InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (NYSE:IHG) Short Interest Up 75.4% in February

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (NYSE:IHG - Get Free Report) was the target of a significant growth in short interest during the month of February. As of February 28th, there was short interest totalling 774,000 shares, a growth of 75.4% from the February 13th total of 441,400 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 181,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 4.3 days. Approximately 0.5% of the company's shares are sold short.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have weighed in on the stock. Morgan Stanley downgraded shares of InterContinental Hotels Group from an "equal weight" rating to an "underweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Citigroup assumed coverage on shares of InterContinental Hotels Group in a report on Monday, February 24th. They set a "sell" rating for the company. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded shares of InterContinental Hotels Group from an "underperform" rating to a "market perform" rating in a report on Friday, January 10th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold".

Hedge Funds Weigh In On InterContinental Hotels Group

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Independent Advisor Alliance raised its stake in InterContinental Hotels Group by 0.8% in the fourth quarter. Independent Advisor Alliance now owns 9,674 shares of the company's stock worth $1,209,000 after buying an additional 76 shares in the last quarter. Denali Advisors LLC raised its stake in InterContinental Hotels Group by 2.3% in the fourth quarter. Denali Advisors LLC now owns 3,870 shares of the company's stock worth $483,000 after buying an additional 87 shares in the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC raised its stake in InterContinental Hotels Group by 67.3% in the fourth quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 251 shares of the company's stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 101 shares in the last quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. raised its stake in InterContinental Hotels Group by 3.2% in the fourth quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 4,415 shares of the company's stock worth $552,000 after buying an additional 136 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ballentine Partners LLC raised its stake in InterContinental Hotels Group by 7.1% in the fourth quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 2,344 shares of the company's stock worth $293,000 after buying an additional 156 shares in the last quarter. 15.09% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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InterContinental Hotels Group Stock Down 2.0 %

Shares of InterContinental Hotels Group stock traded down $2.24 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $112.17. 157,800 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 169,115. InterContinental Hotels Group has a 1 year low of $91.57 and a 1 year high of $137.25. The firm has a market cap of $17.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 1.33. The stock's fifty day moving average is $127.04 and its 200 day moving average is $120.35.

InterContinental Hotels Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 15th. Investors of record on Friday, April 4th will be paid a $1.144 dividend. This is an increase from InterContinental Hotels Group's previous semi-annual dividend of $0.53. This represents a yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 4th. InterContinental Hotels Group's dividend payout ratio is presently 18.79%.

About InterContinental Hotels Group

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC owns, manages, franchises, and leases hotels in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Greater China. The company operates hotels under the Six Senses, Regent, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Vignette Collection, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo, voco, HUALUXE, Crowne Plaza, Iberostar Beachfront Resorts, EVEN, Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn, Garner, avid hotels, Atwell Suites, Staybridge Suites, Iberostar Beachfront Resorts, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, and Candlewood Suites brand names.