Raymond James Financial Issues Positive Forecast for Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT) Stock Price

Key Points

• Raymond James Financial has increased its price target for Hilton Worldwide from $275 to $300, suggesting a potential upside of 9.24% from its current share price.
• The current consensus rating for Hilton Worldwide is a "Moderate Buy" with a target price averaging $259.19, as reported by various analysts.
• In its latest earnings report, Hilton Worldwide exceeded expectations with $2.20 earnings per share, marking a 6.3% revenue increase compared to the previous year.

Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT - Free Report) had its target price hoisted by Raymond James Financial from $275.00 to $300.00 in a research report report published on Wednesday morning,Benzinga reports. They currently have an outperform rating on the stock.

Other research analysts also recently issued reports about the company. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $235.00 price target (down from $296.00) on shares of Hilton Worldwide in a report on Monday, April 14th. Jefferies Financial Group raised Hilton Worldwide from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their price target for the company from $228.00 to $296.00 in a report on Monday, May 12th. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on Hilton Worldwide from $251.00 to $241.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. started coverage on Hilton Worldwide in a research report on Monday, June 23rd. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $282.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Dbs Bank upgraded Hilton Worldwide from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 14th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $259.19.

Hilton Worldwide Stock Down 2.7%

Shares of Hilton Worldwide stock traded down $7.19 on Wednesday, reaching $260.89. 650,574 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,062,029. Hilton Worldwide has a twelve month low of $196.04 and a twelve month high of $279.46. The firm has a market capitalization of $61.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.10, a PEG ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 1.25. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $261.05 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $247.63.

Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, July 23rd. The company reported $2.20 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 during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.09 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.91 earnings per share. The company's revenue was up 6.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts forecast that Hilton Worldwide will post 7.89 EPS for the current year.

Hilton Worldwide Announces Dividend

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

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hilton Worldwide

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. lifted its stake in Hilton Worldwide by 59.8% during the 2nd quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. now owns 139 shares of the company's stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 52 shares in the last quarter. ORG Partners LLC lifted its stake in Hilton Worldwide by 78.7% during the 1st quarter. ORG Partners LLC now owns 168 shares of the company's stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 74 shares in the last quarter. Beacon Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Hilton Worldwide by 76.0% during the 1st quarter. Beacon Capital Management LLC now owns 176 shares of the company's stock worth $40,000 after acquiring an additional 76 shares in the last quarter. LRI Investments LLC lifted its stake in Hilton Worldwide by 84.1% during the 2nd quarter. LRI Investments LLC now owns 151 shares of the company's stock worth $40,000 after acquiring an additional 69 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Valley National Advisers Inc. lifted its stake in Hilton Worldwide by 244.8% during the 1st quarter. Valley National Advisers Inc. now owns 200 shares of the company's stock worth $45,000 after acquiring an additional 142 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.90% of the company's stock.

Hilton Worldwide Company Profile

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.