Rice Partnership LLC Increases Stake in Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT)

Rice Partnership LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT) by 4.4% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 31,007 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 1,312 shares during the quarter. Hilton Worldwide accounts for about 1.5% of Rice Partnership LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 23rd largest holding. Rice Partnership LLC’s holdings in Hilton Worldwide were worth $7,664,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of HLT. Cetera Investment Advisers grew its stake in shares of Hilton Worldwide by 3.6% during the 2nd quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 34,888 shares of the company’s stock worth $7,613,000 after purchasing an additional 1,216 shares during the period. Clearbridge Investments LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Hilton Worldwide during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,210,000. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV grew its stake in shares of Hilton Worldwide by 4.1% during the 3rd quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 1,169 shares of the company’s stock worth $269,000 after purchasing an additional 46 shares during the period. Czech National Bank grew its stake in shares of Hilton Worldwide by 5.4% during the 3rd quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 50,199 shares of the company’s stock worth $11,571,000 after purchasing an additional 2,550 shares during the period. Finally, Quent Capital LLC grew its stake in shares of Hilton Worldwide by 7.4% during the 3rd quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 963 shares of the company’s stock worth $222,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares during the period. 95.90% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $219.00 to $226.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, December 13th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $247.00 to $277.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 10th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $235.00 to $236.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 24th. Mizuho lifted their price target on shares of Hilton Worldwide from $237.00 to $243.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 24th. Finally, Melius Research reissued a “hold” rating on shares of Hilton Worldwide in a research note on Monday, October 21st. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Hilton Worldwide presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $238.24.

Insider Activity at Hilton Worldwide

In related news, insider Michael W. Duffy sold 23,366 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $251.66, for a total value of $5,880,287.56. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 22,833 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,746,152.78. The trade was a 50.58 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 2.50% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Hilton Worldwide Stock Down 0.2 %

NYSE HLT opened at $256.24 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $62.47 billion, a PE ratio of 54.99, a P/E/G ratio of 2.67 and a beta of 1.29. Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. has a 52 week low of $186.83 and a 52 week high of $259.01. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $249.60 and its 200-day simple moving average is $234.56.

Hilton Worldwide announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock repurchase plan on Thursday, November 14th that authorizes the company to repurchase $3.50 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the company to purchase up to 5.7% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are often an indication that the company’s management believes its shares are undervalued.

Hilton Worldwide Company Profile

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.