Townsquare Capital LLC Grows Stock Position in Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH)

Townsquare Capital LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH) by 11.2% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 19,335 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,947 shares during the period. Townsquare Capital LLC’s holdings in Choice Hotels International were worth $2,745,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC boosted its stake in Choice Hotels International by 30.3% in the 4th quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 370 shares of the company’s stock worth $52,000 after purchasing an additional 86 shares in the last quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Choice Hotels International in the third quarter worth $55,000. Tortoise Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Choice Hotels International by 55.8% during the fourth quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC now owns 430 shares of the company’s stock worth $61,000 after buying an additional 154 shares during the period. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ grew its holdings in shares of Choice Hotels International by 836.2% during the fourth quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ now owns 440 shares of the company’s stock valued at $62,000 after buying an additional 393 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Choice Hotels International in the 4th quarter valued at $62,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 65.57% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have commented on CHH. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on Choice Hotels International from $138.00 to $137.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, March 4th. Redburn Atlantic raised Choice Hotels International from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $132.00 target price for the company in a report on Monday, March 24th. Robert W. Baird increased 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. Susquehanna lifted their price objective on shares of Choice Hotels International from $130.00 to $155.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 25th. Finally, Bank of America increased their price objective on shares of Choice Hotels International from $160.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, January 27th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $139.15.

Insider Buying and Selling at Choice Hotels International

In other Choice Hotels International news, CFO Scott E. Oaksmith sold 1,780 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.40, for a total value of $257,032.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 32,014 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,622,821.60. This trade represents a 5.27 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Dominic Dragisich sold 3,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $148.30, for a total transaction of $519,050.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 68,913 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $10,219,797.90. The trade was a 4.83 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 24.02% of the company’s stock.

Choice Hotels International Stock Down 0.6 %

Shares of Choice Hotels International stock opened at $125.71 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $5.87 billion, a PE ratio of 20.18, a P/E/G ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 1.08. Choice Hotels International, Inc. has a twelve month low of $109.22 and a twelve month high of $157.86. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $136.86 and a 200 day moving average price of $140.48.

Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 20th. The company reported $1.55 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.45 by $0.10. The business had revenue of $389.77 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $374.24 million. Choice Hotels International had a negative return on equity of 472.31% and a net margin of 18.91%. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Choice Hotels International, Inc. will post 7.07 EPS for the current year.

Choice Hotels International Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 16th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, April 1st will be given a dividend of $0.2875 per share. This represents a $1.15 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.91%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, April 1st. Choice Hotels International’s dividend payout ratio is presently 18.46%.

Choice Hotels International Profile

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.