BNP Paribas Financial Markets Buys 25,315 Shares of Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH)

BNP Paribas Financial Markets raised its stake in Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH - Free Report) by 91.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 53,034 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 25,315 shares during the period. BNP Paribas Financial Markets owned 0.11% of Choice Hotels International worth $7,530,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

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

Choice Hotels International Trading Up 1.7%

NYSE:CHH traded up $2.12 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $130.40. 459,778 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 395,289. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $127.06 and a 200 day moving average price of $139.03. Choice Hotels International, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $109.22 and a fifty-two week high of $157.86. The firm has a market cap of $6.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.93, a PEG ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 1.00.

Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results 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). Choice Hotels International had a net margin of 18.91% and a negative return on equity of 472.31%. The firm had revenue of $332.86 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $348.52 million. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.28 earnings per share. Choice Hotels International's revenue for the quarter was up .3% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts predict that Choice Hotels International, Inc. will post 7.07 EPS for the current year.

Choice Hotels International Announces Dividend

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

Insider Activity

In related news, CFO Scott E. Oaksmith sold 1,780 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.40, for a total value of $257,032.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 32,014 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,622,821.60. This represents a 5.27% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Dominic Dragisich sold 3,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $148.30, for a total transaction of $519,050.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 68,913 shares of the company's stock, valued at $10,219,797.90. This represents a 4.83% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 24.02% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price target on Choice Hotels International from $154.00 to $133.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. StockNews.com cut Choice Hotels International from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, March 15th. Redburn Atlantic raised Choice Hotels International from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $132.00 price target on the stock in a report on Monday, March 24th. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on Choice Hotels International from $124.00 to $115.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Finally, Truist Financial lifted their price target on Choice Hotels International from $136.00 to $144.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, March 21st. Four analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Choice Hotels International has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target 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.