RLJ Lodging Trust: Major Turning Point Expected in 2026
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Source: seekingalpha
- Diversification Advice: Analysts recommend that investors diversify across cyclical sectors (like hotels and retail) and defensive sectors (like healthcare and residential) to mitigate downside risks in economic growth, thereby enhancing portfolio resilience.
- Attractive Hotel REITs: RLJ Lodging Trust (RLJ) stands out due to expected U.S. GDP growth rebound and the impact of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, currently offering an attractive nearly 8% dividend yield, indicating strong income potential.
- European Market Opportunities: German residential REITs such as Vonovia (VONOY) and LEG Immobilien (LEGIF) are favored for their mid-single-digit dividends and capital gain potential, expected to trade above book value in 2026, attracting investor interest.
- Small REIT Acquisition Potential: Analysts predict an uptick in REIT M&A activity in 2027, suggesting a focus on smaller REITs with acquisition potential to benefit from market consolidation.
Analyst Views on RLJ
Wall Street analysts forecast RLJ stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for RLJ is 8.25 USD with a low forecast of 6.00 USD and a high forecast of 11.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
6 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
3 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 7.650
Low
6.00
Averages
8.25
High
11.00
Current: 7.650
Low
6.00
Averages
8.25
High
11.00
About RLJ
RLJ Lodging Trust is a self-advised, publicly traded real estate investment trust that owns approximately 95 premium-branded, rooms-oriented, urban-centric hotels. The Company's brand affiliations include Marriott, which includes Courtyard, Residence Inn, Marriott, Fairfield Inn & Suites, Renaissance, SpringHill Suites, AC Hotel, Moxy and Tribute Portfolio; Hilton, which includes Embassy Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, DoubleTree/DoubleTree Suites by Hilton, Hampton Inn/Hampton Inn & Suites, Curio Collection, Homewood Suites, Hilton and Tapestry Collection; Hyatt, which includes Hyatt House, Hyatt Place and Hyatt Centric, and Wyndham. Its hotel properties include Embassy Suites Birmingham, Embassy Suites Phoenix - Biltmore, Courtyard San Francisco, Embassy Suites Milpitas Silicon Valley, Hilton Garden Inn Los Angeles Hollywood, Hilton Garden Inn San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge, Fairfield Inn & Suites Key West, Hyatt Centric The Woodlands, and Residence Inn Atlanta Midtown Historic.
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.
