Congress Asset Management Co. Purchases 12,438 Shares of Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH)

Congress Asset Management Co. increased its position in Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH - Free Report) by 15.1% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 94,569 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 12,438 shares during the period. Congress Asset Management Co. owned about 0.20% of Choice Hotels International worth $12,557,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Choice Hotels International by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 2,423,373 shares of the company's stock worth $344,070,000 after buying an additional 8,362 shares during the period. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new position in Choice Hotels International in the 4th quarter worth $48,201,000. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. boosted its holdings in Choice Hotels International by 69.8% in 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. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Choice Hotels International by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 279,149 shares of the company's stock worth $39,634,000 after buying an additional 2,725 shares during the period. Finally, Northern Trust Corp boosted its holdings in Choice Hotels International by 10.3% in the 4th 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 period. Institutional investors own 65.57% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts recently weighed in on CHH shares. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Choice Hotels International from a "sell" rating to a "buy" rating and dropped their target price for the stock from $141.00 to $138.00 in a report on Monday, April 14th. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price target on shares of Choice Hotels International from $154.00 to $133.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Robert W. Baird decreased their price target on shares of Choice Hotels International from $150.00 to $145.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, May 19th. Truist Financial decreased their price target on shares of Choice Hotels International from $144.00 to $128.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, May 30th. Finally, Redburn Atlantic upgraded shares of Choice Hotels International from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $132.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 24th. Four equities 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 company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Choice Hotels International currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $132.15.

Insider Activity at Choice Hotels International

In related news, Director Ervin R. Shames sold 2,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $129.56, for a total transaction of $259,120.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 52,212 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,764,586.72. This represents a 3.69% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 23.78% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Choice Hotels International Trading Up 2.2%

Shares of NYSE CHH opened at $128.56 on Friday. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $126.18 and its 200-day moving average price is $137.45. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.64, a P/E/G ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 0.97. Choice Hotels International, Inc. has a 12-month low of $111.62 and a 12-month high of $157.86.

Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The company reported $1.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.38 by ($0.04). The business had revenue of $332.86 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $348.52 million. Choice Hotels International had a net margin of 18.91% and a negative return on equity of 472.31%. The firm's quarterly revenue was up .3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.28 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that Choice Hotels International, Inc. will post 7.07 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Choice Hotels International Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 16th. Investors of record on Tuesday, July 1st will be issued a dividend of $0.2875 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, July 1st. This represents a $1.15 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.89%. Choice Hotels International's payout ratio is 17.56%.

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.

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