Empirical Finance LLC Sells 129 Shares of Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR)

Empirical Finance LLC lowered its position in shares of Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR) by 1.5% during the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 8,694 shares of the company’s stock after selling 129 shares during the quarter. Empirical Finance LLC’s holdings in Marriott International were worth $2,425,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in MAR. Empowered Funds LLC boosted its holdings in Marriott International by 11.8% in the 4th quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 4,174 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,164,000 after purchasing an additional 440 shares during the period. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in Marriott International by 3.3% in the fourth quarter. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,806 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,062,000 after acquiring an additional 120 shares during the last quarter. Apollon Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Marriott International by 33.1% during the 4th quarter. Apollon Wealth Management LLC now owns 7,013 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,956,000 after buying an additional 1,743 shares in the last quarter. TFG Advisers LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Marriott International by 0.8% in the fourth quarter. TFG Advisers LLC now owns 4,426 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,235,000 after acquiring an additional 37 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BayBridge Capital Group LLC lifted its stake in Marriott International by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. BayBridge Capital Group LLC now owns 5,182 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,445,000 after purchasing an additional 139 shares during the last quarter. 70.70% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have weighed in on MAR. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Marriott International from $262.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Bank of America upped their target price on Marriott International from $275.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, October 21st. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price target on Marriott International from $251.00 to $295.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 2nd. Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on Marriott International from $258.00 to $264.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein boosted their target price on shares of Marriott International from $262.00 to $290.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Thirteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $276.35.

Marriott International Stock Performance

Marriott International stock opened at $303.97 on Monday. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $283.94 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $260.83. The stock has a market capitalization of $84.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.80, a PEG ratio of 4.88 and a beta of 1.57. Marriott International, Inc. has a 52-week low of $204.55 and a 52-week high of $307.52.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Marriott International news, insider William P. Brown sold 1,707 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $284.30, for a total value of $485,300.10. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 23,077 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,560,791.10. This trade represents a 6.89 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Anthony Capuano sold 8,332 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $284.49, for a total value of $2,370,370.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 108,361 shares in the company, valued at approximately $30,827,620.89. This represents a 7.14 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 12.32% of the company’s stock.

About Marriott International

Marriott International, Inc engages in operating, franchising, and licensing hotel, residential, timeshare, and other lodging properties worldwide. It operates its properties under the JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, The Luxury Collection, W Hotels, St. Regis, EDITION, Bvlgari, Marriott Hotels, Sheraton, Westin, Autograph Collection, Renaissance Hotels, Le Méridien, Delta Hotels by Marriott, Tribute Portfolio, Gaylord Hotels, Design Hotels, Marriott Executive Apartments, Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy, Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield by Marriott, Residence Inn by Marriott, SpringHill Suites by Marriott, Four Points by Sheraton, TownePlace Suites by Marriott, Aloft Hotels, AC Hotels by Marriott, Moxy Hotels, Element Hotels, Protea Hotels by Marriott, City Express by Marriott, and St.