Marriott Stock Dips. Time to Buy?

Core Insights - Marriott International's shares have declined approximately 8% following management's indication that fourth-quarter revenue per available room (RevPAR) is expected to be at the low end of guidance, reflecting a softer U.S. market backdrop as 2025 approaches [1] - The company has experienced slower RevPAR growth, with global RevPAR barely positive at 0.5% year-over-year in Q3 2025, while U.S. and Canada RevPAR decreased by 0.4%, contrasting with modest growth in international markets [2][4] - Despite the challenges in the U.S. market, Marriott maintains a healthy development pipeline and strong cash generation, prompting investors to consider whether this represents a buying opportunity or a reason to avoid the stock [3][7] U.S. Market Performance - Management's comments at the Barclays conference align with a trend of declining performance in the U.S. market, particularly in lower-priced chains, attributed to reduced government travel demand [5][6] - In Q3, global luxury RevPAR increased by 4%, indicating strength in the luxury segment, while overall RevPAR growth has slowed significantly from previous quarters [4][5] - The company expects fourth-quarter global RevPAR growth to be at the low end of its guidance of 1% to 2%, primarily due to a 20 basis point year-over-year decline in U.S. RevPAR for October, with the government shutdown cited as a contributing factor [8]