Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR) Stock Rating Upgraded by Wall Street Zen

Key Points

• Wall Street Zen upgraded Marriott from “hold” to “buy.” Analysts’ overall consensus is “Moderate Buy,” with an average price target of $399.04.
• Marriott reported quarterly earnings of $3.02 per share, beating the $2.84 consensus estimate; revenue of $7 billion rose 8% year over year.
• The stock opened at $423.16, near its 52-week high of $433.30, while company insiders sold 92,953 shares worth about $38.6 million over the past 90 days.

Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR - Get Free Report) was upgraded by investment analysts at Wall Street Zen from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Saturday, Wall Street Zen reports.

Several other equities research analysts also recently issued reports on MAR. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of Marriott International in a research note on Wednesday, November 4th. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Marriott International from $363.00 to $409.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 3rd. Deutsche Bank dropped their target price on Marriott International from $379.00 to $372.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, August 4th. Truist Financial increased their price target on Marriott International from $356.00 to $360.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, September 10th. Finally, TD Cowen upgraded Marriott International to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 8th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $399.04.

Marriott International Stock Down 0.4%

Marriott International stock opened at $423.16 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $374.81 and a 200-day moving average of $360.79. Marriott International has a 52-week low of $280.99 and a 52-week high of $433.30. The firm has a market capitalization of $108.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 42.23, a PEG ratio of 3.04 and a beta of 1.15.

Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, November 2nd. The company reported $3.02 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.84 by $0.18. Marriott International had a net margin of 9.68% and a negative return on equity of 69.94%. The business had revenue of $7 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.93 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.47 EPS. The business's quarterly revenue was up 8.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that Marriott International will post 12.10 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Marriott International

In other Marriott International news, EVP Rena Reiss sold 4,969 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $423.32, for a total transaction of $2,103,477.08. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 38,953 shares in the company, valued at $16,489,583.96. The trade was a 11.31% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, insider Deborah Harrison sold 11,985 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $421.35, for a total transaction of $5,049,879.75. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 163,225 shares in the company, valued at $68,774,853.75. This trade represents a 6.84% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 92,953 shares of company stock worth $38,628,659. 11.43% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Marriott International

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Evelyn Partners Investment Management Services Ltd acquired a new position in Marriott International in the first quarter valued at approximately $25,000. IMG Wealth Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Marriott International by 100.0% during the first quarter. IMG Wealth Management Inc. now owns 82 shares of the company's stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 41 shares during the last quarter. Wilkerson Advisory Group LLC raised its position in shares of Marriott International by 127.0% during the 1st quarter. Wilkerson Advisory Group LLC now owns 84 shares of the company's stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 47 shares during the period. Scarborough Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Marriott International during the 1st quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, Meeder Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Marriott International by 57.6% in the 1st quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. now owns 104 shares of the company's stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.70% of the company's stock.

Key Marriott International News

These are some of the MAR news items that stood out recently:

• Positive Sentiment: Marriott agreed to add a 350-room Courtyard hotel in Bengaluru, expanding its footprint in a major South Asian market. The project is a longer-term growth opportunity rather than an immediate earnings driver. Article: Marriott signs agreement for South Asia’s largest Courtyard Hotel in Bengaluru
• Positive Sentiment: Marriott’s latest reported quarter beat analyst expectations: adjusted earnings were $3.02 per share versus $2.84 expected, and revenue grew 8% year over year. This provides a supportive backdrop, though the results were reported earlier this month. Article: Marriott International CAO sells shares
• Neutral Sentiment: Marriott Bonvoy is offering 25% off stays through May 2027. The extended sale could encourage bookings, but discounting may also weigh on room rates and revenue per available room. Article: Marriott Bonvoy Cyber Week sale

Marriott International Company Profile

Marriott International is a global lodging company that manages, franchises, and licenses hotels, resorts, and other accommodations. Its portfolio spans luxury, premium, select-service, and extended-stay brands, including The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, W Hotels, Marriott, Sheraton, Courtyard, Residence Inn, and Moxy. The company traces its origins to a root beer stand opened by J. Willard and Alice Marriott in Washington, D.C., in 1927. It entered the lodging business in the 1950s and is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland.

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