DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main Takes $892,000 Position in Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH)

DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main bought a new stake in Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm bought 6,282 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $892,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA grew its position in Choice Hotels International by 2.1% in the 4th quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA now owns 3,562 shares of the company’s stock worth $506,000 after purchasing an additional 74 shares in the last quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC boosted its stake in shares of Choice Hotels International by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 12,944 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,838,000 after buying an additional 76 shares during the last quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Choice Hotels International by 30.3% in the fourth quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 370 shares of the company’s stock valued at $52,000 after acquiring an additional 86 shares in the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors grew its holdings in shares of Choice Hotels International by 4.5% in the fourth quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 2,069 shares of the company’s stock valued at $294,000 after acquiring an additional 90 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bleakley Financial Group LLC increased its position in shares of Choice Hotels International by 5.5% during the fourth quarter. Bleakley Financial Group LLC now owns 2,112 shares of the company’s stock valued at $300,000 after acquiring an additional 110 shares during the last quarter. 65.57% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have weighed in on the company. StockNews.com cut Choice Hotels International from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, March 15th. Bank of America boosted their price target on shares of Choice Hotels International from $160.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, January 27th. Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on shares of Choice Hotels International from $145.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 25th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of Choice Hotels International from $138.00 to $137.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, March 4th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Choice Hotels International from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating and reduced their target price for the company from $141.00 to $138.00 in a research report on Monday, April 14th. 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 stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Choice Hotels International has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $135.69.

Choice Hotels International Trading Up 1.9%

Shares of CHH stock opened at $123.57 on Monday. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $128.48 and its 200 day moving average is $139.49. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.83, a PEG ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 1.00. Choice Hotels International, Inc. has a 12 month low of $109.22 and a 12 month high of $157.86.

Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The company reported $1.34 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.38 by ($0.04). Choice Hotels International had a negative return on equity of 472.31% and a net margin of 18.91%. The company had revenue of $332.86 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $348.52 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.28 earnings per share. Choice Hotels International’s revenue was up .3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts predict that Choice Hotels International, Inc. will post 7.07 EPS for the current year.

Choice Hotels International Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 16th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 1st were given a dividend of $0.2875 per share. This represents a $1.15 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.93%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, April 1st. Choice Hotels International’s dividend payout ratio is presently 18.46%.

Insider Activity

In other Choice Hotels International news, EVP Dominic Dragisich sold 3,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $148.30, for a total value of $519,050.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 68,913 shares in the company, valued at $10,219,797.90. This represents a 4.83% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Scott E. Oaksmith sold 1,780 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.40, for a total transaction of $257,032.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 32,014 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,622,821.60. This trade represents a 5.27% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 23.78% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Choice Hotels International Company 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.