LRT Capital Management LLC Has $1.14 Million Stock Position in Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH)

LRT Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH - Free Report) by 77.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 8,019 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 3,508 shares during the quarter. LRT Capital Management LLC's holdings in Choice Hotels International were worth $1,139,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA grew its stake in shares of Choice Hotels International by 2.1% during the fourth quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA now owns 3,562 shares of the company's stock valued at $506,000 after acquiring an additional 74 shares in the last quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC grew its stake in Choice Hotels International by 0.6% in the fourth quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 12,944 shares of the company's stock worth $1,838,000 after purchasing an additional 76 shares in the last quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC grew its stake in 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 in the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors grew its stake in Choice Hotels International by 4.5% in the fourth quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 2,069 shares of the company's stock worth $294,000 after purchasing an additional 90 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bleakley Financial Group LLC grew its stake in Choice Hotels International by 5.5% in the fourth quarter. Bleakley Financial Group LLC now owns 2,112 shares of the company's stock worth $300,000 after purchasing an additional 110 shares in the last quarter. 65.57% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling at Choice Hotels International

In related news, EVP Dominic Dragisich sold 3,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $148.30, for a total transaction of $519,050.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 68,913 shares in the company, valued at $10,219,797.90. This represents a 4.83% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CFO Scott E. Oaksmith sold 1,780 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.40, for a total value of $257,032.00. Following the sale, 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 disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 24.02% of the company's stock.

Choice Hotels International Stock Up 1.7%

Shares of NYSE:CHH traded up $2.12 on Friday, reaching $130.40. The company had a trading volume of 459,778 shares, compared to its average volume of 395,494. Choice Hotels International, Inc. has a twelve month low of $109.22 and a twelve month high of $157.86. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $127.06 and a 200 day moving average price of $139.05. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.93, a P/E/G ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 1.00.

Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The company reported $1.34 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates 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 during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $348.52 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.28 EPS. Choice Hotels International's quarterly revenue was up .3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Choice Hotels International, Inc. will post 7.07 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Choice Hotels International Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 16th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, July 1st will be issued a $0.2875 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, July 1st. This represents a $1.15 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.88%. Choice Hotels International's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 17.56%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have commented on CHH shares. Redburn Atlantic upgraded Choice Hotels International from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $132.00 target price for the company in a research note on Monday, March 24th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on Choice Hotels International from $138.00 to $137.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, March 4th. Truist Financial upped their price target on Choice Hotels International from $136.00 to $144.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, March 21st. Robert W. Baird upped their price target on Choice Hotels International from $145.00 to $160.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 25th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Choice Hotels International from a "sell" rating to a "buy" rating and lowered their price target for the company from $141.00 to $138.00 in a report on Monday, April 14th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Choice Hotels International presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $135.69.

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.