LRT Capital Management LLC Acquires 3,508 Shares of Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH)

LRT Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH) by 77.8% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 8,019 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 3,508 shares during the quarter. LRT Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Choice Hotels International were worth $1,139,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Choice Hotels International by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 2,423,373 shares of the company’s stock valued at $344,070,000 after acquiring an additional 8,362 shares during the last quarter. Boston Trust Walden Corp grew its position in Choice Hotels International by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. Boston Trust Walden Corp now owns 949,586 shares of the company’s stock worth $134,822,000 after acquiring an additional 9,490 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new position in Choice Hotels International in the 4th quarter worth approximately $48,201,000. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. lifted its position in Choice Hotels International by 69.8% in the fourth quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. now owns 292,836 shares of the company’s stock valued at $41,577,000 after purchasing an additional 120,376 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in Choice Hotels International by 1.0% in the fourth quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 279,149 shares of the company’s stock valued at $39,634,000 after purchasing an additional 2,725 shares during the last quarter. 65.57% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Choice Hotels International Stock Performance

Choice Hotels International stock opened at $123.57 on Monday. Choice Hotels International, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $109.22 and a fifty-two week high of $157.86. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $128.48 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $139.49. The stock has a market cap of $5.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.83, a PEG ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 1.00.

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

Choice Hotels International Announces Dividend

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently commented on the stock. Susquehanna lifted their target price on shares of Choice Hotels International from $130.00 to $155.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 25th. Robert W. Baird raised their price target 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. Truist Financial boosted their price objective on shares of Choice Hotels International from $136.00 to $144.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, March 21st. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of Choice Hotels International from $138.00 to $137.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, March 4th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised Choice Hotels International from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating and cut their target price for the stock from $141.00 to $138.00 in a research note on Monday, April 14th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $135.69.

Insider Transactions at Choice Hotels International

In other Choice Hotels International news, EVP Dominic Dragisich sold 3,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $148.30, for a total transaction of $519,050.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 68,913 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $10,219,797.90. This trade represents a 4.83% 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, CFO Scott E. Oaksmith sold 1,780 shares of Choice Hotels International stock in a transaction that occurred 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. The trade was a 5.27% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 23.78% of the company’s stock.

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.