Wedbush Research Analysts Boost Earnings Estimates for Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ:HST)

Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ:HST - Free Report) - Stock analysts at Wedbush raised their Q2 2024 EPS estimates for shares of Host Hotels & Resorts in a note issued to investors on Wednesday, May 8th. Wedbush analyst R. Anderson now expects that the company will post earnings of $0.56 per share for the quarter, up from their previous estimate of $0.55. The consensus estimate for Host Hotels & Resorts' current full-year earnings is $2.00 per share. Wedbush also issued estimates for Host Hotels & Resorts' Q3 2024 earnings at $0.39 EPS, Q4 2024 earnings at $0.47 EPS, FY2024 earnings at $2.03 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $2.07 EPS.

A number of other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on shares of Host Hotels & Resorts from $20.00 to $21.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. Barclays boosted their price objective on Host Hotels & Resorts from $23.00 to $25.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, March 15th. UBS Group cut their target price on Host Hotels & Resorts from $21.00 to $20.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 19th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of Host Hotels & Resorts from $22.00 to $23.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, March 21st. Finally, Truist Financial lifted their price objective on shares of Host Hotels & Resorts from $21.00 to $24.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, March 14th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $21.29.

Host Hotels & Resorts Stock Performance

HST traded down $0.08 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $18.34. 7,361,402 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,075,193. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 6.66 and a quick ratio of 3.29. Host Hotels & Resorts has a 12 month low of $14.92 and a 12 month high of $21.31. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $19.96 and a 200-day simple moving average of $19.07. The stock has a market cap of $12.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.64 and a beta of 1.32.

Host Hotels & Resorts (NASDAQ:HST - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 21st. The company reported $0.19 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.44 by ($0.25). Host Hotels & Resorts had a return on equity of 10.59% and a net margin of 13.35%. The company had revenue of $1.32 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.29 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.44 EPS. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 4.8% on a year-over-year basis.

Host Hotels & Resorts Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 28th were issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.36%. This is an increase from Host Hotels & Resorts's previous quarterly dividend of $0.18. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, March 27th. Host Hotels & Resorts's dividend payout ratio is currently 78.43%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Host Hotels & Resorts news, CEO James F. Risoleo sold 28,136 shares of Host Hotels & Resorts stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $21.04, for a total transaction of $591,981.44. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 2,225,577 shares in the company, valued at approximately $46,826,140.08. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 1.30% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in HST. Riverview Trust Co acquired a new stake in Host Hotels & Resorts in the first quarter valued at approximately $27,000. CVA Family Office LLC acquired a new position in Host Hotels & Resorts during the fourth quarter worth $26,000. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust raised its holdings in Host Hotels & Resorts by 57.5% during the third quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 1,750 shares of the company's stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 639 shares in the last quarter. Mather Group LLC. bought a new stake in shares of Host Hotels & Resorts during the 1st quarter worth about $35,000. Finally, Turtle Creek Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Host Hotels & Resorts during the 4th quarter valued at about $40,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.52% of the company's stock.

About Host Hotels & Resorts

Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc is an S&P 500 company and is the largest lodging real estate investment trust and one of the largest owners of luxury and upper-upscale hotels. The Company currently owns 72 properties in the United States and five properties internationally totaling approximately 42,000 rooms.