Versant Capital Management Inc Has $294,000 Stake in Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH)

Versant Capital Management Inc increased its stake in shares of Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH - Free Report) by 4,715.2% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 2,215 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 2,169 shares during the quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc's holdings in Choice Hotels International were worth $294,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Choice Hotels International during the fourth quarter worth $48,201,000. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. grew its stake in shares of Choice Hotels International by 69.8% during the fourth quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. now owns 292,836 shares of the company's stock worth $41,577,000 after purchasing an additional 120,376 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Choice Hotels International during the fourth quarter worth $15,354,000. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership acquired a new stake in shares of Choice Hotels International during the fourth quarter worth $10,779,000. Finally, Invesco Ltd. lifted its holdings in Choice Hotels International by 85.5% during the fourth quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 134,188 shares of the company's stock worth $19,052,000 after acquiring an additional 61,849 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 65.57% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have weighed in on CHH. 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. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Choice Hotels International from $124.00 to $115.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their target price on Choice Hotels International from $154.00 to $133.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Choice Hotels International from a "sell" rating to a "buy" rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $141.00 to $138.00 in a report on Monday, April 14th. Finally, Susquehanna set a $140.00 price target on Choice Hotels International and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, May 16th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Choice Hotels International currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $132.15.

Choice Hotels International Stock Performance

CHH traded down $1.03 on Wednesday, hitting $126.60. 421,220 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 391,793. Choice Hotels International, Inc. has a 12 month low of $111.62 and a 12 month high of $157.86. The company has a market cap of $5.87 billion, a PE ratio of 20.32, a PEG ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 0.97. The stock's fifty day moving average is $126.40 and its 200-day moving average is $137.77.

Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH - Get Free Report) last released 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). Choice Hotels International had a negative return on equity of 472.31% and a net margin of 18.91%. The company had revenue of $332.86 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $348.52 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.28 EPS. The business's revenue was up .3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Choice Hotels International, Inc. will post 7.07 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Choice Hotels International Announces Dividend

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

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Choice Hotels International news, Director Ervin R. Shames sold 2,000 shares of the business'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 $6,764,586.72. The trade was a 3.69% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 23.78% of the company's stock.

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.