Analysts Set Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH) Price Target at $132.15

Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH - Get Free Report) has received a consensus rating of "Reduce" from the thirteen brokerages that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Four analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, six have issued a hold recommendation and three have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $132.15.

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Susquehanna set a $140.00 target price on shares of Choice Hotels International and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, May 16th. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on shares of Choice Hotels International from $124.00 to $115.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on shares of Choice Hotels International from $138.00 to $137.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, March 4th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Choice Hotels International from a "sell" rating to a "buy" rating and reduced their target price for the company from $141.00 to $138.00 in a research note on Monday, April 14th. Finally, Barclays reduced their target price on shares of Choice Hotels International from $132.00 to $111.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 22nd.

Insider Transactions at Choice Hotels International

In other news, Director Ervin R. Shames sold 2,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $129.56, for a total transaction of $259,120.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 52,212 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,764,586.72. This trade represents a 3.69% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 23.78% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Choice Hotels International

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. UMB Bank n.a. increased its holdings in shares of Choice Hotels International by 66.2% during the first quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 256 shares of the company's stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 102 shares in the last quarter. HM Payson & Co. bought a new stake in shares of Choice Hotels International during the first quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Signaturefd LLC grew its stake in shares of Choice Hotels International by 64.7% during the first quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 275 shares of the company's stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 108 shares during the last quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Choice Hotels International by 30.3% during the fourth quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 370 shares of the company's stock valued at $52,000 after purchasing an additional 86 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Tortoise Investment Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Choice Hotels International by 55.8% during the fourth quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC now owns 430 shares of the company's stock valued at $61,000 after purchasing an additional 154 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 65.57% of the company's stock.

Choice Hotels International Stock Down 0.8%

CHH stock traded down $1.03 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $126.60. 421,220 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 391,793. Choice Hotels International has a 52 week low of $111.62 and a 52 week high of $157.86. The business has a 50-day moving average of $126.40 and a two-hundred day moving average of $137.77. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.87 billion, a PE ratio of 20.32, a P/E/G ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 0.97.

Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The company reported $1.34 earnings per share 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 company had revenue of $332.86 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $348.52 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.28 EPS. The firm's quarterly revenue was up .3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Choice Hotels International will post 7.07 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Choice Hotels International Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed 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 0.91%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, July 1st. Choice Hotels International's payout ratio is 17.56%.

Choice Hotels International Company Profile

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.