Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc. (NYSE: APLE) is a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns one of the largest and most diverse portfolios of upscale, rooms-focused hotels in the United States. Apple Hospitality's portfolio consists of 235 hotels with more than 30,000 guest rooms located in 87 markets throughout 34 states. Concentrated with industry-leading brands, the Company's portfolio consists of 104 Marriott-branded hotels, 126 Hilton-branded hotels, three Hyatt-branded hotels and two independent hotels.
Apple Hospitality REIT Stock Performance
Apple Hospitality REIT stock traded down $0.39 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $16.96. 1,556,236 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,931,353. The firm has a market cap of $3.88 billion, a PE ratio of 29.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.44 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a current ratio of 0.96. The firm's 50-day simple moving average is $15.70 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $16.71. Apple Hospitality REIT has a twelve month low of $14.16 and a twelve month high of $18.69.
Apple Hospitality REIT (NYSE:APLE - Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 4th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.29 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.45 by ($0.16). Apple Hospitality REIT had a net margin of 11.40% and a return on equity of 4.05%. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.30 earnings per share. Equities analysts predict that Apple Hospitality REIT will post 1.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Apple Hospitality REIT Increases Dividend
The company also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 15th. Investors of record on Friday, September 2nd will be issued a $0.07 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 1st. This represents a $0.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.95%. This is a boost from Apple Hospitality REIT's previous monthly dividend of $0.05. Apple Hospitality REIT's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 105.27%.
Analyst Ratings Changes
Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Apple Hospitality REIT from $21.00 to $19.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 7th. B. Riley raised Apple Hospitality REIT from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, August 11th. TheStreet raised Apple Hospitality REIT from a "c" rating to a "b-" rating in a research report on Thursday, August 11th. Finally, Oppenheimer began coverage on Apple Hospitality REIT in a research note on Thursday, April 21st. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $23.00 price objective for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $20.33.
Insider Activity at Apple Hospitality REIT
In other Apple Hospitality REIT news, Chairman Glade M. Knight bought 5,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 9th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $16.21 per share, with a total value of $81,050.00. Following the purchase, the chairman now owns 493,093 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,993,037.53. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. Over the last 90 days, insiders have bought 7,955 shares of company stock worth $127,393. 6.80% of the stock is owned by insiders.