Marriott Vacations Worldwide Co. (NYSE:VAC) Short Interest Up 20.0% in April

Marriott Vacations Worldwide Co. (NYSE:VAC - Get Free Report) saw a large increase in short interest during the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,800,000 shares, an increase of 20.0% from the March 31st total of 1,500,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 576,400 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 3.1 days. Approximately 5.7% of the shares of the company are short sold.

Marriott Vacations Worldwide Price Performance

NYSE VAC traded up $2.39 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $59.59. 498,387 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 446,728. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $62.19 and a 200-day moving average of $79.10. Marriott Vacations Worldwide has a one year low of $49.22 and a one year high of $103.46. The stock has a market cap of $2.06 billion, a PE ratio of 11.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.67 and a beta of 1.66. The company has a current ratio of 3.53, a quick ratio of 2.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.19.

Marriott Vacations Worldwide (NYSE:VAC - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 26th. The company reported $1.86 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.51 by $0.35. The firm had revenue of $1.33 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.24 billion. Marriott Vacations Worldwide had a net margin of 4.20% and a return on equity of 10.89%. On average, equities research analysts predict that Marriott Vacations Worldwide will post 6.23 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Marriott Vacations Worldwide Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 19th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 5th were given a dividend of $0.79 per share. This represents a $3.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.30%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, March 5th. Marriott Vacations Worldwide's dividend payout ratio is currently 56.23%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Stephanie Sobeck Butera bought 650 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 6th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $71.66 per share, for a total transaction of $46,579.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the insider now owns 8,770 shares of the company's stock, valued at $628,458.20. This represents a 8.00 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 1.60% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Marriott Vacations Worldwide

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in VAC. True Wealth Design LLC lifted its position in shares of Marriott Vacations Worldwide by 35.2% in the fourth quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 595 shares of the company's stock worth $53,000 after purchasing an additional 155 shares in the last quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Marriott Vacations Worldwide by 2.7% during the 4th quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 6,404 shares of the company's stock worth $575,000 after buying an additional 166 shares during the last quarter. Xponance Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Marriott Vacations Worldwide by 6.2% in the 4th quarter. Xponance Inc. now owns 3,809 shares of the company's stock valued at $342,000 after acquiring an additional 221 shares in the last quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp increased its position in shares of Marriott Vacations Worldwide by 136.5% in the first quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 395 shares of the company's stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 228 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. boosted its position in Marriott Vacations Worldwide by 7.1% during the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 3,827 shares of the company's stock valued at $246,000 after purchasing an additional 253 shares during the last quarter. 89.52% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Barclays dropped their price target on shares of Marriott Vacations Worldwide from $116.00 to $97.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 28th. Truist Financial reduced their price target on Marriott Vacations Worldwide from $142.00 to $140.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, March 7th. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target on Marriott Vacations Worldwide from $112.00 to $108.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 27th. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price objective on shares of Marriott Vacations Worldwide from $78.00 to $48.00 and set a "sell" rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 14th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised shares of Marriott Vacations Worldwide from an "underweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating and lowered their target price for the company from $67.00 to $57.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $94.38.

Marriott Vacations Worldwide Company Profile

Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation, a vacation company, develops, markets, sells, and manages vacation ownership and related businesses, products, and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through two segments, Vacation Ownership and Exchange & Third-Party Management.

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