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Marriott International, Inc. (MAR), headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, is a global leader in the hospitality industry, renowned for its extensive portfolio of hotels and lodging facilities. With a market cap of $65.29 billion, Marriott is a major player in the industry, offering a diverse range of brands and services that cater to travelers worldwide.
Marriott rightly fits into the "large-cap stocks" category, with its market cap exceeding $10 billion. Marriott is a leading force in the hospitality sector, providing exceptional lodging and travel experiences globally.
MAR shares are trading 12.3% below their 52-week high of $260.57, which they hit on Apr. 11. The stock has declined 1.1% over the past three months, underperforming the Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index ETF (VCR), which has gained 2.8% over the same time frame.
In the longer term, MAR is up marginally on a YTD basis, and the shares have gained 10.3% over the past 52 weeks. In comparison, the VCR has gained 3.4% in 2024 and rallied 11.1% over the past year.
To confirm its recent bearish trend, MAR has been trading below its 50-day moving average since late July and the 200-day moving average since mid-April.
On Jul. 31, MAR reported its Q2 results. The company’s adjusted EPS rose to $2.50 from $2.26 last year, with adjusted net income increasing to $716 million from $690 million. Shares of MAR dropped over 5% after lowering its full-year adjusted EPS forecast to $9.23-$9.40 from the previous estimate of $9.31-$9.65.
Highlighting the contrast in performance, MAR's competitor, Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (HLT), has significantly outperformed MAR and the border sector. HLT has gained 18% on a YTD basis.
Analysts are optimistic about MAR's prospects despite the weak price performance. The stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from 22 analysts in coverage. The mean price target of $247.19 reflects an 8.1% premium over current levels.
On the date of publication, Rashmi Kumari did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
