Marriott International, Inc. $MAR Position Trimmed by Focus Partners Wealth

Key Points

• Focus Partners Wealth has reduced its position in Marriott International by 14%, holding 76,466 shares valued at $18.2 million after the sell-off.
• Marriott reported quarterly earnings of $2.65 per share, meeting analysts' expectations, with a revenue increase of 4.7% year-over-year.
• The company announced a share repurchase program allowing buybacks of up to 25 million shares, indicating management's belief that the stock is undervalued.

Focus Partners Wealth lessened its holdings in Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR - Free Report) by 14.0% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 76,466 shares of the company's stock after selling 12,398 shares during the quarter. Focus Partners Wealth's holdings in Marriott International were worth $18,215,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Marriott International by 0.9% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 20,236,478 shares of the company's stock valued at $4,820,329,000 after acquiring an additional 184,387 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its holdings in shares of Marriott International by 16.4% during the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 5,427,410 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,292,809,000 after acquiring an additional 766,309 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Marriott International by 18.9% during the first quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 4,123,836 shares of the company's stock valued at $982,298,000 after acquiring an additional 654,766 shares during the period. Alliancebernstein L.P. boosted its holdings in shares of Marriott International by 194.7% during the first quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 1,709,665 shares of the company's stock valued at $407,242,000 after acquiring an additional 1,129,555 shares during the period. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Marriott International by 2.5% in the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,514,831 shares of the company's stock worth $360,833,000 after purchasing an additional 37,212 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.70% of the company's stock.

Marriott International Price Performance

NASDAQ MAR traded up $2.75 on Tuesday, hitting $267.89. 1,266,377 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,647,594. The company's 50 day moving average price is $268.71 and its 200-day moving average price is $257.39. The firm has a market capitalization of $72.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.63 and a beta of 1.38. Marriott International, Inc. has a twelve month low of $205.40 and a twelve month high of $307.52.

Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 5th. The company reported $2.65 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $2.65. The firm had revenue of $6.74 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.66 billion. Marriott International had a negative return on equity of 93.44% and a net margin of 9.60%.The business's revenue for the quarter was up 4.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.50 EPS. Marriott International has set its FY 2025 guidance at 9.850-10.080 EPS. Q3 2025 guidance at 2.310-2.390 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that Marriott International, Inc. will post 10.1 EPS for the current year.

Marriott International declared that its board has authorized a stock buyback plan on Thursday, August 7th that allows the company to buyback 25,000,000 outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the company to reacquire shares of its stock through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are generally an indication that the company's board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Marriott International Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 21st will be issued a dividend of $0.67 per share. This represents a $2.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.0%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 21st. Marriott International's payout ratio is presently 30.21%.

Insider Transactions at Marriott International

In other Marriott International news, insider Rajeev Menon sold 2,500 shares of Marriott International stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $268.28, for a total transaction of $670,700.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 5,706 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,530,805.68. The trade was a 30.47% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 10.68% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

MAR has been the subject of several research analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. initiated coverage on shares of Marriott International in a report on Monday, June 23rd. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $284.00 price objective for the company. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price objective on shares of Marriott International from $285.00 to $280.00 and set a "market perform" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, August 6th. Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on shares of Marriott International from $285.00 to $287.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 20th. Truist Financial upped their price objective on shares of Marriott International from $273.00 to $278.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, September 3rd. Finally, UBS Group reduced their price objective on shares of Marriott International from $302.00 to $299.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, May 21st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating and twelve have assigned a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Marriott International presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $281.26.

About Marriott International

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.