AlphaQuest LLC Acquires 10,122 Shares of Choice Hotels International, Inc. $CHH

Key Points

• AlphaQuest LLC significantly increased its holdings in Choice Hotels International by 268.8% during the first quarter, now owning shares worth approximately $1.84 million.
• Insider sales included a transaction by EVP Dominic Dragisich, who sold 5,000 shares valued at $642,700, reducing his ownership by 6.59%.
• Choice Hotels International's stock is currently trading at $121.70, having experienced a 1.5% increase, and recently reported earnings of $1.92 per share, beating estimates.

AlphaQuest LLC increased its stake in Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH - Free Report) by 268.8% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 13,888 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 10,122 shares during the period. AlphaQuest LLC's holdings in Choice Hotels International were worth $1,844,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Choice Hotels International by 5.5% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 2,556,589 shares of the company's stock worth $339,464,000 after acquiring an additional 133,216 shares during the last quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. grew its position in shares of Choice Hotels International by 69.8% during the 4th quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. now owns 292,836 shares of the company's stock worth $41,577,000 after buying an additional 120,376 shares during the period. Northern Trust Corp raised its stake in shares of Choice Hotels International by 10.3% during the fourth quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 267,256 shares of the company's stock worth $37,945,000 after buying an additional 24,957 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its stake in shares of Choice Hotels International by 3.2% during the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 234,047 shares of the company's stock worth $31,077,000 after buying an additional 7,159 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. lifted its holdings in Choice Hotels International by 45.9% in the first quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 195,750 shares of the company's stock valued at $25,992,000 after buying an additional 61,562 shares during the period. 65.57% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Choice Hotels International Price Performance

NYSE CHH traded up $1.36 on Wednesday, reaching $120.71. The stock had a trading volume of 224,706 shares, compared to its average volume of 426,042. The company has a market cap of $5.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.25 and a beta of 0.96. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $127.25 and a two-hundred day moving average of $130.21. Choice Hotels International, Inc. has a 1-year low of $116.20 and a 1-year high of $157.86.

Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, August 6th. The company reported $1.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.90 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $426.44 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $430.13 million. Choice Hotels International had a net margin of 19.52% and a negative return on equity of 575.73%. Choice Hotels International's quarterly revenue was down 2.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.84 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that Choice Hotels International, Inc. will post 7.07 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Dominic Dragisich sold 5,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $128.54, for a total transaction of $642,700.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 70,881 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,111,043.74. This represents a 6.59% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 12,500 shares of company stock valued at $1,647,400. 24.02% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

CHH has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. started coverage on shares of Choice Hotels International in a report on Monday, June 23rd. They set an "underweight" rating and a $124.00 price objective for the company. UBS Group lowered their price target on Choice Hotels International from $160.00 to $149.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 10th. Truist Financial cut their target price on shares of Choice Hotels International from $144.00 to $128.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, May 30th. Barclays reduced their target price on Choice Hotels International from $121.00 to $117.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, August 7th. Finally, Morgan Stanley restated an "underweight" rating and issued a $121.00 price target on shares of Choice Hotels International in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and four have assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Reduce" and a consensus price target of $133.38.

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.