Freedom Broker Initiates Coverage on Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR)

Key Points

• Freedom Broker initiated coverage of Marriott International with a “buy” rating and a $408 price target, implying approximately 9.75% upside from the previous close.
• Analyst sentiment is broadly positive but mixed, with Marriott holding a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating and an average price target of $381.22 from MarketBeat-tracked analysts.
• Marriott’s shares traded at $371.76, while the company recently exceeded quarterly EPS expectations, reporting $3.19 versus the $3.08 consensus estimate; institutional investors own 70.70% of the stock.

Research analysts at Freedom Broker assumed coverage on shares of Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR - Get Free Report) in a research report issued on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. The firm set a "buy" rating and a $408.00 price target on the stock. Freedom Broker's target price points to a potential upside of 9.75% from the company's previous close.

MAR has been the topic of several other reports. Barclays cut their target price on shares of Marriott International from $379.00 to $348.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, August 4th. UBS Group decreased their price target on shares of Marriott International from $412.00 to $395.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, August 20th. Robert W. Baird reduced their price objective on shares of Marriott International from $394.00 to $393.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, August 4th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price objective on Marriott International from $379.00 to $372.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, August 4th. Finally, Erste Group Bank assumed coverage on shares of Marriott International in a research report on Thursday, August 27th. They set a "buy" rating on the stock. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $381.22.

Marriott International Stock Performance

MAR traded up $0.26 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $371.76. The company's stock had a trading volume of 695,070 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,550,287. The company's 50-day moving average is $350.20 and its 200-day moving average is $361.39. Marriott International has a 52 week low of $256.76 and a 52 week high of $410.98. The firm has a market cap of $96.94 billion, a PE ratio of 38.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 1.17.

Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, August 3rd. The company reported $3.19 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.08 by $0.11. The business had revenue of $2.01 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $7.19 billion. Marriott International had a net margin of 9.62% and a negative return on equity of 75.81%. The business's revenue was up 4.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.65 EPS. Marriott International has set its FY 2026 guidance at 11.640-11.810 EPS and its Q3 2026 guidance at 2.740-2.820 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Marriott International will post 11.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider David Marriott sold 3,500 shares of Marriott International stock in a transaction on Friday, September 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $352.09, for a total transaction of $1,232,315.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 282,383 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $99,424,230.47. This trade represents a 1.22% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider Deborah Harrison sold 3,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $352.09, for a total value of $1,232,315.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 282,383 shares in the company, valued at approximately $99,424,230.47. The trade was a 1.22% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Company insiders own 11.43% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Marriott International

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. MinichMacGregor Wealth Management LLC grew its position in Marriott International by 4.3% during the 3rd quarter. MinichMacGregor Wealth Management LLC now owns 20,749 shares of the company's stock worth $7,380,000 after acquiring an additional 859 shares during the last quarter. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. bought a new stake in shares of Marriott International during the 3rd quarter valued at about $1,249,000. Focus Financial Network Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Marriott International by 5.3% in the 3rd quarter. Focus Financial Network Inc. now owns 868 shares of the company's stock valued at $309,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares during the period. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Marriott International by 15.6% during the 3rd quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 2,776 shares of the company's stock valued at $987,000 after buying an additional 375 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Krilogy Financial LLC increased its stake in shares of Marriott International by 37.9% in the 3rd quarter. Krilogy Financial LLC now owns 793 shares of the company's stock worth $293,000 after acquiring an additional 218 shares in the last quarter. 70.70% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Marriott International

Marriott International, Inc NASDAQ: MAR is a global hospitality company that operates, franchises, licenses and manages hotels, resorts, residences and other lodging properties. Its portfolio serves business and leisure travelers across a range of price points, from luxury and premium accommodations to select-service and extended-stay properties.

The company's brands include The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, JW Marriott, W Hotels, The Luxury Collection, EDITION, Marriott Hotels, Sheraton, Westin, Renaissance, Courtyard, Residence Inn, Fairfield by Marriott, SpringHill Suites, AC Hotels, Aloft, Moxy and Element.

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