We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience.
This includes personalizing content and advertising.
By pressing "Accept All" or closing out of this banner, you consent to the use of all cookies and similar technologies and the sharing of information they collect with third parties.
You can reject marketing cookies by pressing "Deny Optional," but we still use essential, performance, and functional cookies.
In addition, whether you "Accept All," Deny Optional," click the X or otherwise continue to use the site, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, revised from time to time.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
HLT’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 5.7%.
Trend in Estimate Revision of HLT
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter earnings per share (EPS) is pegged at $1.96, indicating growth of 14% from $1.72 reported in the year-ago quarter.
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. Price and EPS Surprise
For revenues, the consensus mark is pegged at nearly $2.98 billion. The metric suggests a 10.5% rise from the year-ago quarter’s figure.
Let’s take a look at how things have shaped up in the quarter.
Factors Likely to Shape Hilton’s Q1 Results
Hilton’s first-quarter 2026 performance is likely to reflect a stable demand environment, supported by strength across key travel segments and continued resilience in its asset-light business model. The company is likely to have benefited from robust group demand, alongside steady leisure activity and improving business-transient trends. This backdrop is anticipated to have supported modest growth in system-wide comparable RevPAR, projected to increase between 1% and 2% year over year.
Group demand is expected to have been the primary driver of top-line performance during the quarter. Management highlighted solid in-month group bookings and maintained that group remains the strongest-performing segment entering 2026. This strength, coupled with stable leisure demand and a gradual recovery in corporate travel, is likely to have supported both occupancy and pricing in the to-be reported quarter.
Hilton’s fee-driven, capital-light model is expected to have underpinned bottom-line performance in the first quarter. Continued unit expansion, supported by a robust development pipeline and sustained conversion activity, likely contributed to growth in management and franchise fees. Our model predicts first-quarter revenues from Franchise and Licensing Fees to rise 1% year over year to $630.6 million. We expect revenues from Base and Other Management Fees to rise 3.5% year over year to $91.1 million.
In addition, non-RevPAR-driven revenue streams, including the company’s co-branded credit card and other commercial businesses, are anticipated to have supported the bottom line in the first quarter.
However, the quarterly performance is likely to have reflected some headwinds. Management indicated that recent storms in the United States are expected to have weighed on RevPAR growth, creating near-term disruption to demand. Additionally, the U.S. market is anticipated to have grown at a slower pace relative to international regions, while China demand likely remained constrained due to weaker group activity. Calendar-related complexities and uneven regional trends are likely to have introduced variability in performance, potentially limiting operating leverage.
From an earnings perspective, Hilton expects first-quarter diluted earnings per share in the range of $1.87 to $1.93, with adjusted EPS projected between $1.91 and $1.97. Net income is anticipated to be between $436 million and $450 million, while adjusted EBITDA is expected in the range of $875 million to $895 million.
Overall, Hilton’s first-quarter 2026 results are expected to reflect steady operating momentum, with strong group demand, resilient leisure trends and continued unit growth supporting performance, while weather-related disruptions and softer U.S. demand trends act as moderating factors.
What Our Model Says About HLT Stock
Our proven model predicts an earnings beat for Hilton this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is exactly the case here.
Earnings ESP for HLT: Hilton has an Earnings ESP of +2.40%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Hilton’s Zacks Rank: The company has a Zacks Rank #3 at present.
Other Stocks Poised to Beat on Earnings
Here are some other stocks from the Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector that investors may consider, as our model shows that these, too, have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat.
Choice Hotels is expected to register a 1.5% decrease in earnings for the to-be-reported quarter. CHH reported better-than-expected earnings in two of the trailing four quarters and missed on two occasions, the average miss being 0.7%.
Marriott International, Inc. (MAR - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.44% and a Zacks Rank of 3.
MAR’s earnings for the to-be-reported quarter are expected to increase 11.6%. Marriott reported better-than-expected earnings in the trailing three out of four quarters and missed once, the average surprise being 0.7%.
Mattel, Inc. (MAT - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +20.83% and a Zacks Rank of 3.
MAT’s earnings for the to-be-reported quarter are expected to decline 700%. Mattel reported better-than-expected earnings in two of the trailing four quarters and missed on two occasions, the average surprise being 12.5%.
Zacks' 7 Best Strong Buy Stocks (New Research Report)
Valued at $99, click below to receive our just-released report
predicting the 7 stocks that will soar highest in the coming month.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Image: Bigstock
Hilton Gears Up to Post Q1 Earnings: What's in Store for the Stock?
Key Takeaways
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (HLT - Free Report) is scheduled to report first-quarter 2026 results on April 28, before the opening bell.
HLT’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 5.7%.
Trend in Estimate Revision of HLT
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter earnings per share (EPS) is pegged at $1.96, indicating growth of 14% from $1.72 reported in the year-ago quarter.
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. Price and EPS Surprise
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. price-eps-surprise | Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. Quote
For revenues, the consensus mark is pegged at nearly $2.98 billion. The metric suggests a 10.5% rise from the year-ago quarter’s figure.
Let’s take a look at how things have shaped up in the quarter.
Factors Likely to Shape Hilton’s Q1 Results
Hilton’s first-quarter 2026 performance is likely to reflect a stable demand environment, supported by strength across key travel segments and continued resilience in its asset-light business model. The company is likely to have benefited from robust group demand, alongside steady leisure activity and improving business-transient trends. This backdrop is anticipated to have supported modest growth in system-wide comparable RevPAR, projected to increase between 1% and 2% year over year.
Group demand is expected to have been the primary driver of top-line performance during the quarter. Management highlighted solid in-month group bookings and maintained that group remains the strongest-performing segment entering 2026. This strength, coupled with stable leisure demand and a gradual recovery in corporate travel, is likely to have supported both occupancy and pricing in the to-be reported quarter.
Hilton’s fee-driven, capital-light model is expected to have underpinned bottom-line performance in the first quarter. Continued unit expansion, supported by a robust development pipeline and sustained conversion activity, likely contributed to growth in management and franchise fees. Our model predicts first-quarter revenues from Franchise and Licensing Fees to rise 1% year over year to $630.6 million. We expect revenues from Base and Other Management Fees to rise 3.5% year over year to $91.1 million.
In addition, non-RevPAR-driven revenue streams, including the company’s co-branded credit card and other commercial businesses, are anticipated to have supported the bottom line in the first quarter.
However, the quarterly performance is likely to have reflected some headwinds. Management indicated that recent storms in the United States are expected to have weighed on RevPAR growth, creating near-term disruption to demand. Additionally, the U.S. market is anticipated to have grown at a slower pace relative to international regions, while China demand likely remained constrained due to weaker group activity. Calendar-related complexities and uneven regional trends are likely to have introduced variability in performance, potentially limiting operating leverage.
From an earnings perspective, Hilton expects first-quarter diluted earnings per share in the range of $1.87 to $1.93, with adjusted EPS projected between $1.91 and $1.97. Net income is anticipated to be between $436 million and $450 million, while adjusted EBITDA is expected in the range of $875 million to $895 million.
Overall, Hilton’s first-quarter 2026 results are expected to reflect steady operating momentum, with strong group demand, resilient leisure trends and continued unit growth supporting performance, while weather-related disruptions and softer U.S. demand trends act as moderating factors.
What Our Model Says About HLT Stock
Our proven model predicts an earnings beat for Hilton this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is exactly the case here.
Earnings ESP for HLT: Hilton has an Earnings ESP of +2.40%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Hilton’s Zacks Rank: The company has a Zacks Rank #3 at present.
Other Stocks Poised to Beat on Earnings
Here are some other stocks from the Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector that investors may consider, as our model shows that these, too, have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat.
Choice Hotels International, Inc. (CHH - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +4.60% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Choice Hotels is expected to register a 1.5% decrease in earnings for the to-be-reported quarter. CHH reported better-than-expected earnings in two of the trailing four quarters and missed on two occasions, the average miss being 0.7%.
Marriott International, Inc. (MAR - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.44% and a Zacks Rank of 3.
MAR’s earnings for the to-be-reported quarter are expected to increase 11.6%. Marriott reported better-than-expected earnings in the trailing three out of four quarters and missed once, the average surprise being 0.7%.
Mattel, Inc. (MAT - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +20.83% and a Zacks Rank of 3.
MAT’s earnings for the to-be-reported quarter are expected to decline 700%. Mattel reported better-than-expected earnings in two of the trailing four quarters and missed on two occasions, the average surprise being 12.5%.