Erste Asset Management GmbH Takes $19.55 Million Position in Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH)

Erste Asset Management GmbH acquired a new position in shares of Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH) during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm acquired 150,000 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $19,545,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Choice Hotels International by 12.9% during the third quarter. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC now owns 843 shares of the company’s stock valued at $110,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares during the last quarter. AGF Management Ltd. increased its position in Choice Hotels International by 0.5% in the second quarter. AGF Management Ltd. now owns 20,940 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,492,000 after buying an additional 101 shares during the period. Huntington National Bank lifted its stake in Choice Hotels International by 4.7% in the third quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 2,267 shares of the company’s stock valued at $295,000 after buying an additional 101 shares during the last quarter. Aurora Investment Managers LLC. boosted its holdings in shares of Choice Hotels International by 0.9% during the third quarter. Aurora Investment Managers LLC. now owns 12,465 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,624,000 after acquiring an additional 113 shares during the period. Finally, MJP Associates Inc. ADV grew its position in shares of Choice Hotels International by 7.4% during the second quarter. MJP Associates Inc. ADV now owns 1,836 shares of the company’s stock worth $219,000 after acquiring an additional 127 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 65.57% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CEO Patrick Pacious sold 26,816 shares of Choice Hotels International stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.69, for a total value of $3,880,007.04. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 404,666 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $58,551,123.54. This trade represents a 6.21 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, SVP Simone Wu sold 7,840 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.08, for a total transaction of $1,019,827.20. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 45,669 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,940,623.52. This trade represents a 14.65 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 71,437 shares of company stock worth $9,788,980. Company insiders own 24.02% of the company’s stock.

Choice Hotels International Stock Up 0.4 %

CHH stock opened at $151.24 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $7.09 billion, a PE ratio of 28.97, a P/E/G ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 1.24. Choice Hotels International, Inc. has a 12 month low of $108.91 and a 12 month high of $153.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 177.75, a current ratio of 0.71 and a quick ratio of 0.71. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $139.24 and a 200 day simple moving average of $127.73.

Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, November 4th. The company reported $2.23 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.92 by $0.31. The company had revenue of $428.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $432.62 million. Choice Hotels International had a negative return on equity of 659.01% and a net margin of 16.27%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up .6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.82 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Choice Hotels International, Inc. will post 6.84 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Choice Hotels International Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, October 16th. Investors of record on Tuesday, October 1st were paid a $0.2875 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, October 1st. This represents a $1.15 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.76%. Choice Hotels International’s dividend payout ratio is currently 22.03%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Susquehanna lifted their price objective on shares of Choice Hotels International from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on Choice Hotels International from $138.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. Barclays lifted their target price on Choice Hotels International from $112.00 to $123.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on Choice Hotels International from $105.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock a “sell” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Finally, Truist Financial reduced their price objective on shares of Choice Hotels International from $144.00 to $134.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, September 4th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $130.00.

Choice Hotels International Company Profile

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.