Hudson Bay Capital Management LP Makes New $5.50 Million Investment in Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH)

Hudson Bay Capital Management LP acquired a new position in shares of Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm acquired 38,732 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $5,499,000. Hudson Bay Capital Management LP owned 0.08% of Choice Hotels International as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC increased its holdings in Choice Hotels International by 30.3% during the 4th quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 370 shares of the company's stock worth $52,000 after purchasing an additional 86 shares during the period. Tortoise Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in Choice Hotels International by 55.8% in the fourth quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC now owns 430 shares of the company's stock worth $61,000 after purchasing an additional 154 shares in the last quarter. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Choice Hotels International during the fourth quarter valued at about $62,000. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ boosted its holdings in shares of Choice Hotels International by 836.2% in the 4th quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ now owns 440 shares of the company's stock valued at $62,000 after buying an additional 393 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Millstone Evans Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Choice Hotels International during the 4th quarter worth approximately $65,000. 65.57% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CFO Scott E. Oaksmith sold 1,780 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated 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 transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 32,014 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,622,821.60. This represents a 5.27% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Dominic Dragisich sold 3,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $148.30, for a total value of $519,050.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 68,913 shares of the company's stock, valued at $10,219,797.90. The trade was a 4.83% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 24.02% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Choice Hotels International Stock Up 1.7%

Shares of CHH stock traded up $2.12 on Friday, hitting $130.40. The company had a trading volume of 459,778 shares, compared to its average volume of 395,484. The firm has a market cap of $6.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $127.11 and a 200-day moving average price of $139.12. Choice Hotels International, Inc. has a twelve month low of $109.22 and a twelve month high of $157.86.

Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 8th. The company reported $1.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.38 by ($0.04). The company had revenue of $332.86 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $348.52 million. Choice Hotels International had a net margin of 18.91% and a negative return on equity of 472.31%. The business's quarterly revenue was up .3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.28 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Choice Hotels International, Inc. will post 7.07 EPS for the current year.

Choice Hotels International Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 16th. Investors of record on Tuesday, July 1st will be issued a $0.2875 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, July 1st. This represents a $1.15 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.88%. Choice Hotels International's payout ratio is 17.56%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have weighed in on CHH. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Choice Hotels International from a "sell" rating to a "buy" rating and lowered their target price for the company from $141.00 to $138.00 in a research note on Monday, April 14th. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on Choice Hotels International from $145.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 25th. StockNews.com downgraded Choice Hotels International from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, March 15th. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their target price on Choice Hotels International from $154.00 to $133.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Finally, Redburn Atlantic upgraded Choice Hotels International from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $132.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 24th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $135.69.

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.