Squarepoint Ops LLC Cuts Holdings in Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ:HST)

Squarepoint Ops LLC reduced its holdings in shares of Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ:HST - Free Report) by 43.8% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 510,535 shares of the company's stock after selling 397,926 shares during the period. Squarepoint Ops LLC owned about 0.07% of Host Hotels & Resorts worth $8,945,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in HST. National Pension Service bought a new stake in shares of Host Hotels & Resorts in the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp increased its stake in Host Hotels & Resorts by 202.6% in the 4th quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 1,625 shares of the company's stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 1,088 shares during the period. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB increased its stake in Host Hotels & Resorts by 94.9% in the 4th quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 2,035 shares of the company's stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 991 shares during the period. Kestra Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in Host Hotels & Resorts in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $40,000. Finally, IFP Advisors Inc boosted its stake in shares of Host Hotels & Resorts by 716.4% during the fourth quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 2,841 shares of the company's stock valued at $50,000 after purchasing an additional 2,493 shares during the period. 98.52% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Host Hotels & Resorts Stock Down 0.3%

NASDAQ:HST traded down $0.05 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $15.42. 8,631,611 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 8,211,348. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $14.33 and a 200 day moving average price of $16.17. Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. has a one year low of $12.22 and a one year high of $19.37. The company has a market cap of $10.70 billion, a PE ratio of 15.58 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 1.91 and a quick ratio of 2.90.

Host Hotels & Resorts (NASDAQ:HST - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 30th. The company reported $0.64 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.56 by $0.08. The company had revenue of $1.59 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.55 billion. Host Hotels & Resorts had a return on equity of 10.37% and a net margin of 12.26%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 8.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.60 EPS. Equities analysts predict that Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. will post 1.88 EPS for the current year.

Host Hotels & Resorts Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 31st were given a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.19%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 31st. Host Hotels & Resorts's dividend payout ratio is presently 83.33%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms recently issued reports on HST. Jefferies Financial Group cut Host Hotels & Resorts from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and cut their target price for the stock from $20.00 to $14.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Compass Point cut Host Hotels & Resorts from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and reduced their target price for the company from $20.00 to $18.00 in a research note on Monday, March 10th. UBS Group decreased their target price on Host Hotels & Resorts from $19.00 to $18.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 28th. Raymond James dropped their price target on Host Hotels & Resorts from $23.00 to $20.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, February 18th. Finally, Citigroup reduced their price objective on shares of Host Hotels & Resorts from $21.00 to $19.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, March 17th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $18.90.

About Host Hotels & Resorts

Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc is a real estate investment trust, which engages in the management of luxury and upper-upscale hotels. It operates through the following geographical segments: United States, Brazil, and Canada. The company was founded in 1927 and is headquartered in Bethesda, MD.