Zacks Research Has Pessimistic Outlook of HLT Q2 Earnings

Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT) – Investment analysts at Zacks Research decreased their Q2 2025 earnings per share estimates for shares of Hilton Worldwide in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, December 31st. Zacks Research analyst H. Ray now expects that the company will earn $2.15 per share for the quarter, down from their prior estimate of $2.18. The consensus estimate for Hilton Worldwide’s current full-year earnings is $7.00 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Hilton Worldwide’s FY2025 earnings at $7.72 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $2.33 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $8.59 EPS.

Several other equities analysts also recently issued reports on the stock. Melius Research reaffirmed a “hold” rating on shares of Hilton Worldwide in a research note on Monday, October 21st. Mizuho raised their target price on Hilton Worldwide from $237.00 to $243.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 24th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on Hilton Worldwide from $247.00 to $277.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on Hilton Worldwide from $219.00 to $226.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, December 13th. Finally, Robert W. Baird upped their target price on Hilton Worldwide from $235.00 to $236.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, October 24th. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Hilton Worldwide currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $238.24.

Hilton Worldwide Price Performance

Shares of NYSE HLT opened at $245.12 on Friday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $248.49 and a 200 day simple moving average of $229.92. Hilton Worldwide has a 1 year low of $178.23 and a 1 year high of $259.01. The firm has a market cap of $59.76 billion, a PE ratio of 52.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.18 and a beta of 1.30.

Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, October 23rd. The company reported $1.92 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.85 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $2.87 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.90 billion. Hilton Worldwide had a negative return on equity of 60.85% and a net margin of 10.70%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 7.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.67 earnings per share.

Institutional Trading of Hilton Worldwide

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of HLT. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of Hilton Worldwide in the third quarter valued at $25,000. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new position in shares of Hilton Worldwide in the third quarter valued at approximately $38,000. True Wealth Design LLC grew its holdings in Hilton Worldwide by 2,400.0% during the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 175 shares of the company’s stock worth $40,000 after buying an additional 168 shares in the last quarter. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Hilton Worldwide in the 3rd quarter valued at $46,000. Finally, Activest Wealth Management bought a new position in Hilton Worldwide during the 3rd quarter valued at $56,000. Institutional investors own 95.90% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at Hilton Worldwide

In other news, insider Michael W. Duffy sold 23,366 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $251.66, for a total transaction of $5,880,287.56. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 22,833 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,746,152.78. This represents a 50.58 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Insiders own 2.50% of the company’s stock.

Hilton Worldwide Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 15th were issued a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 15th. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.24%. Hilton Worldwide’s dividend payout ratio is currently 12.88%.

Hilton Worldwide announced that its board has initiated a stock buyback program on Thursday, November 14th that permits the company to repurchase $3.50 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the company to buy up to 5.7% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are generally an indication that the company’s board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

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.