Barclays Increases Target Price for Marriott Vacations Worldwide Stock

Investment analysts at Barclays have raised their target price on shares of Marriott Vacations Worldwide (NYSE:VAC) from $74.00 to $97.00, as detailed in a research report released to clients and investors on Friday. The brokerage has assigned an "equal weight" rating to the stock. This new price target suggests a potential upside of approximately 1.73% compared to the company's last closing price.

Additionally, Marriott Vacations Worldwide has been the subject of several other research reports. JMP Securities recently decreased their price target for the company from $115.00 to $90.00, maintaining a "market outperform" rating. Likewise, Deutsche Bank revised its outlook, lowering the target price from $121.00 to $95.00 while keeping a "buy" rating. Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs initiated coverage on the stock with a "sell" rating and a target price of $62.00. StockNews.com also downgraded Marriott Vacations from a "hold" to a "sell" rating earlier in July. Furthermore, Stifel Nicolaus adjusted their price objective from $108.00 to $96.50 and maintained a "buy" rating.

Market Sentiment and Performance

As of now, three equity research analysts have rated the stock as a sell, three have given it a hold rating, and five have designated it as a buy. According to MarketBeat data, the average rating for Marriott Vacations Worldwide is currently "Hold," with an average target price pegged at $98.95.

Recent Stock Activity

On Friday, shares of NYSE:VAC saw a slight decline of $0.63, trading at $95.35. This volume included 407,398 shares exchanged, falling short of the average trading volume of 464,035. Marriott Vacations Worldwide's stock has fluctuated between a twelve-month low of $67.28 and a high of $108.57. The company's current financial ratios are robust, featuring a current ratio of 3.28, a quick ratio of 2.72, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.21. Moreover, the stock exhibits a market capitalization of $3.34 billion, a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 18.11, a price to earnings growth (PEG) ratio of 0.73, and a beta of 1.79.

Recent Earnings Report

Marriott Vacations Worldwide announced its latest earnings results on November 6th. The company reported earnings per share (EPS) of $1.80 for the quarter, exceeding analysts' expectations of $1.53. The revenue for the quarter amounted to $1.31 billion, surpassing forecasts of $1.27 billion. The company's net margin stands at 3.41%, with a return on equity of 9.89%. Current projections indicate that Marriott Vacations Worldwide is expected to report an EPS of 6.08 for the year.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider transaction data revealed that Jason P. Marino purchased 700 shares of the company's stock at an average price of $69.00 per share on September 11th. The total value of the transaction was approximately $48,300. Following this acquisition, Marino holds 15,851 shares, worth around $1,093,719, representing no significant change in their overall position. Insider ownership currently accounts for about 1.70% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors

Multiple institutional investors and hedge funds have recently adjusted their holdings in Marriott Vacations Worldwide. For instance, Verity Asset Management increased its stake by 3.1% in the third quarter, now holding 4,303 shares. Covestor Ltd raised its position by 10.5% in the first quarter, while Commonwealth Equity Services lifted its stake by 5.4% in the second quarter. Allspring Global Investments and Quarry LP have also increased their positions significantly. Currently, institutional investors own approximately 89.52% of the company's shares.

About the Company

Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation is primarily focused on vacation ownership, providing products and services related to vacation ownership both in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two main segments: Vacation Ownership and Exchange & Third-Party Management.

Barclays, Marriott, Stock