B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG Raises Stake in Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR)

B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG increased its stake in shares of Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR) by 3.8% during the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 8,967 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 328 shares during the period. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG’s holdings in Marriott International were worth $2,501,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Public Sector Pension Investment Board increased its holdings in Marriott International by 5.9% during the 3rd quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 8,944 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,223,000 after acquiring an additional 500 shares in the last quarter. Edgestream Partners L.P. grew its holdings in Marriott International by 18.8% during the 3rd quarter. Edgestream Partners L.P. now owns 6,141 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,527,000 after buying an additional 970 shares during the last quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Marriott International by 4,324.2% in the third quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 5,486 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,364,000 after acquiring an additional 5,362 shares during the last quarter. Hilltop Holdings Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Marriott International during the third quarter valued at $270,000. Finally, Janus Henderson Group PLC increased its position in Marriott International by 8.4% during the 3rd quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 613,052 shares of the company’s stock worth $152,399,000 after purchasing an additional 47,551 shares in the last quarter. 70.70% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on shares of Marriott International from $280.00 to $314.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. Evercore ISI upgraded Marriott International from an “in-line” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $330.00 price target for the company in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. UBS Group lifted their price objective on Marriott International from $294.00 to $301.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Barclays reduced their target price on Marriott International from $287.00 to $283.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of Marriott International from $251.00 to $269.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, December 13th. Thirteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued 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 $286.05.

Insider Transactions at Marriott International

In other news, Director Susan C. Schwab sold 1,054 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $277.48, for a total transaction of $292,463.92. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 4,551 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,262,811.48. This represents a 18.80 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Rena Hozore Reiss sold 3,500 shares of Marriott International stock in a transaction on Friday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $286.65, for a total transaction of $1,003,275.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 24,733 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,089,714.45. This trade represents a 12.40 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 31,694 shares of company stock valued at $8,938,132. Corporate insiders own 12.32% of the company’s stock.

Marriott International Trading Up 0.0 %

Shares of MAR stock opened at $238.24 on Wednesday. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $270.75 and its 200-day simple moving average is $271.02. Marriott International, Inc. has a 52 week low of $204.55 and a 52 week high of $307.52. The company has a market cap of $65.68 billion, a PE ratio of 28.63, a P/E/G ratio of 3.42 and a beta of 1.58.

Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 11th. The company reported $2.45 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.37 by $0.08. Marriott International had a negative return on equity of 116.67% and a net margin of 9.46%. Equities research analysts expect that Marriott International, Inc. will post 10.1 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Marriott International Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 27th were paid a dividend of $0.63 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 27th. This represents a $2.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.06%. Marriott International’s dividend payout ratio is currently 30.29%.

About Marriott International

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.