Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT) Shares Sold by Bank of Nova Scotia

Key Points

• Bank of Nova Scotia decreased its holdings in Hilton Worldwide by 49.9%, now owning 45,874 shares worth approximately $10.43 million.
• Hilton Worldwide reported $2.20 EPS for the quarter, exceeding analysts' expectations of $2.04, and the company's revenue rose 6.3% year-over-year.
• A quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share has been declared, representing a yield of 0.2% and a payout ratio of 9.22%.

Bank of Nova Scotia decreased its holdings in Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT - Free Report) by 49.9% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 45,874 shares of the company's stock after selling 45,655 shares during the quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia's holdings in Hilton Worldwide were worth $10,439,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of HLT. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its holdings in Hilton Worldwide by 2.9% in the 4th quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 480,755 shares of the company's stock worth $118,823,000 after purchasing an additional 13,661 shares during the period. Wedbush Securities Inc. acquired a new position in Hilton Worldwide in the 4th quarter worth about $204,000. Russell Investments Group Ltd. increased its stake in Hilton Worldwide by 11.0% during the 4th quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 223,989 shares of the company's stock worth $55,395,000 after buying an additional 22,156 shares in the last quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC increased its stake in Hilton Worldwide by 2.8% during the 4th quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 2,650 shares of the company's stock worth $655,000 after buying an additional 72 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Unigestion Holding SA purchased a new stake in Hilton Worldwide during the 4th quarter worth approximately $470,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.90% of the company's stock.

Hilton Worldwide Stock Performance

Shares of HLT stock opened at $262.35 on Tuesday. The stock's 50-day moving average is $261.71 and its two-hundred day moving average is $247.89. The firm has a market cap of $61.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.30, a PEG ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 1.26. Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. has a 1 year low of $196.04 and a 1 year high of $279.46.

Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 23rd. The company reported $2.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.04 by $0.16. Hilton Worldwide had a negative return on equity of 46.13% and a net margin of 13.84%. The firm had revenue of $3.14 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.09 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.91 earnings per share. The business's revenue was up 6.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts predict that Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. will post 7.89 EPS for the current year.

Hilton Worldwide Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be given a dividend of $0.15 per share. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.2%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. Hilton Worldwide's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 9.22%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have commented on HLT shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. started coverage on Hilton Worldwide in a research note on Monday, June 23rd. They set an "overweight" rating and a $282.00 price objective for the company. Macquarie boosted their price objective on Hilton Worldwide from $240.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 23rd. Barclays cut their price objective on Hilton Worldwide from $296.00 to $291.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 24th. Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on Hilton Worldwide from $276.00 to $278.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 24th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Hilton Worldwide from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $228.00 to $296.00 in a research note on Monday, May 12th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $259.19.

About Hilton Worldwide

Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc, a hospitality company, engages in managing, franchising, owning, and leasing hotels and resorts. It operates through two segments, Management and Franchise, and Ownership. The company engages in the hotel management and licensing of its brands. It operates luxury hotels under the Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, LXR Hotels & Resorts, and Conrad Hotels & Resorts brand; lifestyle hotels under the Canopy by Hilton, Curio Collection by Hilton, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, Tempo by Hilton, and Motto by Hilton brand; full service hotels under the Signia by Hilton, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, and DoubleTree by Hilton brand; service hotels under the Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton by Hilton, and Tru by Hilton brand; all-suite hotels under the Embassy Suites by Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton, and Home2 Suites by Hilton brand; and economy hotel under the Spark by Hilton brand, as well as Hilton Grand Vacations.

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