Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH) Upgraded by The Goldman Sachs Group to Buy Rating

The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH - Free Report) from a sell rating to a buy rating in a report released on Monday morning, Marketbeat.com reports. The firm currently has $138.00 price target on the stock, down from their prior price target of $141.00.

Several other research analysts have also recently weighed in on CHH. Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on Choice Hotels International from $145.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 25th. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price objective on shares of Choice Hotels International from $154.00 to $133.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Bank of America boosted their price target on Choice Hotels International from $160.00 to $165.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, January 27th. StockNews.com downgraded Choice Hotels International from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, March 15th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of Choice Hotels International from $138.00 to $137.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, March 4th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $139.15.

Choice Hotels International Stock Up 0.4 %

NYSE:CHH traded up $0.44 on Monday, reaching $123.96. The stock had a trading volume of 211,252 shares, compared to its average volume of 406,170. The company has a market capitalization of $5.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 1.08. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $135.15 and a 200-day moving average price of $140.28. Choice Hotels International has a 1-year low of $109.22 and a 1-year high of $157.86.

Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 20th. The company reported $1.55 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.45 by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $389.77 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $374.24 million. Choice Hotels International had a net margin of 18.91% and a negative return on equity of 472.31%. Sell-side analysts predict that Choice Hotels International will post 7.07 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Choice Hotels International Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 16th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 1st were given a dividend of $0.2875 per share. This represents a $1.15 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.93%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, April 1st. Choice Hotels International's dividend payout ratio is presently 18.46%.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Dominic Dragisich sold 3,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 25th. The shares were 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 approximately $10,219,797.90. This trade represents a 4.83 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Scott E. Oaksmith sold 1,780 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.40, for a total transaction of $257,032.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 32,014 shares in the company, valued at $4,622,821.60. The trade was a 5.27 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 24.02% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in CHH. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA increased its stake in Choice Hotels International by 2.1% in the 4th quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA now owns 3,562 shares of the company's stock worth $506,000 after acquiring an additional 74 shares during the last quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC increased its position in shares of Choice Hotels International by 0.6% in the fourth quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 12,944 shares of the company's stock worth $1,838,000 after purchasing an additional 76 shares during the last quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC raised 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 purchasing an additional 86 shares in the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors lifted its position in Choice Hotels International by 4.5% during the fourth quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 2,069 shares of the company's stock valued at $294,000 after purchasing an additional 90 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Occudo Quantitative Strategies LP grew its stake in Choice Hotels International by 3.2% in the 4th quarter. Occudo Quantitative Strategies LP now owns 3,062 shares of the company's stock worth $435,000 after buying an additional 95 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 65.57% of the company's stock.

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.