Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT) Shares Purchased by Birch Hill Investment Advisors LLC

Birch Hill Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT) by 3.7% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 9,263 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 332 shares during the period. Birch Hill Investment Advisors LLC’s holdings in Hilton Worldwide were worth $2,289,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in HLT. Entropy Technologies LP purchased a new stake in shares of Hilton Worldwide in the fourth quarter worth about $3,679,000. Empowered Funds LLC lifted its holdings in Hilton Worldwide by 20.0% in the fourth quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 4,466 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,104,000 after acquiring an additional 744 shares during the period. Golden State Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Hilton Worldwide in the 4th quarter worth approximately $554,000. Bleakley Financial Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Hilton Worldwide by 2.9% during the 4th quarter. Bleakley Financial Group LLC now owns 18,441 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,558,000 after purchasing an additional 516 shares during the period. Finally, Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Hilton Worldwide by 22.5% during the 4th quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 27,992 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,981,000 after purchasing an additional 5,134 shares in the last quarter. 95.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Michael W. Duffy sold 23,366 shares of Hilton Worldwide stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $251.66, for a total value of $5,880,287.56. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 22,833 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,746,152.78. This trade represents a 50.58 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider Christopher J. Nassetta sold 40,653 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $268.83, for a total value of $10,928,745.99. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 77,383 shares in the company, valued at $20,802,871.89. This trade represents a 34.44 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 2.50% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently commented on HLT shares. Macquarie raised their price target on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $248.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday. Barclays lifted their price target on Hilton Worldwide from $270.00 to $287.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday. Robert W. Baird increased their price target on Hilton Worldwide from $235.00 to $236.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 24th. Truist Financial boosted their price objective on Hilton Worldwide from $208.00 to $220.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 24th. Finally, Melius Research reissued a “hold” rating on shares of Hilton Worldwide in a research note on Monday, October 21st. Twelve equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $244.06.

Hilton Worldwide Price Performance

Hilton Worldwide stock opened at $269.55 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $65.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 43.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.85 and a beta of 1.29. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $250.63 and a 200-day simple moving average of $235.85. Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. has a 1-year low of $186.83 and a 1-year high of $274.18.

Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $1.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.67 by $0.09. Hilton Worldwide had a negative return on equity of 57.01% and a net margin of 13.74%. Equities analysts expect that Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. will post 7.76 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hilton Worldwide declared that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase plan on Thursday, November 14th that allows the company to repurchase $3.50 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the company to buy up to 5.7% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are typically a sign that the company’s board believes its stock is undervalued.

Hilton Worldwide Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.15 per share. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.22%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 21st. Hilton Worldwide’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 9.76%.

About Hilton Worldwide

Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc, a hospitality company, engages in managing, franchising, owning, and leasing hotels and resorts. It operates through two segments, Management and Franchise, and Ownership. The company engages in the hotel management and licensing of its brands. It operates luxury hotels under the Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, LXR Hotels & Resorts, and Conrad Hotels & Resorts brand; lifestyle hotels under the Canopy by Hilton, Curio Collection by Hilton, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, Tempo by Hilton, and Motto by Hilton brand; full service hotels under the Signia by Hilton, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, and DoubleTree by Hilton brand; service hotels under the Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton by Hilton, and Tru by Hilton brand; all-suite hotels under the Embassy Suites by Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton, and Home2 Suites by Hilton brand; and economy hotel under the Spark by Hilton brand, as well as Hilton Grand Vacations.