Geode Capital Management LLC Has $54.62 Million Position in Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH)

Geode Capital Management LLC decreased its position in shares of Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH) by 2.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 419,074 shares of the company’s stock after selling 10,565 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Choice Hotels International were worth $54,619,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in CHH. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Choice Hotels International by 77.2% in the 2nd quarter. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC now owns 4,105,796 shares of the company’s stock valued at $488,590,000 after purchasing an additional 1,788,563 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its stake in Choice Hotels International by 4.1% in the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 675,142 shares of the company’s stock valued at $80,340,000 after buying an additional 26,289 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James & Associates grew its position in Choice Hotels International by 45.4% in the third quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 364,983 shares of the company’s stock valued at $47,557,000 after acquiring an additional 113,951 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in Choice Hotels International by 51.5% during the second quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 266,950 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,767,000 after acquiring an additional 90,765 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Natixis Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Choice Hotels International by 917.2% in the second quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 161,799 shares of the company’s stock worth $19,254,000 after acquiring an additional 145,893 shares during the last quarter. 65.57% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Choice Hotels International Stock Up 0.6 %

Shares of NYSE CHH opened at $141.58 on Monday. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $143.59 and its 200-day moving average price is $130.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 177.75, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a current ratio of 0.71. Choice Hotels International, Inc. has a 52-week low of $108.91 and a 52-week high of $153.81. The company has a market capitalization of $6.64 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 1.23.

Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH) last released its earnings results on Monday, November 4th. The company reported $2.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating 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 business had revenue of $428.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $432.62 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.82 earnings per share. 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 6.84 earnings per share for the current year.

Choice Hotels International Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 16th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 2nd will be issued a $0.2875 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 2nd. This represents a $1.15 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.81%. Choice Hotels International’s payout ratio is currently 22.03%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Choice Hotels International

In other news, insider Robert J. Mcdowell sold 8,712 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $134.99, for a total transaction of $1,176,032.88. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 38,502 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,197,384.98. This represents a 18.45 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Dominic Dragisich sold 9,138 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $134.88, for a total value of $1,232,533.44. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 68,509 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $9,240,493.92. This represents a 11.77 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 53,572 shares of company stock valued at $7,562,444. 24.02% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on CHH shares. Susquehanna lifted their price target on shares of Choice Hotels International from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, November 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on shares of Choice Hotels International from $118.00 to $138.00 and gave the stock a “sell” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price objective on Choice Hotels International from $113.00 to $114.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Wells Fargo & Company initiated coverage on Choice Hotels International in a report on Thursday, December 5th. They issued an “underweight” rating and a $133.00 target price for the company. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on Choice Hotels International from $134.00 to $141.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 13th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $134.18.

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.