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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Choice Hotels International and Intercontinental Hotels Group
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For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – November 14, 2017 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include Marriott International (MAR - Free Report) , Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (HLT - Free Report) , Choice Hotels International, Inc. (CHH - Free Report) and Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG - Free Report) .
Disappointed by Travel Service Performances? Buy These Hotel Stocks
Online travel booking companies like Priceline, Expedia and TripAdvisor all reported mixed quarterly results, but investors punished the shares regardless.
In Priceline’s case, the company’s reported revenue and earnings of $4.43 billion and $35.22 a share, represent double digit growth from the year ago quarter and are ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate. While Priceline usually guides conservatively to come back and beat the lowered expectations, this time investors weren’t willing to give it the benefit of the doubt.
Expedia on the other hand, reported revenue and earnings that missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate but revenues still managed to grow from last year. What’s worse, it lowered its EBITDA outlook for the year from 10-15% to a mid- to high-single-digit percentage rate.
TripAdvisor missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate on the top line while beating on the bottom line. Earnings were below the year-ago level.
When all the major players in any market produce unsatisfactory earnings reports, there’s very likely to be a common factor hitting them. In this case, it’s the hotels themselves.
Hotels generally share their inventory with online travel companies to facilitate the distribution of room nights for a fee. But as they grew larger and started enjoying the benefits of scale, these OTAs charged higher and higher fees, such that smaller hotels couldn’t afford it, while larger hotels had to part with a good amount of their profits.
Or at least that is what hotels are saying through the American Hotel & Lodging Association. The association is looking to lobby people in the new administration and those serving in the ITC, objecting to what they call the companies’ monopolistic business.
Another gripe with hotels is the online travel agents’ refusal to pay occupancy tax, thus forcing hotels to pay.
Google is also eating their lunch. The leading search engine is gaining on all fronts, first through advertising fees that companies like Expedia and Priceline pay and second, through services like Book on Google that lead customers directly to the hotel’s app or web portal.
The hotel, then, offers loyalty points and other incentives to encourage customers to come directly to them instead of through an online travel agent. A recent report from Skift estimates that Google’s travel business is now worth a $100 billion, or more than Priceline.
OTAs can’t afford to sit and wait until all the business is lost. So they are investing heavily in marketing. This, again, is hurting their profits.
If this is a depressing picture, it luckily isn’t the only alternative for investors looking for travel exposure. And indeed, since hotels are pitted against OTAs in this battle, why not invest in hotels themselves? So here is a list of hotels that are worth investing in right now.
Marriott International
Marriott International is the world's largest hotel company. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts. The company's many leading brands include: Bulgari, The Ritz-Carlton® and The Ritz-Carlton Reserve, St. Regis, W, EDITION, JW Marriott, The Luxury Collection, Marriott Hotels, Westin, Le Méridien, Renaissance Hotels, Sheraton, Delta Hotels by MarriottSM, Marriott Executive Apartments, Marriott Vacation Club, Autograph Collection Hotels, Tribute Portfolio, Design Hotels, Gaylord Hotels, Courtyard, Four Points by Sheraton, SpringHill Suites, Fairfield Inn & Suites, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, AC Hotels by Marriott, Aloft, Element, Moxy Hotels and Protea Hotels by Marriott. The company also operates award-winning loyalty programs: Marriott Rewards, which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest.
Zacks Rank #2
Average EPS surprise in the last 4 quarters is 9.1%.
Estimated revenue growth in 2017 is 31.1% and in 2018 is 5.1%.
Estimated EPS growth in 2017 is 11.0% and in 2018 is 13.1%.
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.
Hilton Worldwide Holdings owns, leases, manages, develops and franchises hotels, resorts and timeshare properties. Its portfolio of brand names consist of Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn, Homewood Suites by Hilton and Home2 Suites by Hilton and timeshare properties under the Hilton Grand Vacations brand. Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. is headquartered in McLean, Virginia.
Zacks Rank #2
Average EPS surprise in the last 4 quarters is 3.4%.
Estimated revenue growth in 2017 is 7.0% and in 2018 is 5.1%.
Estimated EPS growth in 2017 is 16.0% and in 2018 is 10.5%.
Choice Hotels International, Inc.
Choice Hotels International is one of the largest hotel franchise companies in the world with hotels, inns, all-suite hotels and resorts open and under development in countries across the globe under the brand names Comfort, Quality, Clarion, Sleep Inn, Rodeway Inn, Econo Lodge and MainStay Suites.
Zacks Rank #2
Average EPS surprise in the last 4 quarters is 19.2%.
Estimated revenue growth in 2017 is -22.1% and in 2018 is 7.0%.
Estimated EPS growth in 2017 is -29.0% and in 2018 is 18.4%.
Intercontinental Hotels Group
Intercontinental Hotels Group offers information and reservations capability on the Internet for InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn hotels, Holiday Inn Express hotels and Staybridge Suites by Holiday Inn hotels.
Zacks Rank #2
Will You Make a Fortune on the Shift to Electric Cars?
Here's another stock idea to consider. Much like petroleum 150 years ago, lithium power may soon shake the world, creating millionaires and reshaping geo-politics. Soon electric vehicles (EVs) may be cheaper than gas guzzlers. Some are already reaching 265 miles on a single charge.
With battery prices plummeting and charging stations set to multiply, one company stands out as the #1 stock to buy according to Zacks research.
Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term.
Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.
Strong Stocks that Should Be in the News
Many are little publicized and fly under the Wall Street radar. They're virtually unknown to the general public. Yet today's 220 Zacks Rank #1 "Strong Buys" were generated by the stock-picking system that has nearly tripled the market from 1988 through 2015. Its average gain has been a stellar +26% per year.See these high-potential stocks free >>.
Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Choice Hotels International and Intercontinental Hotels Group
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – November 14, 2017 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include Marriott International (MAR - Free Report) , Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (HLT - Free Report) , Choice Hotels International, Inc. (CHH - Free Report) and Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG - Free Report) .
Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.
Here are highlights from Monday’s Analyst Blog:
Disappointed by Travel Service Performances? Buy These Hotel Stocks
Online travel booking companies like Priceline, Expedia and TripAdvisor all reported mixed quarterly results, but investors punished the shares regardless.
In Priceline’s case, the company’s reported revenue and earnings of $4.43 billion and $35.22 a share, represent double digit growth from the year ago quarter and are ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate. While Priceline usually guides conservatively to come back and beat the lowered expectations, this time investors weren’t willing to give it the benefit of the doubt.
Expedia on the other hand, reported revenue and earnings that missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate but revenues still managed to grow from last year. What’s worse, it lowered its EBITDA outlook for the year from 10-15% to a mid- to high-single-digit percentage rate.
TripAdvisor missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate on the top line while beating on the bottom line. Earnings were below the year-ago level.
When all the major players in any market produce unsatisfactory earnings reports, there’s very likely to be a common factor hitting them. In this case, it’s the hotels themselves.
Hotels generally share their inventory with online travel companies to facilitate the distribution of room nights for a fee. But as they grew larger and started enjoying the benefits of scale, these OTAs charged higher and higher fees, such that smaller hotels couldn’t afford it, while larger hotels had to part with a good amount of their profits.
Or at least that is what hotels are saying through the American Hotel & Lodging Association. The association is looking to lobby people in the new administration and those serving in the ITC, objecting to what they call the companies’ monopolistic business.
Another gripe with hotels is the online travel agents’ refusal to pay occupancy tax, thus forcing hotels to pay.
Google is also eating their lunch. The leading search engine is gaining on all fronts, first through advertising fees that companies like Expedia and Priceline pay and second, through services like Book on Google that lead customers directly to the hotel’s app or web portal.
The hotel, then, offers loyalty points and other incentives to encourage customers to come directly to them instead of through an online travel agent. A recent report from Skift estimates that Google’s travel business is now worth a $100 billion, or more than Priceline.
OTAs can’t afford to sit and wait until all the business is lost. So they are investing heavily in marketing. This, again, is hurting their profits.
If this is a depressing picture, it luckily isn’t the only alternative for investors looking for travel exposure. And indeed, since hotels are pitted against OTAs in this battle, why not invest in hotels themselves? So here is a list of hotels that are worth investing in right now.
Marriott International
Marriott International is the world's largest hotel company. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts. The company's many leading brands include: Bulgari, The Ritz-Carlton® and The Ritz-Carlton Reserve, St. Regis, W, EDITION, JW Marriott, The Luxury Collection, Marriott Hotels, Westin, Le Méridien, Renaissance Hotels, Sheraton, Delta Hotels by MarriottSM, Marriott Executive Apartments, Marriott Vacation Club, Autograph Collection Hotels, Tribute Portfolio, Design Hotels, Gaylord Hotels, Courtyard, Four Points by Sheraton, SpringHill Suites, Fairfield Inn & Suites, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, AC Hotels by Marriott, Aloft, Element, Moxy Hotels and Protea Hotels by Marriott. The company also operates award-winning loyalty programs: Marriott Rewards, which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest.
Zacks Rank #2
Average EPS surprise in the last 4 quarters is 9.1%.
Estimated revenue growth in 2017 is 31.1% and in 2018 is 5.1%.
Estimated EPS growth in 2017 is 11.0% and in 2018 is 13.1%.
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.
Hilton Worldwide Holdings owns, leases, manages, develops and franchises hotels, resorts and timeshare properties. Its portfolio of brand names consist of Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn, Homewood Suites by Hilton and Home2 Suites by Hilton and timeshare properties under the Hilton Grand Vacations brand. Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. is headquartered in McLean, Virginia.
Zacks Rank #2
Average EPS surprise in the last 4 quarters is 3.4%.
Estimated revenue growth in 2017 is 7.0% and in 2018 is 5.1%.
Estimated EPS growth in 2017 is 16.0% and in 2018 is 10.5%.
Choice Hotels International, Inc.
Choice Hotels International is one of the largest hotel franchise companies in the world with hotels, inns, all-suite hotels and resorts open and under development in countries across the globe under the brand names Comfort, Quality, Clarion, Sleep Inn, Rodeway Inn, Econo Lodge and MainStay Suites.
Zacks Rank #2
Average EPS surprise in the last 4 quarters is 19.2%.
Estimated revenue growth in 2017 is -22.1% and in 2018 is 7.0%.
Estimated EPS growth in 2017 is -29.0% and in 2018 is 18.4%.
Intercontinental Hotels Group
Intercontinental Hotels Group offers information and reservations capability on the Internet for InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn hotels, Holiday Inn Express hotels and Staybridge Suites by Holiday Inn hotels.
Zacks Rank #2
Will You Make a Fortune on the Shift to Electric Cars?
Here's another stock idea to consider. Much like petroleum 150 years ago, lithium power may soon shake the world, creating millionaires and reshaping geo-politics. Soon electric vehicles (EVs) may be cheaper than gas guzzlers. Some are already reaching 265 miles on a single charge.
With battery prices plummeting and charging stations set to multiply, one company stands out as the #1 stock to buy according to Zacks research.
It's not the one you think.
See This Ticker Free >>
Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1 Stock of the Day pick for free.
About Zacks Equity Research
Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term.
Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.
Strong Stocks that Should Be in the News
Many are little publicized and fly under the Wall Street radar. They're virtually unknown to the general public. Yet today's 220 Zacks Rank #1 "Strong Buys" were generated by the stock-picking system that has nearly tripled the market from 1988 through 2015. Its average gain has been a stellar +26% per year.See these high-potential stocks free >>.
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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.