Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) Receives Consensus Rating of "Moderate Buy" from Brokerages

Key Points

• Analysts give Hyatt a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from 18 ratings (10 buys, 6 holds, 2 strong buys), with an average 1‑year price target of $176.40.
• Hyatt beat expectations last quarter with $1.33 EPS vs. $0.29 expected and $1.79B in revenue, though the company still shows a negative net margin (-0.73%) and a negative PE ratio (-278.20).
• Insider Javier Aguila sold 9,548 shares in December (reducing his position ~78%), and Hyatt announced a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share (0.4% yield), with an ex‑dividend date of March 2 and pay date March 12.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H - Get Free Report) has been given a consensus recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by the eighteen ratings firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, ten have assigned a buy recommendation and two have given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $176.40.

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on H shares. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on Hyatt Hotels from $167.00 to $171.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Citigroup upped their target price on Hyatt Hotels from $167.00 to $195.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 18th. Weiss Ratings restated a "hold (c-)" rating on shares of Hyatt Hotels in a report on Monday, December 29th. Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Hyatt Hotels from $198.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Finally, Evercore reiterated an "in-line" rating and set a $175.00 price objective (up from $170.00) on shares of Hyatt Hotels in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd.

Insider Buying and Selling at Hyatt Hotels

In related news, insider Javier Aguila sold 9,548 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $165.87, for a total value of $1,583,726.76. Following the transaction, the insider owned 2,684 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $445,195.08. This trade represents a 78.06% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 23.70% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hyatt Hotels

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Corient Private Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Hyatt Hotels during the 4th quarter valued at $2,237,000. Hsbc Holdings PLC boosted its holdings in shares of Hyatt Hotels by 598.1% in the 4th quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 74,659 shares of the company's stock worth $12,005,000 after buying an additional 63,965 shares during the last quarter. MidFirst Bank bought a new position in Hyatt Hotels during the fourth quarter valued at about $340,000. Pacer Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in Hyatt Hotels by 17.5% during the fourth quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 6,558 shares of the company's stock worth $1,051,000 after buying an additional 977 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Virtu Financial LLC bought a new stake in Hyatt Hotels in the fourth quarter worth about $499,000. Institutional investors own 73.54% of the company's stock.

Hyatt Hotels Price Performance

Hyatt Hotels stock opened at $155.79 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $14.72 billion, a PE ratio of -278.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.78 and a beta of 1.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17, a current ratio of 0.75 and a quick ratio of 0.75. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $163.63 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $154.91. Hyatt Hotels has a one year low of $102.43 and a one year high of $180.53.

Hyatt Hotels (NYSE:H - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The company reported $1.33 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.29 by $1.04. Hyatt Hotels had a negative net margin of 0.73% and a positive return on equity of 5.53%. The firm had revenue of $1.79 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.78 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.42 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Hyatt Hotels will post 3.05 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hyatt Hotels Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 12th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 2nd will be given a dividend of $0.15 per share. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 2nd. Hyatt Hotels's dividend payout ratio is presently -107.14%.

Hyatt Hotels Company Profile

Hyatt Hotels Corporation NYSE: H is a global hospitality company that develops, owns, manages and franchises luxury and business hotels, resorts and vacation properties. Its portfolio spans a range of price points and styles under brands such as Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, Andaz, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt Centric, Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, Thompson Hotels, Alila and Destination by Hyatt. In addition to accommodations, the company provides meeting and event spaces, food and beverage outlets, spa and wellness centers, and a variety of guest services designed to cater to both leisure and business travelers.

Hyatt's business model combines property ownership, management contracts and third-party franchising.

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