Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT) Given New $228.00 Price Target at Jefferies Financial Group

Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT) had its price objective reduced by Jefferies Financial Group from $277.00 to $228.00 in a report published on Wednesday morning,Benzinga reports. Jefferies Financial Group currently has a hold rating on the stock.

Several other research analysts also recently commented on the stock. Macquarie increased their price objective on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $248.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, February 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on Hilton Worldwide from $247.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. Raymond James upped their price target on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $250.00 to $290.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, February 10th. Truist Financial lowered their price target on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $258.00 to $251.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 21st. Finally, Barclays upped their price objective on Hilton Worldwide from $270.00 to $287.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Hilton Worldwide has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $251.50.

Hilton Worldwide Trading Down 3.0 %

Shares of HLT traded down $6.59 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $212.06. 2,120,546 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,698,414. Hilton Worldwide has a 52-week low of $193.86 and a 52-week high of $275.22. The company has a market cap of $50.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 1.19. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $243.83 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $244.44.

Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $1.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.67 by $0.09. Hilton Worldwide had a negative return on equity of 54.47% and a net margin of 13.74%. On average, research analysts forecast that Hilton Worldwide will post 7.89 EPS for the current year.

Hilton Worldwide Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 21st were given a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 21st. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.28%. Hilton Worldwide’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 9.76%.

Insider Transactions at Hilton Worldwide

In related news, insider Christopher J. Nassetta sold 40,653 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $268.83, for a total transaction of $10,928,745.99. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 77,383 shares in the company, valued at $20,802,871.89. The trade was a 34.44 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Corporate insiders own 2.50% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hilton Worldwide

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of HLT. Unigestion Holding SA increased its position in Hilton Worldwide by 304.3% during the 1st quarter. Unigestion Holding SA now owns 7,682 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,748,000 after buying an additional 5,782 shares in the last quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC boosted its position in Hilton Worldwide by 65.3% in the first quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 5,044 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,148,000 after buying an additional 1,992 shares during the last quarter. NBC Securities Inc. acquired a new position in Hilton Worldwide in the 1st quarter worth approximately $90,000. Czech National Bank raised its holdings in shares of Hilton Worldwide by 4.6% during the first quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 55,262 shares of the company’s stock worth $12,575,000 after purchasing an additional 2,405 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Rhumbline Advisers grew its position in Hilton Worldwide by 1.0% during the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 464,810 shares of the company’s stock worth $105,769,000 after purchasing an additional 4,622 shares during the period. 95.90% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.