Louisiana State Employees Retirement System Decreases Holdings in Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR)

Louisiana State Employees Retirement System reduced its stake in shares of Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR) by 5.8% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 32,700 shares of the company’s stock after selling 2,000 shares during the period. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System’s holdings in Marriott International were worth $9,121,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Sound Income Strategies LLC increased its stake in shares of Marriott International by 494.4% in the fourth quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 107 shares of the company’s stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 89 shares in the last quarter. Wingate Wealth Advisors Inc. bought a new position in Marriott International in the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Silvant Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Marriott International during the 3rd quarter valued at $31,000. Darwin Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Marriott International during the third quarter worth $33,000. Finally, Heck Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Marriott International in the fourth quarter valued at $38,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.70% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Marriott International

In other news, insider William P. Brown sold 1,707 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $284.30, for a total transaction of $485,300.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 23,077 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,560,791.10. This represents a 6.89 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 12.32% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have commented on MAR shares. Truist Financial raised their target price on Marriott International from $254.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. Macquarie reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $245.00 price objective on shares of Marriott International in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Sanford C. Bernstein increased their target price on shares of Marriott International from $262.00 to $290.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on shares of Marriott International from $252.00 to $283.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 26th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Marriott International from $262.00 to $285.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Thirteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Marriott International has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $276.35.

Marriott International Stock Performance

Shares of Marriott International stock opened at $288.00 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $80.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.88 and a beta of 1.57. The company has a fifty day moving average of $284.30 and a 200-day moving average of $261.51. Marriott International, Inc. has a 52-week low of $204.55 and a 52-week high of $307.52.

Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 11th. The company reported $2.45 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.37 by $0.08. Marriott International had a negative return on equity of 177.91% and a net margin of 11.18%. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Marriott International, Inc. will post 9.26 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About Marriott International

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.