued at about $63,000. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC raised its position in Choice Hotels International by 12.9% during the third quarter. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC now owns 843 shares of the company's stock valued at $110,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares in the last quarter. Finally, SG Americas Securities LLC bought a new stake in shares of Choice Hotels International in the 4th quarter worth approximately $125,000. 65.57% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

CHH has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company initiated coverage on Choice Hotels International in a report on Thursday, December 5th. They set an "underweight" rating and a $133.00 target price for the company. Bank of America lifted their price target on Choice Hotels International from $160.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on Choice Hotels International from $138.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. Morgan Stanley reissued an "underweight" rating and issued a $129.00 price objective (down previously from $145.00) on shares of Choice Hotels International in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Finally, Truist Financial raised their price objective on shares of Choice Hotels International from $134.00 to $136.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 4th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Choice Hotels International presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $135.92.

Choice Hotels International Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:CHH traded down $1.14 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $147.65. 486,132 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 316,207. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $144.75 and a 200-day moving average price of $135.82. Choice Hotels International, Inc. has a 1 year low of $108.91 and a 1 year high of $153.81. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.22 and a beta of 1.24.

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

Choice Hotels International Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 16th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 2nd were issued a $0.2875 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 2nd. This represents a $1.15 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.78%. Choice Hotels International's dividend payout ratio is presently 22.03%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Choice Hotels International

In related news, CEO Patrick Pacious sold 26,816 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.69, for a total value of $3,880,007.04. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 404,666 shares in the company, valued at $58,551,123.54. This trade represents a 6.21 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 24.02% of the stock is owned by 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.