Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH) is Rock Creek Group LP's 2nd Largest Position

Rock Creek Group LP reduced its stake in Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH - Free Report) by 2.2% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,023,079 shares of the company's stock after selling 23,500 shares during the quarter. Choice Hotels International comprises approximately 12.3% of Rock Creek Group LP's portfolio, making the stock its 2nd biggest holding. Rock Creek Group LP owned approximately 2.18% of Choice Hotels International worth $145,257,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of CHH. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA boosted its position in Choice Hotels International by 2.1% during the 4th quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA now owns 3,562 shares of the company's stock valued at $506,000 after buying an additional 74 shares during the period. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC lifted its holdings in Choice Hotels International by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 12,944 shares of the company's stock worth $1,838,000 after buying an additional 76 shares during the period. Bleakley Financial Group LLC increased its stake in shares of Choice Hotels International by 5.5% during the fourth quarter. Bleakley Financial Group LLC now owns 2,112 shares of the company's stock valued at $300,000 after buying an additional 110 shares during the period. Tortoise Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Choice Hotels International by 55.8% during the fourth quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC now owns 430 shares of the company's stock valued at $61,000 after acquiring an additional 154 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Norden Group LLC lifted its stake in Choice Hotels International by 5.2% in the fourth quarter. Norden Group LLC now owns 4,500 shares of the company's stock worth $639,000 after acquiring an additional 223 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 65.57% of the company's stock.

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Insider Activity at Choice Hotels International

In other news, CFO Scott E. Oaksmith sold 1,780 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.40, for a total value of $257,032.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 32,014 shares in the company, valued at $4,622,821.60. The trade was a 5.27 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Dominic Dragisich sold 3,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $148.30, for a total transaction of $519,050.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 68,913 shares of the company's stock, valued at $10,219,797.90. This represents a 4.83 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 24.02% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on CHH shares. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of Choice Hotels International from $138.00 to $137.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, March 4th. Barclays upped their price target on Choice Hotels International from $129.00 to $132.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a research report on Friday, February 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Choice Hotels International from $122.00 to $135.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a research note on Friday, December 13th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on Choice Hotels International from $150.00 to $152.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 2nd. Finally, StockNews.com cut shares of Choice Hotels International from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, March 15th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $140.62.

Choice Hotels International Stock Performance

Choice Hotels International stock traded down $5.73 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $128.27. 143,919 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 399,048. Choice Hotels International, Inc. has a 12-month low of $109.22 and a 12-month high of $157.86. The business has a fifty day moving average of $142.33 and a 200 day moving average of $141.01. The firm has a market cap of $5.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.59, a PEG ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 1.25.

Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 20th. The company reported $1.55 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.45 by $0.10. Choice Hotels International had a negative return on equity of 472.31% and a net margin of 18.91%. The firm had revenue of $389.77 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $374.24 million. Sell-side analysts predict that Choice Hotels International, Inc. will post 7.07 EPS for the current year.

Choice Hotels International Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 16th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 1st will be paid a dividend of $0.2875 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, April 1st. This represents a $1.15 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.90%. Choice Hotels International's payout ratio is 18.46%.

Choice Hotels International Profile

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.