Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH) Releases Earnings Results, Beats Estimates By $0.04 EPS

Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH) announced its earnings results on Monday. The company reported $2.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.29 by $0.04, Zacks reports. Choice Hotels International had a return on equity of 205.69% and a net margin of 20.28%.

Choice Hotels International Trading Down 0.3%

Shares of Choice Hotels International stock opened at $110.87 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $4.99 billion, a PE ratio of 15.66, a P/E/G ratio of 2.53 and a beta of 0.65. Choice Hotels International has a 1 year low of $84.04 and a 1 year high of $123.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 14.08, a current ratio of 0.93 and a quick ratio of 0.93. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $104.27 and a 200-day moving average price of $107.11.

Choice Hotels International Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, October 1st were paid a $0.2875 dividend. This represents a $1.15 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.0%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, October 1st. Choice Hotels International’s dividend payout ratio is 16.24%.

Insider Transactions at Choice Hotels International

In other Choice Hotels International news, Director William L. Jews sold 5,057 shares of Choice Hotels International stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $106.98, for a total value of $540,997.86. Following the sale, the director owned 23,987 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,566,129.26. The trade was a 17.41% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Dominic Dragisich sold 1,227 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $112.00, for a total transaction of $137,424.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 90,055 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,086,160. The trade was a 1.34% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 23.87% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on CHH shares. Robert W. Baird lowered their price target on Choice Hotels International from $129.00 to $128.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, September 29th. Freedom Broker began coverage on shares of Choice Hotels International in a report on Wednesday, October 14th. They set a “buy” rating and a $117.00 price objective on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a “hold” rating and issued a $124.00 target price on shares of Choice Hotels International in a report on Thursday, August 6th. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Choice Hotels International from $102.00 to $103.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research report on Friday, October 16th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of Choice Hotels International from $97.00 to $98.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a report on Monday, October 19th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Choice Hotels International presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $113.38.

Choice Hotels International Company Profile

Choice Hotels International, Inc is a global lodging franchisor that licenses its hotel brands to independent owners and operators. The company supports its franchisees through brand standards, reservation and distribution systems, marketing, loyalty programs, technology, and operational services rather than primarily owning and operating hotels itself.

Its portfolio includes brands serving a range of price points and travel needs, including Comfort, Quality Inn, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Econo Lodge, MainStay Suites, Suburban Studios, WoodSpring Suites, Cambria Hotels, and the Ascend Hotel Collection.