Essex Financial Services Inc. Purchases 39 Shares of Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR)

Essex Financial Services Inc. increased its holdings in Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR) by 1.3% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 3,004 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 39 shares during the period. Essex Financial Services Inc.’s holdings in Marriott International were worth $838,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Larson Financial Group LLC raised its position in shares of Marriott International by 10.8% during the 3rd quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 379 shares of the company’s stock valued at $94,000 after buying an additional 37 shares in the last quarter. TFG Advisers LLC increased its stake in Marriott International by 0.8% during the fourth quarter. TFG Advisers LLC now owns 4,426 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,235,000 after acquiring an additional 37 shares during the last quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Marriott International by 0.4% in the 3rd quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 8,698 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,162,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares during the last quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management boosted its holdings in shares of Marriott International by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management now owns 3,290 shares of the company’s stock worth $918,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares during the period. Finally, Evermay Wealth Management LLC increased its position in shares of Marriott International by 1.1% during the 4th quarter. Evermay Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,415 shares of the company’s stock valued at $953,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 70.70% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider William P. Brown sold 1,707 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $284.30, for a total transaction of $485,300.10. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 23,077 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,560,791.10. This represents a 6.89 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 10.07% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Marriott International Trading Up 0.9 %

Shares of NASDAQ MAR opened at $290.45 on Thursday. Marriott International, Inc. has a 12-month low of $204.55 and a 12-month high of $307.52. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $284.37 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $261.87. The stock has a market capitalization of $80.71 billion, a PE ratio of 30.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.88 and a beta of 1.57.

Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The company reported $2.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.37 by $0.08. Marriott International had a negative return on equity of 177.91% and a net margin of 11.18%. On average, equities analysts predict that Marriott International, Inc. will post 9.26 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of Marriott International from $262.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Bank of America upped their price target on shares of Marriott International from $275.00 to $300.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, October 21st. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on shares of Marriott International from $251.00 to $295.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 2nd. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on Marriott International from $280.00 to $314.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on Marriott International from $252.00 to $283.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 26th. Thirteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Marriott International presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $284.45.

Marriott International Company 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.