Gateway Investment Advisers LLC Grows Stake in Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR)

Gateway Investment Advisers LLC boosted its position in shares of Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR) by 0.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 25,211 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 72 shares during the quarter. Gateway Investment Advisers LLC’s holdings in Marriott International were worth $7,032,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. West Coast Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of Marriott International in the fourth quarter worth approximately $221,000. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Marriott International by 52.4% during the 4th quarter. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. now owns 13,817 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,854,000 after acquiring an additional 4,752 shares during the last quarter. Carolina Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Marriott International by 82.3% during the 4th quarter. Carolina Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 906 shares of the company’s stock valued at $253,000 after acquiring an additional 409 shares during the period. Apella Capital LLC raised its holdings in Marriott International by 131.8% in the 4th quarter. Apella Capital LLC now owns 2,100 shares of the company’s stock worth $586,000 after purchasing an additional 1,194 shares during the period. Finally, Covea Finance lifted its position in Marriott International by 69.9% during the fourth quarter. Covea Finance now owns 60,540 shares of the company’s stock valued at $16,887,000 after purchasing an additional 24,900 shares in the last quarter. 70.70% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider William P. Brown sold 1,707 shares of Marriott International stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $284.30, for a total value of $485,300.10. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 23,077 shares in the company, valued at $6,560,791.10. The trade was a 6.89 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Benjamin T. Breland sold 500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $274.49, for a total transaction of $137,245.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 12,286 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,372,384.14. The trade was a 3.91 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 13,815 shares of company stock valued at $3,919,739. Corporate insiders own 10.07% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have recently commented on MAR shares. Bank of America raised their price objective on Marriott International from $275.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, October 21st. Macquarie reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $245.00 price target on shares of Marriott International in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. TD Cowen decreased their price objective on shares of Marriott International from $295.00 to $283.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. Truist Financial upped their target price on shares of Marriott International from $254.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 4th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price objective on Marriott International from $251.00 to $295.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 2nd. Fourteen 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, Marriott International presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $272.15.

Marriott International Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ MAR opened at $276.00 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $76.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.87, a PEG ratio of 4.48 and a beta of 1.57. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $282.64 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $255.51. Marriott International, Inc. has a 1 year low of $204.55 and a 1 year high of $295.45.

Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, November 4th. The company reported $2.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.31 by ($0.05). Marriott International had a net margin of 11.18% and a negative return on equity of 177.91%. The business had revenue of $6.26 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.27 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.11 EPS. Marriott International’s revenue was up 5.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Marriott International, Inc. will post 9.25 EPS for the current year.

Marriott International Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, November 21st were given a dividend of $0.63 per share. This represents a $2.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.91%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, November 21st. Marriott International’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 26.36%.

Marriott International Profile

Marriott International, Inc engages in operating, franchising, and licensing hotel, residential, timeshare, and other lodging properties worldwide. It operates its properties under the JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, The Luxury Collection, W Hotels, St. Regis, EDITION, Bvlgari, Marriott Hotels, Sheraton, Westin, Autograph Collection, Renaissance Hotels, Le Méridien, Delta Hotels by Marriott, Tribute Portfolio, Gaylord Hotels, Design Hotels, Marriott Executive Apartments, Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy, Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield by Marriott, Residence Inn by Marriott, SpringHill Suites by Marriott, Four Points by Sheraton, TownePlace Suites by Marriott, Aloft Hotels, AC Hotels by Marriott, Moxy Hotels, Element Hotels, Protea Hotels by Marriott, City Express by Marriott, and St.