Host Hotels Is Up 9.8% in Three Months: Will the Stock Continue?

Core Insights - Host Hotels & Resorts Inc. (HST) shares have increased by 9.8% over the past three months, outperforming the industry average of 1.7% [1] - The company reported second-quarter adjusted funds from operations (AFFO) per share of 58 cents, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 51 cents, and reflecting a 1.8% increase year-over-year [2] - The company anticipates comparable hotel RevPAR growth of 1.5% to 2.5% in 2025, driven by strong demand in group travel and business transient segments [4] Financial Performance - HST's revenue growth is attributed to higher year-over-year comparable hotel revenue per available room (RevPAR) [2] - The company has executed $1.6 billion in asset dispositions and $3.3 billion in acquisitions since 2021, demonstrating effective capital management [6][7] Capital Management - HST has a strategic capital-recycling program that disposes of non-strategic assets and reinvests in premium properties, enhancing portfolio quality [6] - The company incurred $298 million in capital expenditures in the first half of 2025, with total expected capital expenditures for the year between $590 million and $660 million [5] Balance Sheet Strength - As of June 30, 2025, HST had $2.3 billion in total available liquidity, a weighted average debt maturity of 5.4 years, and a weighted average interest rate of 4.9% [7] - HST holds an investment-grade rating among lodging REITs, which allows access to debt markets at favorable costs [8] Dividend Policy - HST has increased its dividend eight times over the past five years, maintaining a payout ratio of 40%, which enhances investor confidence [9] Analyst Outlook - Analysts have a positive outlook on HST, with a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) and a revised consensus estimate for 2025 FFO per share increased by 2.6% to $1.97 [10]