Investment Research & Advisory Group Inc. Sells 2,208 Shares of Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH)

Investment Research & Advisory Group Inc. lowered its stake in shares of Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH - Free Report) by 34.4% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 4,214 shares of the company's stock after selling 2,208 shares during the period. Investment Research & Advisory Group Inc.'s holdings in Choice Hotels International were worth $560,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. UMB Bank n.a. grew its holdings in Choice Hotels International by 66.2% during the first quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 256 shares of the company's stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 102 shares during the period. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Choice Hotels International by 30.3% during the 4th quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 370 shares of the company's stock valued at $52,000 after buying an additional 86 shares in the last quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Choice Hotels International by 55.8% during the 4th quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC now owns 430 shares of the company's stock valued at $61,000 after acquiring an additional 154 shares during the period. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ increased its holdings in Choice Hotels International by 836.2% in the 4th quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ now owns 440 shares of the company's stock worth $62,000 after acquiring an additional 393 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd bought a new stake in Choice Hotels International during the 4th quarter worth approximately $62,000. Institutional investors own 65.57% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have weighed in on the company. Wall Street Zen downgraded Choice Hotels International from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, March 15th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of Choice Hotels International from $138.00 to $137.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, March 4th. 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. Morgan Stanley dropped 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. Finally, Barclays reduced their target price on Choice Hotels International from $132.00 to $111.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $132.15.

Choice Hotels International Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:CHH traded down $0.68 during trading on Friday, hitting $122.76. The company had a trading volume of 659,396 shares, compared to its average volume of 394,465. The stock has a market cap of $5.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.08 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $126.47 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $136.00. Choice Hotels International, Inc. has a one year low of $116.13 and a one year high of $157.86.

Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The company reported $1.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.38 by ($0.04). Choice Hotels International had a negative return on equity of 377.51% and a net margin of 19.75%. The company had revenue of $332.86 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $348.52 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.28 earnings per share. The firm's quarterly revenue was up .3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Choice Hotels International, Inc. will post 7.07 earnings per share for the current year.

Choice Hotels International Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 16th. Investors of record on Tuesday, July 1st will be given a $0.2875 dividend. This represents a $1.15 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.94%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, July 1st. Choice Hotels International's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 17.56%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Ervin R. Shames sold 2,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $129.56, for a total transaction of $259,120.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 52,212 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,764,586.72. This represents a 3.69% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 23.78% of the stock is owned by insiders.

About Choice Hotels International

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.