Zacks Research Issues Optimistic Estimate for HLT Earnings

Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT) – Research analysts at Zacks Research increased their Q1 2026 earnings estimates for Hilton Worldwide in a research note issued on Wednesday, February 25th. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the company will earn $1.91 per share for the quarter, up from their previous forecast of $1.87. The consensus estimate for Hilton Worldwide’s current full-year earnings is $7.89 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Hilton Worldwide’s Q2 2026 earnings at $2.37 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $2.29 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $2.20 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $8.77 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $2.09 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $2.87 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $2.78 EPS and Q4 2027 earnings at $2.48 EPS.

HLT has been the subject of several other research reports. Evercore boosted their target price on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $325.00 to $335.00 in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Mizuho lifted their price target on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $266.00 to $321.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Macquarie Infrastructure upped their price objective on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $267.00 to $280.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on Hilton Worldwide from $285.00 to $305.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, UBS Group upped their target price on Hilton Worldwide from $312.00 to $360.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $326.32.

Hilton Worldwide Stock Up 0.2%

NYSE HLT opened at $313.51 on Thursday. Hilton Worldwide has a fifty-two week low of $196.04 and a fifty-two week high of $333.86. The business has a fifty day moving average of $301.73 and a 200-day moving average of $281.07. The stock has a market cap of $71.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 51.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 1.13.

Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The company reported $2.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.02 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $1.30 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.99 billion. Hilton Worldwide had a negative return on equity of 40.24% and a net margin of 12.10%.Hilton Worldwide’s revenue was up 10.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.76 EPS. Hilton Worldwide has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.490-8.610 EPS and its Q1 2026 guidance at 1.910-1.970 EPS.

Hilton Worldwide Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be paid a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 27th. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.2%. Hilton Worldwide’s dividend payout ratio is currently 9.80%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Hilton Worldwide

In other news, insider Christopher J. Nassetta sold 114,289 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $317.47, for a total transaction of $36,283,328.83. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 36,445 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,570,194.15. The trade was a 75.82% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 2.60% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. raised its position in shares of Hilton Worldwide by 10.9% during the 3rd quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 42,287 shares of the company’s stock valued at $10,971,000 after acquiring an additional 4,155 shares in the last quarter. Railway Pension Investments Ltd increased its stake in Hilton Worldwide by 15.0% during the third quarter. Railway Pension Investments Ltd now owns 38,400 shares of the company’s stock valued at $9,962,000 after purchasing an additional 5,000 shares during the last quarter. Candriam S.C.A. raised its holdings in shares of Hilton Worldwide by 11.2% during the third quarter. Candriam S.C.A. now owns 73,823 shares of the company’s stock worth $19,153,000 after purchasing an additional 7,441 shares during the period. Partners Capital Investment Group LLP acquired a new position in shares of Hilton Worldwide in the 3rd quarter valued at about $4,684,000. Finally, National Pension Service grew its position in shares of Hilton Worldwide by 1.6% during the 3rd quarter. National Pension Service now owns 623,180 shares of the company’s stock valued at $161,678,000 after buying an additional 9,954 shares during the last quarter. 95.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Key Hilton Worldwide News

Here are the key news stories impacting Hilton Worldwide this week:

• Positive Sentiment: UBS raised its price target to $360 and kept a Buy rating, providing a sizable upside anchor for the stock and likely helping push the shares higher. UBS raises HLT PT to $360
• Positive Sentiment: Sanford C. Bernstein increased its price target to $322, another fresh analyst boost that supports further upside momentum. Sanford C. Bernstein raises HLT PT to $322
• Positive Sentiment: Short interest fell ~13.1% in February (to ~5.08M shares), reducing immediate downside pressure from shorts and lowering the days-to-cover to ~2.0 — a bullish technical factor for near-term price stability.
• Neutral Sentiment: Zacks also raised several quarterly estimates (for example, Q1 2026 to $1.91 and certain mid/late‑2027 quarters), indicating pockets of optimism for near-term cadence, but these increases are mixed with cuts elsewhere.
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks cut its FY2026 estimate (to $8.77 from $9.04) and trimmed multiple quarterly estimates (notably Q3 & Q4 2026 and Q1 2027), which reduces forward earnings expectations and is a headwind for valuation-sensitive investors.
• Negative Sentiment: A Seeking Alpha piece warns that Hilton’s valuation is extended near its one‑year high, a narrative that can cap upside if investors re‑rate the P/E (~51x) or become more risk‑averse. Seeking Alpha: Valuation concerns

Hilton Worldwide Company Profile

Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc is a global hospitality company that develops, owns, manages and franchises a broad portfolio of hotels and resorts. Its business spans full-service luxury and lifestyle properties, select- and focused-service hotels, and extended-stay accommodations. The company generates revenue through management and franchise fees, owned and leased real estate, and guest services, and supports customer retention and direct bookings through its Hilton Honors guest loyalty program.

Hilton’s brand portfolio includes internationally recognized names across the lodging spectrum, from luxury and upper-upscale brands to midscale and extended-stay offerings.