JPMorgan Chase & Co. Forecasts Strong Price Appreciation for Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH) Stock

Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH) had its price objective increased by investment analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $122.00 to $135.00 in a note issued to investors on Friday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an “underweight” rating on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co.‘s price target suggests a potential downside of 7.77% from the stock’s current price.

Several other analysts also recently weighed in on CHH. Barclays upped their price objective on Choice Hotels International from $112.00 to $123.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Choice Hotels International from $134.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 13th. Robert W. Baird upped their target price on Choice Hotels International from $138.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. Wells Fargo & Company started coverage on Choice Hotels International in a report on Thursday, December 5th. They issued an “underweight” rating and a $133.00 target price for the company. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on Choice Hotels International from $118.00 to $138.00 and gave the stock a “sell” rating in a report on Tuesday. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Choice Hotels International currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $133.64.

Choice Hotels International Stock Performance

CHH opened at $146.37 on Friday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $142.22 and a 200 day simple moving average of $129.52. The company has a market capitalization of $6.87 billion, a PE ratio of 28.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 1.23. Choice Hotels International has a 1 year low of $108.91 and a 1 year 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.

Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH) last released its earnings results on Monday, November 4th. The company reported $2.23 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.92 by $0.31. The firm 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 revenue was up .6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.82 EPS. Research analysts expect that Choice Hotels International will post 6.84 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Patrick Cimerola sold 1,714 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $135.00, for a total transaction of $231,390.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 18,084 shares in the company, valued at $2,441,340. This represents a 8.66 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Dominic Dragisich sold 9,138 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $134.88, for a total value of $1,232,533.44. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 68,509 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,240,493.92. The trade was a 11.77 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 61,412 shares of company stock valued at $8,582,271. Company insiders own 24.02% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Choice Hotels International

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. SG Americas Securities LLC boosted its holdings in Choice Hotels International by 161.3% in the second quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 10,341 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,231,000 after acquiring an additional 6,384 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Choice Hotels International by 26.5% in the second quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 5,450 shares of the company’s stock valued at $649,000 after purchasing an additional 1,140 shares in the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Choice Hotels International by 307.4% in the second quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 220 shares of the company’s stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 166 shares in the last quarter. Everpar Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Choice Hotels International by 17.0% in the second quarter. Everpar Advisors LLC now owns 2,133 shares of the company’s stock valued at $254,000 after purchasing an additional 310 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James & Associates lifted its holdings in shares of Choice Hotels International by 5.6% in the second quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 251,032 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,873,000 after purchasing an additional 13,412 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 65.57% of the company’s stock.

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.