Caprock Group LLC Lowers Stock Position in Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR)

Caprock Group LLC reduced its stake in shares of Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR) by 4.4% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,157 shares of the company’s stock after selling 327 shares during the period. Caprock Group LLC’s holdings in Marriott International were worth $1,779,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Pathstone Holdings LLC lifted its holdings in Marriott International by 3.5% in the 3rd quarter. Pathstone Holdings LLC now owns 208,994 shares of the company’s stock worth $51,956,000 after purchasing an additional 7,122 shares in the last quarter. Kinsale Capital Group Inc. purchased a new position in Marriott International in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $3,769,000. Natixis Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Marriott International by 18.8% in the 3rd quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 281,499 shares of the company’s stock worth $69,981,000 after purchasing an additional 44,540 shares in the last quarter. Mizuho Securities USA LLC lifted its holdings in Marriott International by 629.7% in the 3rd quarter. Mizuho Securities USA LLC now owns 134,973 shares of the company’s stock worth $33,554,000 after purchasing an additional 116,477 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Coastline Trust Co purchased a new position in Marriott International in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $99,000. 70.70% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Marriott International Stock Up 0.3 %

Shares of Marriott International stock opened at $280.18 on Thursday. Marriott International, Inc. has a 52 week low of $200.94 and a 52 week high of $289.04. The company has a market capitalization of $77.86 billion, a PE ratio of 29.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.48 and a beta of 1.58. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $259.78 and its two-hundred day moving average is $242.73.

Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR) last issued its earnings results on Monday, November 4th. The company reported $2.26 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.31 by ($0.05). Marriott International had a negative return on equity of 177.91% and a net margin of 11.18%. The firm had revenue of $6.26 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.27 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.11 earnings per share. Marriott International’s quarterly revenue was up 5.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Marriott International, Inc. will post 9.26 earnings per share for the current year.

Marriott International Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, November 21st will be issued a $0.63 dividend. This represents a $2.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.90%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 21st. Marriott International’s dividend payout ratio is 26.36%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Benjamin T. Breland sold 500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $274.49, for a total transaction of $137,245.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 12,286 shares in the company, valued at $3,372,384.14. This represents a 3.91 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Anthony Capuano sold 8,332 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $284.49, for a total value of $2,370,370.68. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 108,361 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $30,827,620.89. This trade represents a 7.14 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 12,108 shares of company stock worth $3,434,439 in the last three months. 10.07% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on MAR. UBS Group decreased their price objective on Marriott International from $267.00 to $244.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, August 13th. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on Marriott International in a report on Wednesday, September 18th. They set a “buy” rating and a $267.00 price objective on the stock. Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on Marriott International from $258.00 to $264.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Sanford C. Bernstein upped their price objective on Marriott International from $262.00 to $290.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Marriott International from $238.00 to $261.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 22nd. Thirteen analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $259.00.

Marriott International Profile

Marriott International, Inc engages in operating, franchising, and licensing hotel, residential, timeshare, and other lodging properties worldwide. It operates its properties under the JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, The Luxury Collection, W Hotels, St. Regis, EDITION, Bvlgari, Marriott Hotels, Sheraton, Westin, Autograph Collection, Renaissance Hotels, Le Méridien, Delta Hotels by Marriott, Tribute Portfolio, Gaylord Hotels, Design Hotels, Marriott Executive Apartments, Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy, Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield by Marriott, Residence Inn by Marriott, SpringHill Suites by Marriott, Four Points by Sheraton, TownePlace Suites by Marriott, Aloft Hotels, AC Hotels by Marriott, Moxy Hotels, Element Hotels, Protea Hotels by Marriott, City Express by Marriott, and St.