Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. Decreases Stock Holdings in Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH)

Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. trimmed its position in shares of Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH) by 24.3% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 4,526 shares of the company’s stock after selling 1,456 shares during the period. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc.’s holdings in Choice Hotels International were worth $601,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of CHH. UMB Bank n.a. raised its holdings in shares of Choice Hotels International by 66.2% during the 1st quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 256 shares of the company’s stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 102 shares in the last quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Choice Hotels International by 30.3% during the 4th quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 370 shares of the company’s stock worth $52,000 after acquiring an additional 86 shares in the last quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Choice Hotels International by 55.8% during the 4th quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC now owns 430 shares of the company’s stock worth $61,000 after acquiring an additional 154 shares in the last quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ raised its holdings in shares of Choice Hotels International by 836.2% during the 4th quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ now owns 440 shares of the company’s stock worth $62,000 after acquiring an additional 393 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Choice Hotels International during the 4th quarter worth approximately $62,000. 65.57% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity at Choice Hotels International

In related news, Director Ervin R. Shames sold 2,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $129.56, for a total value of $259,120.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 52,212 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,764,586.72. This represents a 3.69% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 23.78% of the company’s stock.

Choice Hotels International Price Performance

Shares of NYSE CHH opened at $127.03 on Friday. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $126.47 and its two-hundred day moving average is $135.20. Choice Hotels International, Inc. has a 1-year low of $116.13 and a 1-year high of $157.86. The company has a market cap of $5.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.39, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.12 and a beta of 0.97.

Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The company reported $1.34 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.38 by ($0.04). The company had revenue of $332.86 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $348.52 million. Choice Hotels International had a negative return on equity of 377.51% and a net margin of 19.75%. Choice Hotels International’s revenue for the quarter was up .3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.28 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Choice Hotels International, Inc. will post 7.07 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Choice Hotels International Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 16th. Investors of record on Tuesday, July 1st will be given a $0.2875 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, July 1st. This represents a $1.15 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.91%. Choice Hotels International’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 17.56%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

CHH has been the topic of several recent research reports. Redburn Atlantic raised Choice Hotels International from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $132.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Monday, March 24th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on Choice Hotels International from $124.00 to $115.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Robert W. Baird decreased their price target on Choice Hotels International from $150.00 to $145.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, May 19th. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price target on Choice Hotels International from $154.00 to $133.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. Finally, Susquehanna set a $140.00 price target on Choice Hotels International and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, May 16th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Choice Hotels International currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $131.31.

Choice Hotels International Company Profile

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.