Royal Bank of Canada Sells 15,607 Shares of Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH)

Royal Bank of Canada decreased its holdings in Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH - Free Report) by 9.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 150,624 shares of the company's stock after selling 15,607 shares during the quarter. Royal Bank of Canada owned 0.32% of Choice Hotels International worth $21,385,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Choice Hotels International by 30.3% in the fourth quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 370 shares of the company's stock worth $52,000 after purchasing an additional 86 shares during the last quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in Choice Hotels International by 55.8% during the fourth quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC now owns 430 shares of the company's stock worth $61,000 after buying an additional 154 shares in the last quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ raised its position 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 valued at $62,000 after buying an additional 393 shares during the last quarter. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd bought a new position in Choice Hotels International during the 4th quarter valued at $62,000. Finally, Millstone Evans Group LLC bought a new position in Choice Hotels International during the 4th quarter valued at $65,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 65.57% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have recently commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lowered 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 report on Tuesday, March 4th. Robert W. Baird reduced their price objective on shares of Choice Hotels International from $150.00 to $145.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, May 19th. Truist Financial lifted their target price on shares of Choice Hotels International from $136.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, March 21st. Barclays cut their target price on Choice Hotels International from $132.00 to $111.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, April 22nd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reduced their target price on Choice Hotels International from $154.00 to $133.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $133.38.

Choice Hotels International Price Performance

Shares of CHH traded down $0.58 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $126.34. The company's stock had a trading volume of 54,776 shares, compared to its average volume of 391,420. Choice Hotels International, Inc. has a 52-week low of $109.46 and a 52-week high of $157.86. The company has a market cap of $5.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.30, a PEG ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 1.00. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $126.89 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $138.28.

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 company had revenue of $332.86 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $348.52 million. Choice Hotels International had a negative return on equity of 472.31% and a net margin of 18.91%. The firm's revenue was up .3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.28 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that Choice Hotels International, Inc. will post 7.07 earnings per share for the current year.

Choice Hotels International Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 16th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, July 1st will be paid a dividend of $0.2875 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, July 1st. This represents a $1.15 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.91%. Choice Hotels International's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 17.56%.

Insider Transactions at Choice Hotels International

In other news, CFO Scott E. Oaksmith sold 1,780 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.40, for a total value of $257,032.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 32,014 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,622,821.60. This trade represents a 5.27% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Ervin R. Shames sold 2,000 shares of Choice Hotels International stock in a transaction 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 completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 52,212 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,764,586.72. The trade was a 3.69% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 23.78% of the company's stock.

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.