Principal Financial Group Inc. Lowers Stock Holdings in Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH)

Principal Financial Group Inc. cut its holdings in Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH - Free Report) by 33.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 53,268 shares of the company's stock after selling 27,010 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. owned about 0.11% of Choice Hotels International worth $6,941,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its position in shares of Choice Hotels International by 144.4% during the first quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 198 shares of the company's stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 117 shares during the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. raised its position in shares of Choice Hotels International by 307.4% during the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 220 shares of the company's stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 166 shares in the last quarter. Covestor Ltd lifted its holdings in shares of Choice Hotels International by 163.2% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 229 shares of the company's stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 142 shares during the period. Tortoise Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Choice Hotels International by 129.4% during the 2nd quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC now owns 250 shares of the company's stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 141 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. boosted its stake in Choice Hotels International by 1,146.9% during the 2nd quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 399 shares of the company's stock valued at $47,000 after purchasing an additional 367 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 65.57% of the company's stock.

Choice Hotels International Stock Performance

Shares of CHH traded up $0.80 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $146.53. The company had a trading volume of 167,005 shares, compared to its average volume of 476,460. Choice Hotels International, Inc. has a 12 month low of $108.91 and a 12 month high of $149.75. The firm has a market cap of $6.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.92, a PEG ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.24. The business has a fifty day moving average of $135.37 and a 200-day moving average of $125.99. The company has a quick ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 0.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 177.75.

Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Monday, November 4th. The company reported $2.23 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.92 by $0.31. The business had revenue of $428.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $432.62 million. Choice Hotels International had a net margin of 16.27% and a negative return on equity of 659.01%. Choice Hotels International's quarterly revenue was up .6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.82 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Choice Hotels International, Inc. will post 6.83 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Choice Hotels International Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, October 16th. Investors of record on Tuesday, October 1st were issued a $0.2875 dividend. This represents a $1.15 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.78%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, October 1st. Choice Hotels International's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 22.03%.

Insider Activity at Choice Hotels International

In other Choice Hotels International news, CEO Patrick Pacious sold 7,192 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.95, for a total transaction of $1,042,480.40. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 404,666 shares in the company, valued at approximately $58,656,336.70. This represents a 1.75 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Patrick Cimerola sold 1,714 shares of Choice Hotels International stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $135.00, for a total transaction of $231,390.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 18,084 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,441,340. This represents a 8.66 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 71,437 shares of company stock worth $9,788,980. Company insiders own 24.02% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

CHH has been the subject of several research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on shares of Choice Hotels International from $105.00 to $118.00 and gave the company a "sell" rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Choice Hotels International from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 3rd. Susquehanna upped their target price on shares of Choice Hotels International from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Choice Hotels International from $134.00 to $141.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 13th. Finally, Truist Financial dropped their target price on Choice Hotels International from $144.00 to $134.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, September 4th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $130.00.

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.