Hilton Worldwide Target of Unusually Large Options Trading (NYSE:HLT)

Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT) saw unusually large options trading activity on Tuesday. Investors purchased 41,800 call options on the company. This represents an increase of 2,240% compared to the average volume of 1,786 call options.

Hilton Worldwide Trading Up 0.6 %

HLT traded up $1.20 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $211.33. 2,605,950 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,718,860. The stock has a market capitalization of $50.64 billion, a PE ratio of 34.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 1.19. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $241.01 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $244.11. Hilton Worldwide has a one year low of $193.86 and a one year high of $275.22.

Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $1.76 EPS for the quarter, topping 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%. Sell-side analysts expect that Hilton Worldwide will post 7.89 earnings per share for the current year.

Hilton Worldwide Dividend Announcement

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

Insider Transactions at Hilton Worldwide

In related news, insider Christopher J. Nassetta sold 40,653 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $268.83, for a total value of $10,928,745.99. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 77,383 shares in the company, valued at $20,802,871.89. This represents a 34.44 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 2.50% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Hilton Worldwide

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Noble Wealth Management PBC acquired a new position in shares of Hilton Worldwide in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. VSM Wealth Advisory LLC bought a new stake in shares of Hilton Worldwide in the 4th quarter worth $28,000. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. bought a new stake in Hilton Worldwide in the 4th quarter worth about $34,000. Sierra Ocean LLC bought a new position in shares of Hilton Worldwide during the 4th quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, Hopwood Financial Services Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Hilton Worldwide in the 4th quarter worth approximately $41,000. 95.90% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have recently weighed in on HLT. Susquehanna upped their price target on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $247.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 25th. Barclays boosted their price target on Hilton Worldwide from $270.00 to $287.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, February 7th. Macquarie lifted their target price on Hilton Worldwide from $248.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $232.00 to $240.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and issued a $235.00 target price (down previously from $296.00) on shares of Hilton Worldwide in a research report on Monday. Twelve research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $248.88.

Hilton Worldwide Company Profile

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.