Woodline Partners LP Purchases Shares of 13,852 Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR)

Woodline Partners LP purchased a new stake in Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 13,852 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,864,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Hopwood Financial Services Inc. purchased a new position in Marriott International during the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Bernard Wealth Management Corp. bought a new position in shares of Marriott International in the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Bell Investment Advisors Inc lifted its position in shares of Marriott International by 112.2% in the fourth quarter. Bell Investment Advisors Inc now owns 104 shares of the company's stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 55 shares in the last quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC increased its holdings in Marriott International by 494.4% in the 4th quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 107 shares of the company's stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 89 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wingate Wealth Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of Marriott International during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $33,000. 70.70% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity at Marriott International

In related news, EVP Benjamin T. Breland sold 1,000 shares of Marriott International stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $270.21, for a total value of $270,210.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 20,724 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $5,599,832.04. The trade was a 4.60% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 10.68% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Marriott International Trading Down 0.6%

MAR stock traded down $1.57 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $264.53. The company had a trading volume of 1,339,695 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,607,262. The company has a market cap of $72.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.79, a P/E/G ratio of 3.42 and a beta of 1.39. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $241.92 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $266.55. Marriott International, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $204.55 and a fifty-two week high of $307.52.

Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 6th. The company reported $2.32 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.25 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $6.26 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.19 billion. Marriott International had a net margin of 9.46% and a negative return on equity of 116.67%. The firm's revenue was up 4.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.13 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Marriott International, Inc. will post 10.1 earnings per share for the current year.

Marriott International Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, May 23rd will be paid a $0.67 dividend. This is a positive change from Marriott International's previous quarterly dividend of $0.63. This represents a $2.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.01%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 23rd. Marriott International's payout ratio is currently 30.52%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have weighed in on MAR. UBS Group decreased their target price on Marriott International from $302.00 to $299.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, May 21st. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Marriott International from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $226.00 to $303.00 in a research note on Monday, May 12th. Robert W. Baird raised their target price on Marriott International from $250.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 7th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on shares of Marriott International from $250.00 to $265.00 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a report on Wednesday, May 7th. Finally, Mizuho decreased their target price on Marriott International from $293.00 to $285.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, May 7th. Thirteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $276.50.

Marriott International Company Profile

Marriott International, Inc engages in operating, franchising, and licensing hotel, residential, timeshare, and other lodging properties worldwide. It operates its properties under the JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, The Luxury Collection, W Hotels, St. Regis, EDITION, Bvlgari, Marriott Hotels, Sheraton, Westin, Autograph Collection, Renaissance Hotels, Le Méridien, Delta Hotels by Marriott, Tribute Portfolio, Gaylord Hotels, Design Hotels, Marriott Executive Apartments, Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy, Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield by Marriott, Residence Inn by Marriott, SpringHill Suites by Marriott, Four Points by Sheraton, TownePlace Suites by Marriott, Aloft Hotels, AC Hotels by Marriott, Moxy Hotels, Element Hotels, Protea Hotels by Marriott, City Express by Marriott, and St.