Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT) Earns Buy Rating from Analysts at The Goldman Sachs Group

The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on shares of Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT) in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday, Marketbeat.com reports. The firm issued a buy rating and a $245.00 price objective on the stock.

Several other research firms have also recently weighed in on HLT. Bank of America raised their price target on Hilton Worldwide from $225.00 to $230.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, July 22nd. Susquehanna began coverage on Hilton Worldwide in a report on Friday, June 21st. They issued a neutral rating and a $215.00 price target on the stock. Robert W. Baird lowered their price target on Hilton Worldwide from $216.00 to $215.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, August 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on Hilton Worldwide from $200.00 to $216.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, July 19th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price objective on Hilton Worldwide from $185.00 to $181.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, August 8th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Hilton Worldwide presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $213.95.

Hilton Worldwide Stock Down 0.4 %

Shares of NYSE HLT opened at $224.64 on Wednesday. Hilton Worldwide has a 52 week low of $146.00 and a 52 week high of $229.03. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $214.93 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $209.93. The company has a market cap of $56.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 48.83, a P/E/G ratio of 2.32 and a beta of 1.31.

Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The company reported $1.91 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.86 by $0.05. Hilton Worldwide had a negative return on equity of 69.65% and a net margin of 11.20%. The firm had revenue of $2.95 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.90 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.63 EPS. The company’s revenue was up 10.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that Hilton Worldwide will post 7.05 EPS for the current year.

Hilton Worldwide Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 23rd will be given a $0.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 23rd. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.27%. Hilton Worldwide’s dividend payout ratio is currently 13.04%.

Insider Transactions at Hilton Worldwide

In related news, insider Laura Fuentes sold 4,919 shares of Hilton Worldwide stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $217.00, for a total transaction of $1,067,423.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 15,949 shares in the company, valued at $3,460,933. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 2.50% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Hilton Worldwide

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Independence Bank of Kentucky grew its holdings in Hilton Worldwide by 66.7% during the first quarter. Independence Bank of Kentucky now owns 125 shares of the company’s stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the period. Eaton Financial Holdings Company LLC grew its holdings in Hilton Worldwide by 0.9% during the fourth quarter. Eaton Financial Holdings Company LLC now owns 5,932 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,080,000 after purchasing an additional 52 shares during the period. EP Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Hilton Worldwide by 1.5% during the first quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 3,616 shares of the company’s stock valued at $771,000 after purchasing an additional 54 shares during the period. AA Financial Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Hilton Worldwide by 4.0% during the second quarter. AA Financial Advisors LLC now owns 1,434 shares of the company’s stock valued at $313,000 after purchasing an additional 55 shares during the period. Finally, Raleigh Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in Hilton Worldwide by 48.7% during the fourth quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 171 shares of the company’s stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 56 shares during the period. 95.90% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Hilton Worldwide Company Profile

Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc, a hospitality company, engages in managing, franchising, owning, and leasing hotels and resorts. It operates through two segments, Management and Franchise, and Ownership. The company engages in the hotel management and licensing of its brands. It operates luxury hotels under the Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, LXR Hotels & Resorts, and Conrad Hotels & Resorts brand; lifestyle hotels under the Canopy by Hilton, Curio Collection by Hilton, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, Tempo by Hilton, and Motto by Hilton brand; full service hotels under the Signia by Hilton, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, and DoubleTree by Hilton brand; service hotels under the Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton by Hilton, and Tru by Hilton brand; all-suite hotels under the Embassy Suites by Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton, and Home2 Suites by Hilton brand; and economy hotel under the Spark by Hilton brand, as well as Hilton Grand Vacations.