Stifel Nicolaus Has Lowered Expectations for Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR) Stock Price

Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR - Get Free Report) had its price target dropped by equities research analysts at Stifel Nicolaus from $295.00 to $240.00 in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a "hold" rating on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus' price objective points to a potential upside of 8.89% from the company's current price.

MAR has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Argus upped their price objective on shares of Marriott International from $300.00 to $330.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 16th. Mizuho upped their price target on shares of Marriott International from $246.00 to $293.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. UBS Group upped their price target on shares of Marriott International from $294.00 to $301.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on Marriott International from $289.00 to $298.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 4th. Finally, Evercore ISI upgraded Marriott International from an "in-line" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $330.00 target price on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Fourteen analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $277.00.

Marriott International Stock Up 0.7 %

Shares of MAR traded up $1.62 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $220.41. 1,523,436 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,563,661. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $250.07 and a 200 day simple moving average of $268.24. Marriott International has a fifty-two week low of $204.55 and a fifty-two week high of $307.52. The stock has a market capitalization of $60.82 billion, a PE ratio of 26.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.42 and a beta of 1.42.

Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 11th. The company reported $2.45 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.37 by $0.08. Marriott International had a net margin of 9.46% and a negative return on equity of 116.67%. Research analysts predict that Marriott International will post 10.1 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Marriott International news, Director Susan C. Schwab sold 1,054 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $277.48, for a total transaction of $292,463.92. Following the transaction, the director now owns 4,551 shares in the company, valued at $1,262,811.48. This trade represents a 18.80 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CFO Kathleen K. Oberg sold 14,498 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Friday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $278.07, for a total value of $4,031,458.86. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 14,282 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,971,395.74. This trade represents a 50.38 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 31,694 shares of company stock valued at $8,938,132. 12.32% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Marriott International

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Wescott Financial Advisory Group LLC increased its position in shares of Marriott International by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. Wescott Financial Advisory Group LLC now owns 5,554 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,549,000 after purchasing an additional 35 shares during the last quarter. TFG Advisers LLC grew its position in shares of Marriott International by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. TFG Advisers LLC now owns 4,426 shares of the company's stock worth $1,235,000 after buying an additional 37 shares during the last quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management raised its holdings in shares of Marriott International by 1.2% in the fourth quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management now owns 3,290 shares of the company's stock worth $918,000 after buying an additional 38 shares during the last quarter. Evermay Wealth Management LLC raised its position in Marriott International by 1.1% during the 4th quarter. Evermay Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,415 shares of the company's stock worth $953,000 after buying an additional 38 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Essex Financial Services Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Marriott International by 1.3% in the 4th quarter. Essex Financial Services Inc. now owns 3,004 shares of the company's stock valued at $838,000 after buying an additional 39 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 70.70% of the company's stock.

About Marriott International

Marriott International, Inc engages in operating, franchising, and licensing hotel, residential, timeshare, and other lodging properties worldwide. It operates its properties under the JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, The Luxury Collection, W Hotels, St. Regis, EDITION, Bvlgari, Marriott Hotels, Sheraton, Westin, Autograph Collection, Renaissance Hotels, Le Méridien, Delta Hotels by Marriott, Tribute Portfolio, Gaylord Hotels, Design Hotels, Marriott Executive Apartments, Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy, Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield by Marriott, Residence Inn by Marriott, SpringHill Suites by Marriott, Four Points by Sheraton, TownePlace Suites by Marriott, Aloft Hotels, AC Hotels by Marriott, Moxy Hotels, Element Hotels, Protea Hotels by Marriott, City Express by Marriott, and St.