Empowered Funds LLC Buys New Position in Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH)

Empowered Funds LLC purchased a new position in shares of Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH) in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 2,752 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $358,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of CHH. Blue Trust Inc. grew its stake in shares of Choice Hotels International by 307.4% in the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 220 shares of the company’s stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 166 shares in the last quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC grew its position in Choice Hotels International by 129.4% in the 2nd quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC now owns 250 shares of the company’s stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 141 shares in the last quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. increased its stake in Choice Hotels International by 1,146.9% in the 2nd quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 399 shares of the company’s stock valued at $47,000 after buying an additional 367 shares during the last quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. bought a new position in shares of Choice Hotels International during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $56,000. Finally, Quest Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Choice Hotels International in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $69,000. 65.57% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity at Choice Hotels International

In other news, SVP Simone Wu sold 7,840 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.08, for a total transaction of $1,019,827.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 45,669 shares in the company, valued at $5,940,623.52. The trade was a 14.65 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Patrick Pacious sold 26,816 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.69, for a total transaction of $3,880,007.04. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 404,666 shares in the company, valued at approximately $58,551,123.54. The trade was a 6.21 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 71,437 shares of company stock worth $9,788,980. 24.02% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Choice Hotels International Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:CHH opened at $152.95 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.17 billion, a PE ratio of 29.30, a P/E/G ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 1.24. The company has a quick ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 0.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 177.75. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $137.47 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $126.86. Choice Hotels International, Inc. has a twelve month low of $108.91 and a twelve month high of $153.81.

Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, November 4th. The company reported $2.23 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.92 by $0.31. Choice Hotels International had a net margin of 16.27% and a negative return on equity of 659.01%. The company had revenue of $428.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $432.62 million. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.82 EPS. Choice Hotels International’s revenue for the quarter was up .6% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts forecast that Choice Hotels International, Inc. will post 6.83 EPS for the current year.

Choice Hotels International Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, October 16th. Investors of record on Tuesday, October 1st were paid a dividend of $0.2875 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, October 1st. This represents a $1.15 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.75%. Choice Hotels International’s payout ratio is 22.03%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

CHH has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on Choice Hotels International from $105.00 to $118.00 and gave the company a “sell” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered Choice Hotels International from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $150.00 target price for the company. in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price target on shares of Choice Hotels International from $113.00 to $114.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. UBS Group decreased their price objective on shares of Choice Hotels International from $126.00 to $125.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Friday, August 9th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Choice Hotels International from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 3rd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $130.00.

About Choice Hotels International

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.