Reviewing DiamondRock Hospitality (NYSE:DRH) and Host Hotels & Resorts (NASDAQ:HST)

DiamondRock Hospitality (NYSE:DRH) and Host Hotels & Resorts (NASDAQ:HST) are both real estate companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, risk, earnings, profitability, institutional ownership, valuation and analyst recommendations.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

98.5% of Host Hotels & Resorts shares are held by institutional investors. 0.9% of DiamondRock Hospitality shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 1.5% of Host Hotels & Resorts shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares DiamondRock Hospitality and Host Hotels & Resorts’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
DiamondRock Hospitality	5.69%	4.04%	2.05%
Host Hotels & Resorts	16.51%	15.53%	7.83%

Dividends

DiamondRock Hospitality pays an annual dividend of $0.44 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.0%. Host Hotels & Resorts pays an annual dividend of $0.80 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.1%. DiamondRock Hospitality pays out 60.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Host Hotels & Resorts pays out 53.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. DiamondRock Hospitality has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years and Host Hotels & Resorts has increased its dividend for 2 consecutive years. Host Hotels & Resorts is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for DiamondRock Hospitality and Host Hotels & Resorts, as provided by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
DiamondRock Hospitality	0	7	4	0	2.36
Host Hotels & Resorts	0	6	9	1	2.69

DiamondRock Hospitality currently has a consensus price target of $13.03, indicating a potential downside of 9.93%. Host Hotels & Resorts has a consensus price target of $25.14, indicating a potential downside of 1.69%. Given Host Hotels & Resorts’ stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Host Hotels & Resorts is more favorable than DiamondRock Hospitality.

Risk & Volatility

DiamondRock Hospitality has a beta of 1.04, suggesting that its stock price is 4% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Host Hotels & Resorts has a beta of 1.09, suggesting that its stock price is 9% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares DiamondRock Hospitality and Host Hotels & Resorts”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
DiamondRock Hospitality	$1.14 billion	2.60	$48.05 million	$0.73	19.81
Host Hotels & Resorts	$6.11 billion	2.87	$765.00 million	$1.50	17.05

Host Hotels & Resorts has higher revenue and earnings than DiamondRock Hospitality. Host Hotels & Resorts is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than DiamondRock Hospitality, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

Host Hotels & Resorts beats DiamondRock Hospitality on 17 of the 18 factors compared between the two stocks.

About DiamondRock Hospitality

DiamondRock Hospitality Company is a self-advised real estate investment trust (REIT) that is an owner of a leading portfolio of geographically diversified hotels concentrated in leisure destinations and top gateway markets. The Company currently owns 36 premium quality hotels with over 9,700 rooms. The Company has strategically positioned its portfolio to be operated both under leading global brand families as well as independent boutique hotels in the lifestyle segment.

About Host Hotels & Resorts

Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. is a real estate investment trust, which engages in the management of luxury and upper-upscale hotels. It operates through the following geographical segments: United States, Brazil, and Canada. The company was founded in 1927 and is headquartered in Bethesda, MD.