Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT) Given New $228.00 Price Target at Jefferies Financial Group

Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT) had its price objective cut by investment analysts at Jefferies Financial Group from $277.00 to $228.00 in a report issued on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a “hold” rating on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group’s price target points to a potential upside of 8.70% from the company’s current price.

Other equities research analysts have also issued reports about the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $219.00 to $226.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, December 13th. Susquehanna raised their target price on Hilton Worldwide from $247.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 25th. Barclays boosted their price target on Hilton Worldwide from $270.00 to $287.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, February 7th. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $265.00 to $274.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 4th. Finally, Raymond James increased their price target on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $250.00 to $290.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, February 10th. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $251.50.

Hilton Worldwide Stock Performance

Shares of HLT stock opened at $209.75 on Wednesday. Hilton Worldwide has a fifty-two week low of $193.86 and a fifty-two week high of $275.22. The firm has a market capitalization of $50.26 billion, a PE ratio of 34.11, a P/E/G ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 1.19. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $242.89 and its 200-day simple moving average is $244.31.

Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $1.76 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.67 by $0.09. Hilton Worldwide had a net margin of 13.74% and a negative return on equity of 54.47%. Sell-side analysts forecast that Hilton Worldwide will post 7.89 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Christopher J. Nassetta sold 40,653 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $268.83, for a total transaction of $10,928,745.99. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 77,383 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $20,802,871.89. This represents a 34.44 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 2.50% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hilton Worldwide

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Noble Wealth Management PBC purchased a new position in Hilton Worldwide in the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. VSM Wealth Advisory LLC purchased a new position in Hilton Worldwide during the fourth quarter worth approximately $28,000. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in Hilton Worldwide during the fourth quarter worth $34,000. Sierra Ocean LLC purchased a new stake in Hilton Worldwide in the 4th quarter valued at $36,000. Finally, Hopwood Financial Services Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Hilton Worldwide in the 4th quarter worth $41,000. 95.90% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.