Zacks Research Predicts Weaker Earnings for Hilton Worldwide

Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT) – Equities researchers at Zacks Research cut their Q2 2025 EPS estimates for shares of Hilton Worldwide in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, December 31st. Zacks Research analyst H. Ray now forecasts that the company will earn $2.15 per share for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $2.18. The consensus estimate for Hilton Worldwide’s current full-year earnings is $7.00 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Hilton Worldwide’s FY2025 earnings at $7.72 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $2.33 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $8.59 EPS.

Other analysts have also issued reports about the stock. Mizuho upped their price target on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $237.00 to $243.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 24th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $237.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $247.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 10th. Barclays upped their price target on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $243.00 to $268.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, December 13th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $237.00 to $232.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 24th. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Hilton Worldwide presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $238.24.

Hilton Worldwide Trading Up 0.6 %

Shares of NYSE:HLT opened at $246.52 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $248.70 and a 200-day moving average of $230.14. The firm has a market cap of $60.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 52.90, a P/E/G ratio of 3.18 and a beta of 1.30. Hilton Worldwide has a twelve month low of $178.23 and a twelve month high of $259.01.

Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, October 23rd. The company reported $1.92 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.85 by $0.07. Hilton Worldwide had a net margin of 10.70% and a negative return on equity of 60.85%. The firm had revenue of $2.87 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.90 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.67 EPS. Hilton Worldwide’s quarterly revenue was up 7.3% on a year-over-year basis.

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

Hilton Worldwide Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 15th were paid a $0.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 15th. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.24%. Hilton Worldwide’s dividend payout ratio is presently 12.88%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Hilton Worldwide

In other news, insider Michael W. Duffy sold 23,366 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, December 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $251.66, for a total transaction of $5,880,287.56. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 22,833 shares in the company, valued at $5,746,152.78. This represents a 50.58 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 2.50% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of HLT. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Hilton Worldwide during the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. Groupama Asset Managment increased its stake in shares of Hilton Worldwide by 37.8% during the 3rd quarter. Groupama Asset Managment now owns 15,025 shares of the company’s stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 4,118 shares during the last quarter. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new position in shares of Hilton Worldwide during the 3rd quarter worth $38,000. True Wealth Design LLC increased its stake in shares of Hilton Worldwide by 2,400.0% during the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 175 shares of the company’s stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 168 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Hilton Worldwide in the 3rd quarter valued at $46,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.90% of the company’s stock.

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.