Trust Co. of Vermont Has $148,000 Position in Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH)

Trust Co. of Vermont grew its stake in Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH) by 34.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,045 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 265 shares during the period. Trust Co. of Vermont’s holdings in Choice Hotels International were worth $148,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in CHH. American Century Companies Inc. increased its position in Choice Hotels International by 11.5% during the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 12,609 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,500,000 after purchasing an additional 1,296 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its position in shares of Choice Hotels International by 4.1% in the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 675,142 shares of the company’s stock worth $80,340,000 after purchasing an additional 26,289 shares during the period. Bridges Investment Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Choice Hotels International in the 2nd quarter valued at $249,000. Sei Investments Co. raised its position in shares of Choice Hotels International by 35.1% in the 2nd quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 30,201 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,594,000 after acquiring an additional 7,842 shares in the last quarter. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Choice Hotels International by 58.1% in the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 4,159 shares of the company’s stock valued at $530,000 after purchasing an additional 1,528 shares during the period. 65.57% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Patrick Pacious sold 26,816 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.69, for a total value of $3,880,007.04. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 404,666 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $58,551,123.54. This trade represents a 6.21 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Insiders own 24.02% of the company’s stock.

Choice Hotels International Stock Performance

Shares of CHH opened at $141.82 on Monday. Choice Hotels International, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $108.91 and a fifty-two week high of $153.81. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $144.67 and a 200-day moving average price of $134.49. The firm has a market cap of $6.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.17, a PEG ratio of 2.12 and a beta of 1.24.

Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, November 4th. The company reported $2.23 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.92 by $0.31. The business had revenue of $428.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $432.62 million. Choice Hotels International had a net margin of 16.27% and a negative return on equity of 659.01%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up .6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.82 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Choice Hotels International, Inc. will post 6.84 earnings per share for the current year.

Choice Hotels International Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 16th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 2nd were given a $0.2875 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 2nd. This represents a $1.15 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.81%. Choice Hotels International’s payout ratio is currently 22.03%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

CHH has been the topic of several research reports. Morgan Stanley reiterated an “underweight” rating and set a $129.00 price objective (down previously from $145.00) on shares of Choice Hotels International in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on shares of 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 began coverage on shares of Choice Hotels International in a research report on Thursday, December 5th. They issued an “underweight” rating and a $133.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com raised shares of Choice Hotels International from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 3rd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price target on Choice Hotels International from $113.00 to $114.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $133.27.

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.