Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC Acquires 28,067 Shares of Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH)

Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC grew its stake in Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH - Free Report) by 503.8% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 33,638 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 28,067 shares during the period. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC owned about 0.07% of Choice Hotels International worth $4,776,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Choice Hotels International by 0.3% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 2,423,373 shares of the company's stock worth $344,070,000 after acquiring an additional 8,362 shares during the period. Boston Trust Walden Corp grew its position in shares of Choice Hotels International by 1.0% in the fourth quarter. Boston Trust Walden Corp now owns 949,586 shares of the company's stock valued at $134,822,000 after purchasing an additional 9,490 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its position in shares of Choice Hotels International by 38.5% during the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 402,293 shares of the company's stock valued at $52,419,000 after buying an additional 111,903 shares during the period. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new position in shares of Choice Hotels International in the fourth quarter worth $48,201,000. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its position in Choice Hotels International by 1.0% during the fourth quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 279,149 shares of the company's stock worth $39,634,000 after buying an additional 2,725 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 65.57% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity at Choice Hotels International

In related news, CFO Scott E. Oaksmith sold 1,780 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.40, for a total value of $257,032.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 32,014 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,622,821.60. This trade represents a 5.27 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Dominic Dragisich sold 3,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $148.30, for a total transaction of $519,050.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 68,913 shares in the company, valued at $10,219,797.90. The trade was a 4.83 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 24.02% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Choice Hotels International Stock Down 3.2 %

CHH stock traded down $4.05 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $121.73. The company had a trading volume of 311,351 shares, compared to its average volume of 396,873. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $129.35 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $139.64. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.62, a P/E/G ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 1.00. Choice Hotels International, Inc. has a one year low of $109.22 and a one year high of $157.86.

Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The company reported $1.34 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.41 by ($0.07). Choice Hotels International had a negative return on equity of 472.31% and a net margin of 18.91%. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.28 earnings per share. The firm's quarterly revenue was up .3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts forecast that Choice Hotels International, Inc. will post 7.07 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Choice Hotels International Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 16th. Investors of record on Tuesday, April 1st were paid a $0.2875 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, April 1st. This represents a $1.15 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.94%. Choice Hotels International's payout ratio is currently 18.46%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on CHH shares. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Choice Hotels International from a "sell" rating to a "buy" rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $141.00 to $138.00 in a report on Monday, April 14th. Susquehanna boosted their price objective on shares of Choice Hotels International from $130.00 to $155.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 25th. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price target on shares of Choice Hotels International from $154.00 to $133.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on Choice Hotels International from $124.00 to $115.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Finally, Redburn Atlantic upgraded shares of Choice Hotels International from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $132.00 target price for the company in a research report on Monday, March 24th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $135.69.

Choice Hotels International Profile

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.