Cumberland Partners Ltd Reduces Stake in Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT)

Cumberland Partners Ltd trimmed its position in shares of Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT) by 5.6% during the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 8,500 shares of the company’s stock after selling 500 shares during the quarter. Cumberland Partners Ltd’s holdings in Hilton Worldwide were worth $2,101,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Ieq Capital LLC grew its stake in Hilton Worldwide by 329.0% in the 4th quarter. Ieq Capital LLC now owns 26,316 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,504,000 after acquiring an additional 20,182 shares during the last quarter. Private Wealth Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Hilton Worldwide by 6.0% in the fourth quarter. Private Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,060 shares of the company’s stock valued at $262,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. Klingman & Associates LLC grew its position in shares of Hilton Worldwide by 5.5% in the fourth quarter. Klingman & Associates LLC now owns 1,400 shares of the company’s stock valued at $346,000 after purchasing an additional 73 shares during the last quarter. Kestra Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Hilton Worldwide during the 4th quarter worth approximately $50,000. Finally, Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. raised its position in shares of Hilton Worldwide by 9.0% during the 4th quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. now owns 2,885 shares of the company’s stock worth $713,000 after purchasing an additional 238 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.90% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Michael W. Duffy sold 23,366 shares of Hilton Worldwide stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $251.66, for a total transaction of $5,880,287.56. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 22,833 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,746,152.78. The trade was a 50.58 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Christopher J. Nassetta sold 40,653 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $268.83, for a total value of $10,928,745.99. Following the sale, the insider now owns 77,383 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $20,802,871.89. This trade represents a 34.44 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 2.50% of the company’s stock.

Hilton Worldwide Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:HLT opened at $269.75 on Thursday. Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. has a 1 year low of $193.86 and a 1 year high of $275.22. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $253.03 and a 200-day simple moving average of $239.04. The stock has a market capitalization of $64.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 43.86, a PEG ratio of 2.84 and a beta of 1.29.

Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $1.76 earnings per share (EPS) 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%. Analysts predict that Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. will post 7.89 earnings per share for the current year.

Hilton Worldwide declared that its board has approved a stock buyback plan on Thursday, November 14th that allows the company to buyback $3.50 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the company to repurchase up to 5.7% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are generally an indication that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.

Hilton Worldwide Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 21st will be given a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.22%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 21st. Hilton Worldwide’s payout ratio is 9.76%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have weighed in on HLT shares. Truist Financial raised their price target on Hilton Worldwide from $208.00 to $220.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 24th. 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 report on Monday, February 10th. Mizuho reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $263.00 price objective (up previously from $243.00) on shares of Hilton Worldwide in a research note on Wednesday, February 5th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $237.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 2nd. Finally, TD Cowen reduced their price target on Hilton Worldwide from $265.00 to $256.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 24th. Twelve analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $246.61.

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.