Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH) Lifted to “Hold” at StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report sent to investors on Thursday.

Several other equities analysts also recently commented on the company. Robert W. Baird dropped their price objective on Choice Hotels International from $137.00 to $134.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, August 12th. Susquehanna initiated coverage on Choice Hotels International in a report on Friday, June 21st. They issued a neutral rating and a $125.00 price objective for the company. UBS Group dropped their price objective on shares of Choice Hotels International from $126.00 to $125.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 9th. Barclays reduced their target price on shares of Choice Hotels International from $114.00 to $112.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, August 9th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut shares of Choice Hotels International from a neutral rating to an underweight rating and set a $120.00 price target on the stock. in a research note on Friday, July 19th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $129.27.

Choice Hotels International Stock Down 1.1 %

CHH stock opened at $122.91 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $5.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.38, a P/E/G ratio of 2.12 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a current ratio of 0.99, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 177.75. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $124.47 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $120.86. Choice Hotels International has a 1-year low of $108.91 and a 1-year high of $134.44.

Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 8th. The company reported $1.84 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.86 by ($0.02). Choice Hotels International had a negative return on equity of 3,953.67% and a net margin of 15.42%. The company had revenue of $435.20 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $438.29 million. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.75 earnings per share. Choice Hotels International’s quarterly revenue was up 1.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts expect that Choice Hotels International will post 6.38 EPS for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Choice Hotels International

In related news, insider Patrick Cimerola sold 13,259 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $125.08, for a total transaction of $1,658,435.72. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 23,461 shares in the company, valued at $2,934,501.88. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other news, EVP Dominic Dragisich sold 13,117 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, July 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.45, for a total value of $1,632,410.65. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 69,171 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $8,608,330.95. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, insider Patrick Cimerola sold 13,259 shares of Choice Hotels International stock in a transaction on Friday, July 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $125.08, for a total transaction of $1,658,435.72. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 23,461 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,934,501.88. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 24.02% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in CHH. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Choice Hotels International by 144.4% in the 1st quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 198 shares of the company’s stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 117 shares in the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its stake in Choice Hotels International by 307.4% in the second 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 grew its position in Choice Hotels International by 163.2% during the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 229 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 142 shares during the last quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Choice Hotels International by 129.4% during the second quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC now owns 250 shares of the company’s stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 141 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vima LLC bought a new stake in shares of Choice Hotels International in the 4th quarter worth approximately $36,000. Institutional investors own 65.57% of the company’s stock.

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.