Core Viewpoint - Marriott International is positioned as a strong dividend stock despite a modest yield of approximately 0.8%, supported by a robust business model that emphasizes steady growth and significant cash returns to shareholders through share repurchases [4][15]. Business Model and Financial Performance - Marriott operates on an "asset light" business model, primarily acting as a platform operator for hotels owned by other companies, which allows for strong cash flow without heavy capital investment in real estate [6][7]. - In Q3, Marriott's total revenue increased by 4% year-over-year to about $6.5 billion, with base management and franchise fees rising nearly 6% to approximately $1.2 billion, while net income surged by 25% year-over-year [8]. - The company returned a total of $3.1 billion to shareholders over the past three quarters, with expectations to return about $4 billion for the full year, reflecting a solid return for a company with a market capitalization of around $88 billion [9]. Growth Opportunities - Marriott's growth is expected to continue, driven by an increase in hotel openings, room additions, and enhanced customer loyalty engagement, with 17,900 net rooms added in Q3, marking a 4.7% year-over-year increase [10]. - The development pipeline reached a record of approximately 3,900 properties and over 596,000 rooms, which is anticipated to drive fee growth and customer acquisition [10]. - The Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program added 12 million members in Q3, bringing total membership to nearly 260 million, which supports pricing power and enhances brand value for hotel owners [12]. Market Position and Valuation - Marriott's stock trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 34 and a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 27, indicating that investors are willing to pay a premium for its growth story [15]. - The company’s dividend is underpinned by a fee-based model, a strong loyalty platform, and consistent room growth, which are expected to contribute to both share price appreciation and dividend growth over the long term [15].

Core Viewpoint - The Zacks Hotels and Motels industry is facing challenges due to economic uncertainty, labor shortages, and declining occupancy and RevPAR, but companies are pursuing growth strategies to enhance their portfolios and customer loyalty [1][3][4]. Industry Overview - The Zacks Hotels and Motels industry includes companies that own, lease, manage, develop, and franchise hotels, as well as those involved in vacation ownership and mobile accommodations [2]. Current Trends - Economic uncertainty and slowing growth are impacting hotel performance, with inflation and high interest rates leading to reduced discretionary spending and weaker bookings [3]. - Labor shortages and rising wages are significant challenges, affecting staffing levels and service quality, which in turn impacts profitability [4]. - Recent data indicates a decline in key performance metrics, with U.S. hotel occupancy dropping to 60.9% and RevPAR falling 4.6% to $93.97 [5]. Growth Strategies - Digitalization is a key focus for hotel owners, who are leveraging technology to enhance guest experiences and optimize pricing, which may help capture additional market share [6]. Industry Performance - The Zacks Hotels and Motels industry currently ranks 182, placing it in the bottom 25% of Zacks industries, indicating dull near-term prospects [8][9]. - Over the past year, the industry has underperformed the S&P 500, declining 9.4% compared to the sector's decrease of 17.3% [10]. Valuation Metrics - The industry is trading at a trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA of 15.59X, lower than the S&P 500's 17.94X, with a historical range between 13.17X and 89.02X over the past five years [13]. Notable Companies - **Marriott International, Inc. (MAR)**: Benefiting from room growth and digital transformation, with a projected 7.6% increase in 2025 earnings [15][16]. - **Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (HLT)**: Strong net unit growth and a focus on luxury and digital advancements, with a projected 12.6% growth in 2025 EPS [19][20]. - **Choice Hotels International, Inc. (CHH)**: Focused on unit expansion and strategic partnerships, with a projected 1.6% growth in 2025 earnings [23][24].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a 4.1% increase in global RevPAR for Q1 2025, exceeding the guidance range of 3% to 4% [5][10] - Average Daily Rate (ADR) increased by 3%, while occupancy rose by 1 percentage point [5][10] - Total gross fee revenues increased by 5% year over year to $1.28 billion [17] - Adjusted EBITDA totaled $1.22 billion, reflecting a 7% increase [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Group RevPAR rose by 8% globally, while business transient and leisure transient each grew by 2% globally [7][21] - The select service segment in the U.S. and Canada experienced softer growth, particularly in March [9][16] - International RevPAR increased nearly 6%, with APAC leading at an 11% rise [6][21] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - RevPAR in the U.S. and Canada rose over 3%, with luxury and full-service hotels outperforming select service properties [5][6] - In EMEA, RevPAR rose by 6% due to strong transient demand [7] - Greater China saw a 2% decline in RevPAR, primarily due to a weaker macro environment [7][21] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is lowering its full-year RevPAR growth guidance by 50 basis points due to a cautious outlook in the U.S. and Canada [10][20] - Development activity remains robust, with a record 35% increase in signings year over year, totaling over 587,000 rooms in the pipeline [11][12] - The company is focused on enhancing efficiency and productivity, which contributed to a 6% decline in G&A expenses [18][26] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's agility and resilience amid heightened macroeconomic uncertainty [9][10] - The outlook for the second quarter anticipates a global RevPAR increase of 1.5% to 2.5% [20] - Management noted that demand trends internationally remain strong, except for Greater China, which is expected to be flat [21][22] Other Important Information - The company is expanding its portfolio with the addition of the CitizenM brand, which is expected to enhance growth opportunities [12][13] - The Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program reached nearly 237 million members, with member penetration at a record 68% of room nights globally [13][14] - Full-year adjusted diluted EPS is anticipated to be between $9.82 and $10.19, with an effective tax rate around 26% [26][27] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you elaborate on the weaker select service performance? - Management noted that March saw softness in the U.S. and Canada, attributed to macroeconomic factors and the impact of government layoffs [32][34] Question: What is the owner's commitment to the CitizenM brand? - Management indicated strong enthusiasm from owners regarding the brand's positioning and growth potential [38] Question: How are developers reacting to current market conditions? - Developers remain optimistic about long-term opportunities despite short-term turbulence, with signings up significantly [42][44] Question: What is the outlook for inbound international travel to the U.S.? - The company reported a higher international mix in Q1 compared to the previous year, with strong demand from various countries [70][71] Question: How is the group booking pace trending into 2026? - Forward bookings for 2026 are tracking up about 7%, indicating positive momentum [77]