Wells Fargo & Company Has Lowered Expectations for Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH) Stock Price

Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH) had its target price dropped by Wells Fargo & Company from $138.00 to $137.00 in a report released on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has an “underweight” rating on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company‘s target price points to a potential downside of 4.81% from the stock’s current price.

Several other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on the company. Bank of America increased their price target on Choice Hotels International from $160.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, January 27th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an “underweight” rating and set a $129.00 price objective (down from $145.00) on shares of Choice Hotels International in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. StockNews.com raised shares of Choice Hotels International from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on Choice Hotels International from $145.00 to $160.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 25th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their target price on shares of Choice Hotels International from $113.00 to $114.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $139.83.

Choice Hotels International Stock Up 0.4 %

Shares of NYSE:CHH opened at $143.93 on Tuesday. Choice Hotels International has a twelve month low of $108.91 and a twelve month high of $157.86. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.73 billion, a PE ratio of 23.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 1.23. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $145.54 and its 200-day moving average price is $139.64.

Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 20th. The company reported $1.55 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.45 by $0.10. The business had revenue of $389.77 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $374.24 million. Choice Hotels International had a negative return on equity of 472.31% and a net margin of 18.91%. Analysts expect that Choice Hotels International will post 7.07 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Choice Hotels International

In related news, EVP Dominic Dragisich sold 3,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $148.30, for a total transaction of $519,050.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 68,913 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,219,797.90. This trade represents a 4.83 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 24.02% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Choice Hotels International

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA lifted its holdings in Choice Hotels International by 2.1% in the 4th quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA now owns 3,562 shares of the company’s stock worth $506,000 after buying an additional 74 shares in the last quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Choice Hotels International by 0.6% during the fourth quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 12,944 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,838,000 after acquiring an additional 76 shares during the period. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC boosted its stake in Choice Hotels International by 30.3% during the 4th quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 370 shares of the company’s stock valued at $52,000 after purchasing an additional 86 shares during the period. Captrust Financial Advisors grew its holdings in Choice Hotels International by 4.5% in the 4th quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 2,069 shares of the company’s stock worth $294,000 after buying an additional 90 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Occudo Quantitative Strategies LP grew its stake in shares of Choice Hotels International by 3.2% in the fourth quarter. Occudo Quantitative Strategies LP now owns 3,062 shares of the company’s stock worth $435,000 after purchasing an additional 95 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 65.57% of the company’s stock.

About Choice Hotels International

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.