Boston Trust Walden Corp Cuts Stock Position in Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH)

Boston Trust Walden Corp trimmed its position in Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH - Free Report) by 0.5% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 945,128 shares of the company's stock after selling 4,458 shares during the period. Choice Hotels International comprises 0.9% of Boston Trust Walden Corp's investment portfolio, making the stock its 19th biggest position. Boston Trust Walden Corp owned approximately 2.02% of Choice Hotels International worth $125,494,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA grew its holdings in shares of Choice Hotels International by 2.1% in the fourth quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA now owns 3,562 shares of the company's stock valued at $506,000 after acquiring an additional 74 shares in the last quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC lifted its holdings in Choice Hotels International by 0.6% during the fourth quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 12,944 shares of the company's stock worth $1,838,000 after acquiring an additional 76 shares during the period. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC lifted its holdings in Choice Hotels International by 30.3% during the fourth quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 370 shares of the company's stock worth $52,000 after acquiring an additional 86 shares during the period. Captrust Financial Advisors lifted its holdings in Choice Hotels International by 4.5% during the fourth quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 2,069 shares of the company's stock worth $294,000 after acquiring an additional 90 shares during the period. Finally, Occudo Quantitative Strategies LP raised its stake in shares of Choice Hotels International by 3.2% during the 4th quarter. Occudo Quantitative Strategies LP now owns 3,062 shares of the company's stock worth $435,000 after purchasing an additional 95 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 65.57% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Ervin R. Shames sold 2,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $129.56, for a total transaction of $259,120.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 52,212 shares in the company, valued at $6,764,586.72. The trade was a 3.69% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 23.78% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Choice Hotels International Trading Down 0.5%

Shares of NYSE CHH traded down $0.68 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $122.76. The company had a trading volume of 659,396 shares, compared to its average volume of 392,422. The company has a market capitalization of $5.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.74, a P/E/G ratio of 2.07 and a beta of 0.97. Choice Hotels International, Inc. has a 1 year low of $116.13 and a 1 year high of $157.86. The stock's 50-day moving average price is $126.43 and its 200-day moving average price is $135.71.

Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly 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). The company had revenue of $332.86 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $348.52 million. Choice Hotels International had a net margin of 19.75% and a negative return on equity of 377.51%. Choice Hotels International's revenue for the quarter was up .3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.28 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Choice Hotels International, Inc. will post 7.07 earnings per share 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 given a $0.2875 dividend. This represents a $1.15 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.94%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, July 1st. Choice Hotels International's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 17.56%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms recently issued reports on CHH. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on shares of Choice Hotels International from $124.00 to $115.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Choice Hotels International from a "sell" rating to a "buy" rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $141.00 to $138.00 in a research note on Monday, April 14th. Barclays dropped their price objective on Choice Hotels International from $132.00 to $111.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, April 22nd. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their target price on 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. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut Choice Hotels International from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, March 15th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Choice Hotels International has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $132.15.

Choice Hotels International 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.