Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ:HST) Short Interest Up 12.9% in May

Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ:HST) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest in the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 45,340,000 shares, an increase of 12.9% from the May 15th total of 40,160,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 5,800,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 7.8 days. Approximately 6.5% of the shares of the stock are short sold.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Host Hotels & Resorts news, CEO James F. Risoleo sold 28,136 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $21.04, for a total transaction of $591,981.44. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 2,225,577 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $46,826,140.08. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, CEO James F. Risoleo sold 28,136 shares of Host Hotels & Resorts stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $21.04, for a total value of $591,981.44. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 2,225,577 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $46,826,140.08. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Walter C. Rakowich sold 3,896 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $18.64, for a total transaction of $72,621.44. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 64,457 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,201,478.48. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 1.30% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Host Hotels & Resorts

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of HST. BROOKFIELD Corp ON bought a new position in Host Hotels & Resorts in the 1st quarter valued at about $25,000. Riverview Trust Co bought a new stake in shares of Host Hotels & Resorts during the 1st quarter worth $27,000. CVA Family Office LLC acquired a new stake in Host Hotels & Resorts in the fourth quarter valued at about $26,000. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust grew its position in Host Hotels & Resorts by 57.5% in the third quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 1,750 shares of the company’s stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 639 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mather Group LLC. acquired a new position in Host Hotels & Resorts during the first quarter worth about $35,000. 98.52% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Host Hotels & Resorts Stock Performance

Shares of Host Hotels & Resorts stock traded down $0.01 on Tuesday, hitting $17.95. The stock had a trading volume of 544,969 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,008,293. The stock has a market cap of $12.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.56 and a beta of 1.31. The business’s 50 day moving average is $18.61 and its two-hundred day moving average is $19.41. The company has a quick ratio of 6.66, a current ratio of 6.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. Host Hotels & Resorts has a twelve month low of $14.92 and a twelve month high of $21.31.

Host Hotels & Resorts Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 28th will be given a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 28th. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.46%. Host Hotels & Resorts’s payout ratio is presently 78.43%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have commented on the company. Barclays decreased their price objective on Host Hotels & Resorts from $25.00 to $24.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, May 30th. Wedbush reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $22.00 price objective on shares of Host Hotels & Resorts in a research report on Thursday, May 30th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Host Hotels & Resorts from $22.00 to $23.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, March 21st. UBS Group reduced their price target on Host Hotels & Resorts from $21.00 to $20.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 19th. Finally, Truist Financial decreased their price objective on shares of Host Hotels & Resorts from $24.00 to $23.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, May 30th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Host Hotels & Resorts presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $21.36.

About Host Hotels & Resorts

Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc is an S&P 500 company and is the largest lodging real estate investment trust and one of the largest owners of luxury and upper-upscale hotels. The Company currently owns 72 properties in the United States and five properties internationally totaling approximately 42,000 rooms.