Anabranch Capital Management LP Boosts Stock Position in Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT)

Anabranch Capital Management LP boosted its holdings in shares of Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT) by 10.9% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 88,881 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 8,723 shares during the quarter. Hilton Worldwide comprises approximately 13.1% of Anabranch Capital Management LP’s holdings, making the stock its 6th largest position. Anabranch Capital Management LP’s holdings in Hilton Worldwide were worth $21,968,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Hilton Worldwide by 15.3% in the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 10,756,416 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,479,354,000 after acquiring an additional 1,429,537 shares during the last quarter. Morse Asset Management Inc boosted its holdings in Hilton Worldwide by 3.9% in the 3rd quarter. Morse Asset Management Inc now owns 2,675 shares of the company’s stock valued at $617,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the period. Anchor Investment Management LLC grew its position in Hilton Worldwide by 97.0% in the 3rd quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC now owns 465 shares of the company’s stock worth $107,000 after purchasing an additional 229 shares during the last quarter. Eaton Financial Holdings Company LLC bought a new position in shares of Hilton Worldwide during the 3rd quarter worth about $669,000. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB acquired a new position in shares of Hilton Worldwide during the third quarter valued at about $765,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.90% of the company’s stock.

Hilton Worldwide Price Performance

HLT stock opened at $204.70 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $49.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.28, a P/E/G ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 1.19. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $234.95 and a 200 day moving average price of $243.34. Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $194.12 and a fifty-two week high of $275.22.

Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $1.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.67 by $0.09. Hilton Worldwide had a negative return on equity of 54.47% and a net margin of 13.74%. On average, equities analysts expect that Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. will post 7.89 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hilton Worldwide Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 21st were paid a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 21st. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.29%. Hilton Worldwide’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 9.76%.

Insider Activity at Hilton Worldwide

In related news, insider Christopher J. Nassetta sold 40,653 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $268.83, for a total value of $10,928,745.99. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 77,383 shares in the company, valued at $20,802,871.89. This trade represents a 34.44 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 2.60% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on HLT shares. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on Hilton Worldwide from $265.00 to $274.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 4th. Mizuho reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $263.00 price objective (up previously from $243.00) on shares of Hilton Worldwide in a report on Wednesday, February 5th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Hilton Worldwide from $232.00 to $240.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Raymond James lifted their price target on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $250.00 to $290.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, February 10th. Finally, Susquehanna increased their price objective on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $247.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 25th. Twelve equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $248.88.

About Hilton Worldwide

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.