Barclays Increases Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT) Price Target to $244.00

Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT - Free Report) had its price target raised by Barclays from $224.00 to $244.00 in a report released on Friday, Benzinga reports. Barclays currently has an overweight rating on the stock.

Other equities research analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Robert W. Baird lowered their price objective on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $216.00 to $215.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, August 8th. Susquehanna assumed coverage on Hilton Worldwide in a report on Friday, June 21st. They set a "neutral" rating and a $215.00 target price for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on Hilton Worldwide in a report on Wednesday, September 18th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $245.00 price target on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Hilton Worldwide from $200.00 to $216.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, July 19th. Finally, Macquarie raised their target price on Hilton Worldwide from $205.00 to $208.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 7th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Hilton Worldwide has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $216.05.

Hilton Worldwide Stock Performance

Shares of HLT stock traded up $0.34 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $238.81. 1,222,899 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,560,378. The stock has a market capitalization of $59.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 51.92, a P/E/G ratio of 2.60 and a beta of 1.31. Hilton Worldwide has a one year low of $146.36 and a one year high of $240.00. The business's 50-day simple moving average is $222.71 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $213.39.

Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The company reported $1.91 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.86 by $0.05. Hilton Worldwide had a negative return on equity of 69.65% and a net margin of 11.20%. The company had revenue of $2.95 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.90 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.63 EPS. The business's revenue was up 10.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts anticipate that Hilton Worldwide will post 7.05 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hilton Worldwide Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 27th. Investors of record on Friday, August 23rd were paid a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 23rd. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.25%. Hilton Worldwide's dividend payout ratio is currently 13.04%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Laura Fuentes sold 4,919 shares of Hilton Worldwide stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $217.00, for a total value of $1,067,423.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 15,949 shares of the company's stock, valued at $3,460,933. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. 2.50% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Hilton Worldwide

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Quadrature Capital Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Hilton Worldwide in the 1st quarter valued at $2,792,000. AIA Group Ltd increased its position in shares of Hilton Worldwide by 43.4% in the first quarter. AIA Group Ltd now owns 14,103 shares of the company's stock worth $3,008,000 after acquiring an additional 4,265 shares in the last quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co raised its holdings in shares of Hilton Worldwide by 3.5% during the first quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 137,675 shares of the company's stock valued at $29,375,000 after acquiring an additional 4,677 shares during the period. PGGM Investments lifted its position in shares of Hilton Worldwide by 337.6% in the 2nd quarter. PGGM Investments now owns 14,378 shares of the company's stock valued at $3,137,000 after acquiring an additional 11,092 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. boosted its stake in Hilton Worldwide by 25.9% in the 1st quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 61,969 shares of the company's stock worth $13,219,000 after purchasing an additional 12,740 shares during the period. 95.90% of the stock is owned by 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.