Marriott International Reports Strong Q4 Earnings and Guidance
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 4 days ago
0mins
Should l Buy MAR?
Source: Benzinga
- Earnings Beat: Marriott International reported adjusted earnings of $2.58 per share for Q4, slightly below the $2.61 expected by analysts but up from $2.45 a year ago, indicating ongoing profitability improvements.
- Revenue Growth: The company achieved $6.69 billion in revenue for the fourth quarter, surpassing estimates and rising over 4% year-over-year, reflecting strong performance and brand appeal in the global market.
- Outlook: Marriott expects Q1 2026 earnings between $2.50 and $2.55 per share, aligning with Wall Street expectations, while full-year adjusted EPS guidance ranges from $11.32 to $11.57, showcasing confidence in future growth.
- Shareholder Returns: The company plans to return over $4.3 billion to shareholders in 2026, coupled with ongoing room expansion and solid EBITDA growth, highlighting its proactive strategy in capital management and shareholder value creation.
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Analyst Views on MAR
Wall Street analysts forecast MAR stock price to fall
14 Analyst Rating
8 Buy
6 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 355.080
Low
269.70
Averages
314.26
High
370.00
Current: 355.080
Low
269.70
Averages
314.26
High
370.00
About MAR
Marriott International, Inc. is an operator, franchisor, and licensor of hotel, residential, timeshare, and other lodging properties under various brand names. Its segments include U.S. and Canada, Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), Greater China, Asia Pacific, excluding China. Its brand portfolio offers a range of brands and lodging offerings in hospitality. Its brands are categorized by style of offering: Classic and Distinctive. The classic brands offer time-honored hospitality for the modern traveler. The distinctive brands offer memorable experiences with a perspective, each of which it groups into four tiers: Luxury, Premium, Select, and Midscale. Its hotel brands include JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, The Luxury Collection, W Hotels, Marriott Hotels, Sheraton, Delta Hotels by Marriott, Marriott Executive Apartments, Courtyard, SpringHill Suites, TownePlace, City Express, Four Points Flex by Sheraton, citizenM, and others.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Dividend Yield: The forward yield of this dividend stands at 0.75%, reflecting the company's attractiveness in the current market environment, potentially drawing in more investors seeking stable income.
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- Industry Trend Shift: As hotels seek to cut costs, brands like Hyatt and IHG have begun to eliminate or adjust free breakfast services, with Hyatt removing it from 40 properties last year, highlighting the industry's urgent need for cost control.
- Changing Customer Expectations: According to JD Power, 78% of hotel guests still enjoy breakfast at the hotel, but only 8% pay for it, indicating that free breakfast has become a basic expectation for customers, potentially impacting brand loyalty.
- Economic Impact Analysis: Some hotel operators report that free breakfast can account for 5% to 7% of total revenue, yet in many cases, it does not lead to corresponding revenue growth, prompting operators to reassess its value.
- Future Model Exploration: Experts predict that hotels may replace free breakfast with credits or optional add-ons to cater to different customer segments while maintaining clear communication of value to avoid customer attrition.
See More
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- Investment Return Comparison: Airbnb and Marriott illustrate starkly different investment return outcomes, as both have faced market disruptions, yet investor gains vary significantly, highlighting the market's varied responses to different business models.
- Disruptive Impact: While Airbnb's innovative business model has triggered industry disruption, it has not necessarily translated into successful returns for investors, whereas Marriott has maintained relatively stable earnings through its robust traditional operational model.
- Long-Term Success Factors: The video emphasizes that long-term investment success relies not only on disruptive innovation but also on effective execution and market adaptability, which are crucial for investor decision-making.
- Market Response Analysis: By analyzing the cases of Airbnb and Marriott, investors can gain insights into market reactions to different strategies, enabling them to make more informed choices in future investments.
See More
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- Limitations of Disruptive Models: Airbnb's post-IPO performance illustrates that despite its disruptive business model and first-mover advantage, investor returns are not strong when fundamentals and valuations are overlooked, reflecting market sensitivity to short-term fluctuations.
- Stability of Marriott: Marriott's steadier results highlight the importance of sustainable cash flow and resilient unit economics, particularly in changing macroeconomic conditions, showcasing the advantages of traditional firms in uncertain environments.
- Contrasting Investor Returns: The contrasting outcomes for investors in Airbnb and Marriott reveal that disruption alone does not guarantee long-term investment success, emphasizing the need for investors to focus on fundamentals and market dynamics.
- Investment Insights: Notably, the analyst team's list of 10 best stocks does not include Marriott, suggesting that investors should be cautious and focus on potential high-return opportunities when making stock selections.
See More
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- Tech Stock Pullback: The three major U.S. stock averages declined this week due to fears surrounding rapid AI developments, with software giants like Netflix and Fox dropping 6.5% and 11.6% respectively, indicating market concerns over the profitability of streaming platforms.
- Oversold Status: According to CNBC Pro, Fox Class A shares have a 14-day RSI of nearly 18.6, while Netflix's RSI is about 24, suggesting these stocks are technically oversold and may rebound in the near term.
- DoorDash Performance: DoorDash shares, with an RSI of 16.45, fell over 12% this week; however, Bank of America reiterated its buy rating, suggesting that a strong first-quarter outlook could serve as a clearing event, reflecting confidence in its future performance.
- Overbought Real Estate Stocks: Equinix and Texas Pacific Land are considered overbought with RSI levels around 85 and 82, respectively, with Equinix rising 12.7% this week after providing strong first-quarter guidance and increasing its dividend for the 11th consecutive year, highlighting robust demand for data centers.
See More
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- Quarterly Dividend Announcement: Marriott International (MAR) has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.67 per share, consistent with previous payouts, indicating the company's stable cash flow and profitability, which helps bolster investor confidence.
- Dividend Yield: The forward yield of this dividend stands at 0.75%, reflecting the company's attractiveness in the current market environment, potentially drawing in more investors seeking stable income.
- Dividend Payment Timeline: The dividend is payable on March 31, with a record date of February 26 and an ex-dividend date also set for February 26, ensuring shareholders receive their earnings promptly and enhancing shareholder retention.
- Future Growth Targets: Marriott aims for a net rooms growth of 4.5% to 5% in 2026, while the rising credit card royalty rate will further drive revenue growth, showcasing the company's proactive expansion strategy in the market.
See More
Marriott International Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend
- Quarterly Cash Dividend: Marriott International's board declared a cash dividend of 67 cents per share, payable on March 31, 2026, to shareholders of record as of February 26, 2026, demonstrating the company's ongoing profitability and commitment to shareholder returns.
- Shareholder Return Strategy: This dividend reflects Marriott's robust performance in the global hotel industry, with over 9,800 properties across 145 countries, indicating sustained cash flow and profitability that further solidifies its market position.
- Brand Diversity: Marriott International encompasses a diverse portfolio of brands across luxury, premium, select, midscale, extended stay, and all-inclusive categories, showcasing its extensive reach and adaptability in the global lodging market to meet varying consumer needs.
- Investor Relations: Marriott encourages investors and media to engage with its investor relations website for the latest updates and company news, highlighting its emphasis on transparency and communication with investors to enhance market trust and attract further investment.
See More
