The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Marriott International, Choice Hotels International And Hilton Worldwide Holdings

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – November 17, 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 Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR) , Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH) and Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT) .

Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.

Here are highlights from Thursday’s Analyst Blog:

3 Hotel Stocks to Enhance Your Portfolio

So far, 2017 has been welcoming for the U.S. hotel industry with moderate demand growth supporting increases in both occupancy and average daily rate (ADR). Resultantly, revenue per available room (RevPAR) witnessed a rise of 3.4% and 2.7%, respectively, in the first two quarters.

This is further reflected in the industry’s stock-price performance. The Zacks Hotels and Motels Industry has fared better than the broader S&P 500 index over the past six months. While the industry gained 15.8%, the broader index has added only 7.5%.

Rising employment, higher real income and increased household net worth has reinforced consumer confidence and sentiment. Thereby, resulting in a steady rise in business and leisure travel and higher transaction volumes, which are likely to continue. This, in turn, is expected to keep the momentum alive.

However, peaking supply growth continues to be a meaningful downside risk and is anticipated to put pressure on pricing power, thereby tempering the performance somewhat. Then again, the so-called “Trump Slump” in travel along with macroeconomic concerns in several emerging economies might keep the hotel chain’s growth under check.

Nevertheless, consumer and business spending are expected to keep the mood upbeat, suggesting that the U.S. economy will remain on solid footing, going forward. Also, as people are steadfast on spending time with loved ones and keep looking for unique experiences at all price points, hoteliers believe that their diverse portfolio of travel offerings can continue to deliver on that growing demand.

Overall, despite the ongoing economic and political uncertainty, economic fundamentals appear strong enough to support more modest growth in the hotel space in the short-to-medium term without any additional stimulus.

Three Stocks to Bet On

Given this scenario, we zeroed in on three stocks from the Hotels & Motels industry that are well positioned in today’s market environment and could see considerable upside, riding on the positive trends across the industry.

The stocks below carry a favorable rank and can prove lucrative additions to your portfolio.

Marriott International Inc.became the world's largest hotel company with the acquisition of Starwood. In fact, this buyout is likely to result in a bigger brand with increased scale and a robust development pipeline in the long run. Marriott’s rising North-American business, sizeable international exposure and an attractive brand-position are likely to continue driving growth. Its investments in technology for hotel bookings are also anticipated to improve guest experience, which in turn might boost occupancy.

In the last six months, the stock has gained 17.6%. Additionally, Marriott has been seeing an upward trend in earnings estimate revisions. Over the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2017 and 2018 earnings have increased 2.4% and 2.1%, respectively. Also, this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company delivered positive earnings surprises in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average beat of 9.11%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Per the Zacks Consensus Estimate, sales are projected to grow 32.9% and 5% on year-over-year basis, in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Meanwhile, earnings are expected to improve 11% in 2017 and 13.1% in 2018.

Choice Hotels International, Inc.is one of the largest hotel franchise companies in the world. It has hotels, inns, all-suite hotels and resorts open and under development in countries across the globe under various brands. This Zacks Rank #2 company’s loyalty program, Choice Privileges, is rapidly expanding and continues to drive guest to its franchisees’ hotels.

The stock has rallied 18.3% in the last six months. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2017 earnings inched up 1.4% in the last 60 days and 1.9% for 2018. Also, Choice Hotels pulled off positive earnings surprises in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average beat of 3.41%.

Per the Zacks Consensus Estimate, sales are projected to grow by 7.8% in 2017 and 5.5% in 2018, on year-over-year basis. Earnings are anticipated to rise 16% and 10.6% in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

Leading hospitality company, Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. has transformed into a capital-light operating business with the spin-off of a portfolio of hotels and resorts as well as its timeshare business. Hilton’s scale, size, commercial platform and industry-leading brands continue to drive unit growth. Also, this Zacks Rank #2 company’s industry-leading loyalty program continues to boost occupancy.

Interestingly, the stock was up 17.5% over the last six months. Upward estimate revisions further add to the optimism. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2017 and 2018 earnings have moved up 3.8% and 3.2%, respectively, over the last 60 days. Moreover, the company’s earnings surpassed the consensus mark in each of the last four quarters, with an average beat of 19.18%.

Zacks’ Best Private Investment Ideas

While we are happy to share many articles like this on the website, our best recommendations and most in-depth research are not available to the public.

Starting today, for the next month, you can follow all Zacks' private buys and sells in real time. Our experts cover all kinds of trades… from value to momentum . . . from stocks under $10 to ETF and option moves . . . from stocks that corporate insiders are buying up to companies that are about to report positive earnings surprises. You can even look inside exclusive portfolios that are normally closed to new investors.

Click here for Zacks' private trades >>

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 >>.

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/zacksresearch

Join us on Facebook (NASDAQ:FB): https://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts

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.

Media Contact

Zacks Investment Research

800-767-3771 ext. 9339

support@zacks.com

https://www.zacks.com/

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.