New England Research & Management Inc. Purchases Shares of 3,175 Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR)

New England Research & Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 3,175 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $886,000.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MAR. Larson Financial Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Marriott International by 10.8% during the 3rd quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 379 shares of the company’s stock worth $94,000 after acquiring an additional 37 shares during the period. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. increased its stake in shares of Marriott International by 0.4% in the 3rd quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 8,698 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,162,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares during the last quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management increased its stake in shares of Marriott International by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management now owns 3,290 shares of the company’s stock valued at $918,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares during the last quarter. Haverford Trust Co increased its stake in shares of Marriott International by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter. Haverford Trust Co now owns 4,207 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,046,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Foundations Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Marriott International by 2.6% in the third quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,010 shares of the company’s stock worth $500,000 after acquiring an additional 51 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 70.70% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, EVP Benjamin T. Breland sold 500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $274.49, for a total transaction of $137,245.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 12,286 shares in the company, valued at $3,372,384.14. The trade was a 3.91 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Kathleen K. Oberg sold 2,360 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $285.41, for a total transaction of $673,567.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 39,726 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,338,197.66. This trade represents a 5.61 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 13,815 shares of company stock valued at $3,919,739 in the last 90 days. 12.32% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have recently commented on MAR. Macquarie reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $245.00 target price on shares of Marriott International in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. TD Cowen decreased their target price on shares of Marriott International from $295.00 to $283.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on Marriott International from $251.00 to $269.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, December 13th. Robert W. Baird increased their target price on Marriott International from $258.00 to $264.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. Finally, Mizuho boosted their target price on shares of Marriott International from $233.00 to $246.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Fourteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Marriott International presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $272.15.

Marriott International Stock Up 0.4 %

NASDAQ:MAR opened at $289.66 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $80.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.30, a P/E/G ratio of 4.64 and a beta of 1.57. The company has a fifty day moving average of $282.56 and a 200-day moving average of $258.23. Marriott International, Inc. has a twelve month low of $204.55 and a twelve month high of $295.45.

Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, November 4th. The company reported $2.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.31 by ($0.05). The company had revenue of $6.26 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.27 billion. Marriott International had a negative return on equity of 177.91% and a net margin of 11.18%. Marriott International’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.11 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that Marriott International, Inc. will post 9.25 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Marriott International Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, November 21st were paid a $0.63 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, November 21st. This represents a $2.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.87%. Marriott International’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 26.36%.

Marriott International Profile

Marriott International, Inc engages in operating, franchising, and licensing hotel, residential, timeshare, and other lodging properties worldwide. It operates its properties under the JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, The Luxury Collection, W Hotels, St. Regis, EDITION, Bvlgari, Marriott Hotels, Sheraton, Westin, Autograph Collection, Renaissance Hotels, Le Méridien, Delta Hotels by Marriott, Tribute Portfolio, Gaylord Hotels, Design Hotels, Marriott Executive Apartments, Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy, Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield by Marriott, Residence Inn by Marriott, SpringHill Suites by Marriott, Four Points by Sheraton, TownePlace Suites by Marriott, Aloft Hotels, AC Hotels by Marriott, Moxy Hotels, Element Hotels, Protea Hotels by Marriott, City Express by Marriott, and St.