Bridgewater Advisors Inc. Has $13.81 Million Stake in Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR)

Bridgewater Advisors Inc. cut its position in shares of Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR) by 1.0% in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 49,960 shares of the company’s stock after selling 512 shares during the period. Marriott International comprises 1.4% of Bridgewater Advisors Inc.’s portfolio, making the stock its 20th biggest holding. Bridgewater Advisors Inc.’s holdings in Marriott International were worth $13,810,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Intech Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Marriott International by 10.7% during the 2nd quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 7,980 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,929,000 after buying an additional 770 shares during the last quarter. Bridges Investment Management Inc. boosted its position in Marriott International by 17.1% during the second quarter. Bridges Investment Management Inc. now owns 3,240 shares of the company’s stock valued at $783,000 after purchasing an additional 474 shares during the last quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ grew its stake in Marriott International by 0.6% in the second quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ now owns 51,418 shares of the company’s stock valued at $12,426,000 after purchasing an additional 305 shares in the last quarter. Summit Trail Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Marriott International by 142.3% during the 2nd quarter. Summit Trail Advisors LLC now owns 4,632 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,120,000 after purchasing an additional 2,720 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Holderness Investments Co. grew its stake in shares of Marriott International by 3.1% in the second quarter. Holderness Investments Co. now owns 3,592 shares of the company’s stock valued at $868,000 after buying an additional 109 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 70.70% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

MAR has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Bank of America increased their price target on shares of Marriott International from $275.00 to $300.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, October 21st. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price target on Marriott International from $251.00 to $295.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 2nd. Sanford C. Bernstein raised their price objective on Marriott International from $262.00 to $290.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Marriott International from $238.00 to $261.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 22nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on shares of Marriott International from $251.00 to $269.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, December 13th. Fourteen research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $272.15.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider William P. Brown sold 1,707 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated 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 directly owns 23,077 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,560,791.10. The trade was a 6.89 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CFO Kathleen K. Oberg sold 2,360 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $285.41, for a total value of $673,567.60. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 39,726 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $11,338,197.66. This trade represents a 5.61 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 13,815 shares of company stock worth $3,919,739. Corporate insiders own 10.07% of the company’s stock.

Marriott International Stock Up 0.4 %

Shares of NASDAQ:MAR opened at $277.18 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $77.03 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.99, a P/E/G ratio of 4.48 and a beta of 1.57. Marriott International, Inc. has a 12-month low of $204.55 and a 12-month high of $295.45. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $282.53 and a 200 day simple moving average of $256.02.

Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, November 4th. The company reported $2.26 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.31 by ($0.05). Marriott International had a negative return on equity of 177.91% and a net margin of 11.18%. The company had revenue of $6.26 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.27 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.11 earnings per share. Marriott International’s revenue was up 5.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Marriott International, Inc. will post 9.25 EPS for the current year.

Marriott International Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, November 21st were issued a $0.63 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, November 21st. This represents a $2.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.91%. Marriott International’s payout ratio is currently 26.36%.

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.