Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR – Get Free Report) was the target of some unusual options trading on Thursday. Investors bought 31,615 call options on the stock. This is an increase of approximately 928% compared to the average daily volume of 3,074 call options.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
MAR has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on Marriott International from $355.00 to $398.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 11th. Citigroup boosted their target price on Marriott International from $285.00 to $345.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Truist Financial boosted their target price on Marriott International from $283.00 to $350.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 11th. Barclays boosted their target price on Marriott International from $356.00 to $372.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 16th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b-)” rating on shares of Marriott International in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have given a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Marriott International presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $357.27.
View Our Latest Analysis on MAR
Marriott International Stock Down 1.9%
Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 10th. The company reported $2.58 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.61 by ($0.03). The company had revenue of $6.69 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.67 billion. Marriott International had a net margin of 9.93% and a negative return on equity of 84.23%. The company’s revenue was up 4.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.45 earnings per share. Marriott International has set its FY 2026 guidance at 11.320-11.570 EPS and its Q1 2026 guidance at 2.500-2.550 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Marriott International will post 11.66 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Marriott International Dividend Announcement
The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 26th were paid a $0.67 dividend. This represents a $2.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 26th. Marriott International’s dividend payout ratio is presently 28.24%.
More Marriott International News
Here are the key news stories impacting Marriott International this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Heavy call buying suggests bullish positioning — traders bought ~31,615 call options on Apr. 30 (a ~928% jump vs. typical volume), which can amplify upside expectations into earnings and raise short?term demand for the stock.
- Positive Sentiment: New premium property pipeline could support revenue growth and RevPAR recovery — Marriott will open the world’s first JW Marriott all?inclusive in Costa Rica and has debuted The Luxury Collection in Rhodes, Greece, expanding luxury footprint and loyalty engagement. Costa Rica To Welcome The World’s First JW Marriott All?Inclusive Marriott debuts The Luxury Collection in Rhodes, Greece
- Neutral Sentiment: Analyst/earnings focus: Zacks previews Q1 metrics expectations — investors are positioning ahead of the Q1 print, which can create volatility; the preview narrows what will move shares (beat vs. miss on RevPAR, fees and margin recovery). Gear Up for Marriott (MAR) Q1 Earnings: Wall Street Estimates for Key Metrics
- Neutral Sentiment: Sector comps: strong results from other lodging and travel-related names (and a Hotelling/EV trend in MarketBeat coverage) support a constructive backdrop, but some technicals suggest the rally may be stretched. Does Marriott’s Massive Rally Mean It’s Time to Check Out?
- Neutral Sentiment: Consumer engagement angle: pieces on best Marriott credit cards can modestly support loyalty spend and booking frequency but are unlikely to move the stock materially near-term. The best credit cards for maximizing Marriott stays in 2026
- Negative Sentiment: Reputational/political risk: a public comment from Marriott’s CEO about defending room access regardless of political views sparked headlines — such statements can attract controversy and activist attention, introducing short-term PR risk. Marriott CEO on why you have to defend both DEI and ICE’s right to a hotel room
Insider Buying and Selling at Marriott International
In other Marriott International news, EVP Drew Pinto sold 4,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $359.81, for a total transaction of $1,439,240.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 8,221 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,957,998.01. This trade represents a 32.73% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider William P. Brown sold 9,456 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $358.25, for a total value of $3,387,612.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 11,000 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,940,750. This represents a 46.23% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last three months, insiders have sold 95,540 shares of company stock valued at $34,274,055. Company insiders own 11.43% of the company’s stock.
Institutional Inflows and Outflows
A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of MAR. Kemnay Advisory Services Inc. bought a new position in shares of Marriott International during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. McMillan Office Inc. purchased a new stake in Marriott International in the fourth quarter worth $27,000. Triumph Capital Management purchased a new stake in Marriott International in the third quarter worth $28,000. Basepoint Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of Marriott International during the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Finally, Godfrey Financial Associates Inc. bought a new position in shares of Marriott International during the 4th quarter worth $31,000. 70.70% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
About Marriott International
Marriott International is a global lodging company that develops, manages and franchises a broad portfolio of hotels and related lodging facilities. Its core activities include hotel and resort management, franchise operations, property development and the provision of centralized services such as reservations, marketing and loyalty program management. The company’s brand architecture spans market segments from luxury and premium to select-service and extended-stay, enabling it to serve a wide range of business and leisure travelers as well as corporate and group customers.
The company traces its roots to the hospitality business founded by J.
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