Morgan Stanley Lowers Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH) Price Target to $128.00

Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH) had its target price cut by Morgan Stanley from $139.00 to $128.00 in a research note issued to investors on Thursday morning, Benzinga reports. They currently have an equal weight rating on the stock.

A number of other analysts have also weighed in on CHH. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price objective on shares of Choice Hotels International from $115.00 to $123.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 9th. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on shares of Choice Hotels International from $135.00 to $142.00 in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Choice Hotels International in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of Choice Hotels International from $122.00 to $113.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, July 21st. Finally, Barclays cut their price objective on shares of Choice Hotels International from $122.00 to $121.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Choice Hotels International presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $130.75.

Choice Hotels International Stock Up 0.5 %

Shares of CHH opened at $111.45 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.19, a P/E/G ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 1.27. Choice Hotels International has a 12-month low of $109.19 and a 12-month high of $136.02. The company has a current ratio of 0.84, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 19.21. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $119.58 and a 200-day moving average price of $121.43.

Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, November 7th. The company reported $1.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.87 by ($0.05). The company had revenue of $425.60 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $429.72 million. Choice Hotels International had a net margin of 18.42% and a return on equity of 373.39%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.56 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that Choice Hotels International will post 6.01 earnings per share for the current year.

Choice Hotels International Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, October 17th. Investors of record on Monday, October 2nd were issued a $0.287 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, September 29th. This represents a $1.15 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.03%. Choice Hotels International’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 20.83%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Choice Hotels International

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of CHH. Benjamin Edwards Inc. purchased a new stake in Choice Hotels International in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Dark Forest Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in Choice Hotels International in the 1st quarter worth approximately $28,000. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. purchased a new stake in Choice Hotels International in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $52,000. Captrust Financial Advisors boosted its position in Choice Hotels International by 28.0% in the 2nd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 599 shares of the company’s stock worth $67,000 after purchasing an additional 131 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fifth Third Bancorp boosted its position in Choice Hotels International by 42.2% in the 3rd quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 566 shares of the company’s stock worth $69,000 after purchasing an additional 168 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.78% of the company’s stock.

Choice Hotels International Company Profile

Choice Hotels International, Inc together with its subsidiaries, operates as a hotel franchisor. The company operates through Hotel Franchising & Management and Other segments. It franchises lodging properties under the brand names of Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Clarion, Clarion Pointe, Sleep Inn, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, WoodSpring Suites, Everhome Suites, Cambria Hotels, Ascend Hotel Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson RED, Radisson, Park Plaza, Country Inn & Suites, Radisson Inn & Suites , Park Inn by Radisson, Radisson Individuals, and Radisson Collection.