Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH) Short Interest Up 8.8% in January

Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in the month of January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 5,450,000 shares, an increase of 8.8% from the January 15th total of 5,010,000 shares. Approximately 20.8% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 303,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 18.0 days.

Choice Hotels International Price Performance

Choice Hotels International stock opened at $146.31 on Tuesday. Choice Hotels International has a 12-month low of $108.91 and a 12-month high of $156.25. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.05, a P/E/G ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 1.23. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $144.77 and its two-hundred day moving average is $137.89.

Choice Hotels International Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 16th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 2nd were paid a dividend of $0.2875 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 2nd. This represents a $1.15 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.79%. Choice Hotels International’s dividend payout ratio is currently 22.03%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have recently commented on CHH. Morgan Stanley restated an “underweight” rating and issued a $129.00 target price (down previously from $145.00) on shares of Choice Hotels International in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of Choice Hotels International from $122.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research note on Friday, December 13th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Choice Hotels International from $133.00 to $138.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised 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. Finally, Truist Financial raised their target price on shares of Choice Hotels International from $134.00 to $136.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $136.33.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Choice Hotels International

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its position in shares of Choice Hotels International by 81.4% in the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 399 shares of the company’s stock worth $47,000 after acquiring an additional 179 shares during the last quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC boosted its position in shares of Choice Hotels International by 30.3% in the fourth quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 370 shares of the company’s stock worth $52,000 after acquiring an additional 86 shares during the last quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Choice Hotels International in the third quarter worth approximately $55,000. Tortoise Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Choice Hotels International by 55.8% in the fourth quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC now owns 430 shares of the company’s stock worth $61,000 after acquiring an additional 154 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ boosted its position in shares of Choice Hotels International by 836.2% in the fourth quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ now owns 440 shares of the company’s stock worth $62,000 after acquiring an additional 393 shares during the last quarter. 65.57% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.