Barclays Increases Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR) Price Target to $251.00

Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR) had its price objective upped by Barclays from $240.00 to $251.00 in a report published on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an equal weight rating on the stock.

Several other analysts also recently commented on the company. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on Marriott International from $248.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, May 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on Marriott International from $250.00 to $248.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, May 2nd. Susquehanna began coverage on Marriott International in a research note on Friday, June 21st. They issued a neutral rating and a $255.00 price objective for the company. Mizuho increased their price objective on Marriott International from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, May 2nd. Finally, Argus upped their target price on Marriott International from $270.00 to $280.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, March 19th. Thirteen research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $243.59.

Marriott International Stock Performance

MAR stock opened at $243.91 on Wednesday. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $238.81 and its 200 day simple moving average is $241.34. Marriott International has a fifty-two week low of $180.75 and a fifty-two week high of $260.57. The company has a market cap of $69.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.59 and a beta of 1.60.

Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 1st. The company reported $2.13 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.17 by ($0.04). The firm had revenue of $5.98 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.95 billion. Marriott International had a negative return on equity of 376.88% and a net margin of 12.00%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 6.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted $2.09 earnings per share. Equities analysts predict that Marriott International will post 9.56 earnings per share for the current year.

Marriott International Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 24th were issued a dividend of $0.63 per share. This represents a $2.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.03%. This is a positive change from Marriott International’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.52. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 23rd. Marriott International’s dividend payout ratio is 26.01%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Marriott International

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Caprock Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Marriott International by 255.1% during the fourth quarter. Caprock Group LLC now owns 11,781 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,657,000 after acquiring an additional 8,463 shares in the last quarter. Parnassus Investments LLC lifted its position in shares of Marriott International by 0.3% during the fourth quarter. Parnassus Investments LLC now owns 2,457,382 shares of the company’s stock worth $554,164,000 after acquiring an additional 7,135 shares in the last quarter. Redwood Investment Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Marriott International by 208.3% during the fourth quarter. Redwood Investment Management LLC now owns 26,927 shares of the company’s stock worth $6,072,000 after acquiring an additional 18,192 shares in the last quarter. Stifel Financial Corp raised its position in shares of Marriott International by 3.5% in the fourth quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 124,569 shares of the company’s stock worth $28,092,000 after buying an additional 4,247 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cerity Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Marriott International by 86.8% in the fourth quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 44,957 shares of the company’s stock worth $10,138,000 after buying an additional 20,890 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.70% of the company’s stock.

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, and City Express by Marriott brand names, as well as operates residences, timeshares, and yachts.