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Trump favors slashing the corporate tax rate to 15% from 21%. To find a group of beneficiaries from lower corporate tax rates, Goldman screened for stocks that have seen the highest median corporate tax rate over the past ten years. Companies on the list pay median corporate tax rates higher than the S & P 500 median of 21%. CEO Bob Iger's media company also has one of the highest ten-year median corporate tax rates found by Goldman, at 29%. Hilton has also paid a ten-year median corporate tax rate of 29%.
Persons: Donald Trump's, Goldman Sachs, David Kostin, Kostin, Trump, Trump's, Goldman, Disney, Bob Iger's, FactSet, Hilton Organizations: White, Goldman, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, U.S . House, GOP, Republican, Companies, DIS, Disney, Hilton Worldwide Holdings, FactSet, Delta Airlines, American Express
The S & P 500 ended the week down by 2%. As of Friday, the Nasdaq Composite was more than 10% below its recent high, while the S & P 500 was down by 5.7%. Markets were last pricing in a 71% chance of a half percentage point rate cut in September, up from 22% on Thursday, according to the CME FedWatch Tool . Brands , Fidelity National Information Services , Uber Technologies , Marathon Petroleum , Caterpillar Wednesday Aug. 7 3 p.m. Consumer Credit (June) Earnings: Costco Wholesale , Warner Bros. Discovery , Occidental Petroleum , Ralph Lauren , CVS Health , Hilton Worldwide Holdings , Walt Disney Company Thursday Aug. 8 8:30 a.m.
Persons: Stocks, payrolls, Bill Hornbarger, Benjamin F, Edwards, Russell, Claudia Sahm, selloff, Michael Kantrowitz, Piper Sandler, Kantrowitz, Jan Hatzius, Goldman Sachs, Hatzius, CNBC's, Eli Lilly, Ralph Lauren, Martin Marietta Organizations: Nasdaq, Treasury, Investors, Federal Reserve, Walt Disney Company, Caterpillar, Costco, Micro Computer, PMI, PMI Services, Services PMI, Simon Property Group, Diamondback Energy, Tyson Foods, Devon Energy, Airbnb, Wynn Resorts, TransDigm, Brands, Fidelity National Information Services, Uber Technologies, Marathon Petroleum, Consumer Credit, Costco Wholesale, Warner Bros, Discovery, Occidental Petroleum, CVS Health, Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Gilead Sciences, Akamai Technologies, News Corp, Paramount Global, Expedia, Martin, Martin Marietta Materials Locations: Fortinet, Devon
Pressures faced by lower-income consumers have been smoothed over by robust spending from the middle- and higher-income cohort. 'A shift in priorities' Even with cracks emerging in the consumer, many investors anticipate a soft landing for the economy. "They are spending, but they're being more particular than they were before in terms of what they're spending on," she added. "As more consumers shift their meal preferences to eating at home as opposed to eating out, that could provide a catalyst to lift these stocks valuations," he wrote. Sekera also noted travel as one area where consumers are continuing to spend, even as they pull back on other purchases.
Persons: Bill Merz, They're, Lindsay Rosner, there's, Dave Sekera, Morningstar, Kraft Heinz, Kellanova, Sekera, Goldman Sachs, Rosner Organizations: PepsiCo, U.S, Bank Asset Management, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, HSBC, Viking Holdings, Worldwide Holdings, Marriott International, Walmart, Target, Kraft Locations: U.S, delinquencies
Strong consumer demand has helped the U.S. economy weather the Federal Reserve's rate hikes, avoiding a hard landing where growth and employment turn lower. The high-end consumer Inui estimates the net worth of high-end consumers is actually accelerating to a high-single-digit rate. "As a result, discount retailers are facing high shrinkage, restaurants are becoming increasingly promotional to boost traffic and retailers with strong value propositions are gaining share." HSBC called McDonald's one of the stocks that offers "a strong value proposition" to consumers tightening their belts. Another retailer HSBC named was Target , which has an "expect more, pay less" strategy emphasizing private labels to boost sales.
Persons: HSBC's, Nicole Inui, Hilton, Marriott, Inui, Innui, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: HSBC, Viking Holdings, Worldwide Holdings, Marriott International, Royal, Motors Locations: U.S, Americas, Royal Caribbean
Hilton Worldwide Holdings — The hotel stock climbed 4% on the back of strong first-quarter adjusted earnings and raised full-year guidance. Mattel saw $810 million in revenue during the quarterly period, which was less than the consensus estimate of $832 million. Adjusted earnings per share came in at 61 cents, beating analysts' expectations of 27 cents per share, according to LSEG. Revenue of $757 million was greater than the $739 million analysts anticipated. Sales of Biogen's Alzheimer's drug Leqembi came in at about $19 million for the quarter, surpassing the $11 million analysts had anticipated, per FactSet.
Persons: LSEG, Elon Musk, Tesla, Musk's, Hilton, Mattel, Enphase, Biogen, LSEG ., Leqembi, , Jesse Pound, Alex Harring, Michelle Fox, Lisa Han Organizations: Boeing, . Old Dominion, Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Texas, Mattel, LSEG, Hasbro, Enphase Energy, Dynamics —, Dynamics, Seagate Technology, Seagate Locations: FactSet, LSEG
The Big Tech earnings next week could revive a flagging market, or at least give investors direction into where stocks are going from here. Wall Street is hoping next week's megacap tech results will give investors insight into where the artificial intelligence trade is going from here, as a bounce in tech could lift the indexes. They're also hoping a slew consumer commentary will give investors insight into the state of the economy. However, he said any pullback in the tech names could give investors an opening to start "nibbling away" at additional exposure. Personal Income 10 a.m. Michigan Sentiment NSA final Earnings: T. Rowe Price Group , Colgate-Palmolive , Exxon Mobil , Chevron , AbbVie , Phillips 66
Persons: Tesla, They're, Kim Forrest, Elon Musk, Emily Leveille, Scott Ladner, Ladner, Horizon's Ladner, FactSet, Baker Hughes, Philip Morris, Lockheed Martin, Raymond James Financial, Rowe Price, Phillips Organizations: Big Tech, Google, Microsoft, Bokeh, Nasdaq, Investors, Deutsche Bank, Reuters, Thornburg Investment Management, Meta, Consumer, Visa, Chicago, Verizon Communications, Ameriprise, Truist, PMI, New, Richmond Fed, Enphase, Tesla, NextEra, Philip Morris International, Halliburton, United Parcel Service, PepsiCo, Lockheed, Raytheon Technologies, GE Aerospace, Grill, Business Machines, Lam Research, Ford Motor, Technology, Waste Management, Universal Health Services, Raymond, Boeing, Hilton Worldwide Holdings, . Kansas City Fed Manufacturing, Mobile, Capital, Financial Corp, Intel, Western Digital, Comcast, American Airlines Group, Southwest Airlines, Valero Energy, Caterpillar, Tractor Supply, Royal Caribbean Group, GE, PCE, NSA, Rowe Price Group, Colgate, Palmolive, Exxon Mobil, Chevron Locations: China, Europe, U.S, NextEra Energy, Freeport, McMoRan, . Kansas, Michigan, AbbVie
The three major averages posted gains for the fourth week in row, lifted by strong quarterly earnings results for most of the Big Tech companies and a strong jobs report. A weaker ADP Employment report on Wednesday provided no read-through to the monster January jobs report Friday. Here's what we're keeping an eye on in the coming week: 1. Earnings: It's another big earnings week head for the portfolio, with 8 more of our companies reporting. Consistency is what we appreciate most from nat gas giant Linde , so we're hoping for another quarter of solid earnings growth Tuesday.
Persons: Estee Lauder, Eli Lilly, Mounjaro, Nelson Peltz, Estée Lauder, Tyson, CARR, Jacobs, Willis Towers Watson, Edwards, Walt Disney, Oscar Health, Philip Morris, Armour, BAX, BILL, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim, George Frey Organizations: Big Tech, Dow Jones Industrial, Nasdaq, PMI, Apple, Starbucks, Procter, Gamble, GE Healthcare, DuPont, Linde, Ford, General Motors, Trian Partners, Disney, ESPN, Wynn Resorts, Wynn, Vegas, Prix, Estée Lauder Companies, Caterpillar, McDonalds Corp, Allegiant Travel, Bowlero Corp, Tyson Foods, TSN, Air Products & Chemicals, IDEXX Laboratories, CNA Financial Corp, CNA, Timken Company, Graham Corporation, Mesa Laboratories, Sphere Entertainment, Loews Corp, Technologies, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Semiconductors, Simon Property Group, Amkor Technology, FMC Corporation, FMC, BellRing Brands, Crown Holdings, ChampionX Corporation, Golub Capital BDC, Flexsteel Industries, Kilroy Realty Corp, Gladstone Capital Corp, Unibanco, S.A, Snack Foods Corp, Kimball Electronics, Skyline Corp, Cabot Corporation, Simpson Manufacturing Co, Varonis Systems, Co, GE HealthCare, Linde plc, LIN, Spotify Technology S.A, BP, Hertz Global Holdings, AeroSystems Holdings, Toyota Motor Corp, Cummins, CMI, Software Technologies, AGCO Corporation, Carrier Global Corporation, Lear Corp, CONSOL Energy, Centene Corporation, Gartner, Arcbest Corp, CTS Corporation, Energizer Holdings, Hamilton Lane Incorporated, KKR, Precision Drilling Corporation, Frontier Group Holdings, Waters Corp, Alfa Laval, Aramark Holdings Corp, FirstService Corporation, Garden Sports Corp, New Jersey Resources Corp, nVent Electric plc, PJT Partners, Resources, Sensata Technologies, Ford Motor Company, Enphase Energy, Grill, VF Corp, Edwards Lifesciences Corp, Gilead Sciences, Lumen Technologies, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp, Weatherford International plc, Amcor plc, Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Advanced Energy Industries, Uber Technologies, CVS Health, Roblox Corporation, Ares Capital Corp, Bunge, XPO Logistics, Scotts Miracle, Gro Company, Berry Global, Flex LNG, Equinor ASA, Griffon Corporation, OneMain Holdings, Brookfield Asset Management, Emerson Electric Co, Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Reynolds Consumer Products, Silicon Laboratories, Brands, Sciences, CDW Corp, Fox Corporation, WYNN, PayPal, Arm Holdings plc, ARM, Axcelis Technologies, Mattel, Paycom, Annaly Capital Management, McKesson Corp, Health Corporation, O'Reilly Automotive, Allstate Corp, Fluence Energy, Power Systems, Digital Turbine, Blue Bird Corp, Everest Group, Omega HealthCare, Coty, COTY, ConocoPhillips, Cameco Corp, Philip Morris International, Spirit Airlines, Hershey Company, Lightspeed Commerce, Aurora Cannabis, Lincoln National Corp, P, Tenet Healthcare Corp, Asbury Automotive Group, Arrow Electronics, Baxter International, PetMed, Boyd Gaming Corp, FirstEnergy Corp, Motorola Solutions, Terex Corp, PepsiCo, Growth, AMC Networks, Owl, American Pipeline, TELUS International, Magna International, Newell Brands, Jim Cramer's Charitable, CNBC, Bloomberg, Getty Locations: U.S, China, Macau, Wynn Macau, Valvoline, VVV, ALFVY, Madison, New Jersey, Gilead, Ceridian, ORLY, Paycor, Aurora, Provo , Utah
Roughly half of the S&P 500 (.SPX) companies have reported results thus far, with more than 77% exceeding results. But of that group, consumer discretionary companies have been the biggest surprise, on average exceeding earnings-per-share estimates by 19%, according to LSEG I/B/E/S data. A 4.9% rise in U.S. gross domestic product in the third quarter further highlights the health of the consumer. Including Monday's gains, the S&P 500 consumer discretionary index (.SPLRCD) is up nearly 19% this year, far outperforming the broader S&P 500, which is up nearly 8%. Reuters GraphicsAmong the other consumer discretionary names that have surpassed expectations are Amazon (AMZN.O), Hilton Worldwide Holdings (HLT.N) and Royal Caribbean (RCL.N).
Persons: LSEG, Jason Benowitz, Roosevelt, McDonald's, Brian Mulberry, Gerald Pascarelli, Aishwarya Venugopal, Ananya Mariam Rajesh, Anil D'Silva Organizations: Reuters Graphics, Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Royal, Zacks Investment Management, Thomson Locations: U.S, Royal Caribbean, Bengaluru
REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 25 (Reuters) - Hilton Worldwide Holdings (HLT.N) beat Wall Street estimates for third-quarter revenue and lifted its annual forecast on Wednesday, as record lodging prices and higher occupancy levels boosted results. Hotel and resort operators are benefiting from the global rebound in travel as consumers continue to plan vacations despite inflation and the higher cost of travel compared to pre-pandemic. Hilton's revenue per available room in the third quarter saw significant recovery in Asia, up 65.5% compared to the year earlier. The company's third-quarter revenue rose to $2.67 billion, exceeding the average Wall Street estimate of $2.64 billion, according to LSEG data. It expects full-year revenue per room to increase between 12.0% and 12.5% compared to 2022.
Persons: Brendan McDermid, Christopher Nassetta, Hilton, Priyamvada, Shounak Dasgupta, Shilpi Majumdar Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Hilton, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Asia, Bengaluru, Doyinsola
Many Boards Are Playing Catch-Up on ESG and Green Issues
  + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Rob Sloan | ) www.wsj.com   time to read: +9 min
Other findings were that most believed sustainability efforts had brought real benefits and said ESG engagement with investors had been mostly positive. They also reported that while about half of big companies had ESG targets—many linked to executive compensation—smaller, private companies lagged behind. For public companies investors were most influential, followed by regulators, while directors of private businesses ranked their customers as top with investors in second place. “You had a wind that was giving companies and boards energy, and now you have a countervailing wind of political backlash,” Smith said. Despite those changes, half of respondents believe ESG will continue to be an important driver of their business decisions and strategy.
Persons: aren’t, , , Kristin Campbell, Campbell, , Alan Smith —, Smith, ” Hilton’s Campbell, ” Smith, ESG, ” Campbell, — hadn’t, Rob Sloan Organizations: Pro, National Association of Corporate, ESG, Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Regency Centers, HSBC, Estates, Sustainable Business, rob.sloan@wsj.com Locations: U.S
The industry is Maui's "economic engine," generating 80% of its wealth, according to the island's economic development board. Hotels in West Maui have temporarily stopped accepting bookings. Many are housing their employees and preparing to house evacuees and first-responders working on disaster recovery, according to the tourism authority. "Maui is not closed," Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said at the weekend press conference alongside the governor. Tour operators who continued to offer services in or around West Maui after the fires faced a flood of criticism.
Persons: Mike Blake, Jason Momoa, Maui, Josh Green, Green, Ilihia Gionson, Richard Bissen, Jack Richards, Rich McKay, Doyinsola Oladipo, Julia Harte, Colleen Jenkins, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Hawaii, Hawaii Department of Business, Economic, Tourism, U.S . Census, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Hotels, Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Los, Thomson Locations: Wahikuli, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S, West Maui, Maui County, Wailea, South Maui, Los Angeles
REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationAug 3 (Reuters) - Airbnb (ABNB.O) forecast revenue for the current quarter above market estimates on Thursday, as the vacation rental firm is set to gain from a rebound in international travel. The San Francisco-based company forecast revenue for the third quarter between $3.3 billion and $3.4 billion, ahead of analysts' average estimate of $3.22 billion, as per Refinitiv data. Travel operators have begun to benefit from a robust rebound in international travel, aided by pandemic restrictions easing and a strong U.S. dollar that has encouraged consumers to book flights and stays overseas. Gross bookings rose 13% to $19.1 billion, in line with analysts' average estimate. Airbnb's quarterly revenue rose 18.1%, to $2.48 billion, ahead of analysts' estimate of $2.42 billion.
Persons: Dado Ruvic, Airbnb, Gross, Priyamvada, Pooja Desai Organizations: REUTERS, Asia Pacific, Marriott, Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Spirit Airlines, Thomson Locations: San Francisco, United States, North America, Paris, France, Bengaluru
Aug 3 (Reuters) - Booking Holdings (BKNG.O) on Thursday raised its forecast for third-quarter gross bookings as pent-up demand for travel outweighed rising costs and concerns around an uncertain economy, sending its shares up 10.25% in extended trading. It now expects gross bookings, which refers to the total dollar value of all travel services booked by customers, to grow slightly more than 20%, up from previous expectations of low-teens growth. Room nights booked for the quarter ended June rose 9% from last year, while gross travel bookings jumped 15%. Alternative accommodation nights grew faster than traditional hotel nights for Booking, at about 11% in the second quarter. Booking's revenue rose 27% to $5.46 billion, compared with analysts' expectations of $5.17 billion, according to Refinitiv data.
Persons: Glenn Fogel, Fogel, Priyamvada, Ananta Agarwal, Devika Organizations: Booking Holdings, Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Wall, Thomson Locations: U.S, Europe, Asia, Bengaluru
Passenger ticket and onboard spending revenue is expected to increase 66% and 36%, respectively. Cabin bookings in the second quarter were up 58% compared to this time last year. For Carnival, booking volumes in the second quarter were 17% higher than in 2019, Carnival CEO Josh Weinstein told investors in June. Meanwhile, investors will be watching if record nightly rates for on-shore accommodations can offset revenue in the second quarter. Hotel and short-term rental rates were about 18% and 35% more expensive in the second quarter than in 2019, according to analytics firms CoStar and AirDNA.
Persons: Brandt Montour, McKinsey, Sylvia Jablonski, Patrick Scholes, Josh Weinstein, AirDNA, Hilton, Doyinsola Oladipo, Granth, Susan Heavey Organizations: YORK, Investors, Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Barclays, Royal, Carnival Corp, Cruise Line Holdings, Airlines, Cruises, Cruise, Truist Securities, Thomson Locations: Europe, United States, AirDNA . U.S, Asia, New York, Bangalore
June 5 (Reuters) - Tighter lending standards from regional banks are making it harder for U.S. hotel developers to secure funding, slowing construction of new hotels at a time Americans' appetite for travel is ripe. Analysts say slower hotel development will also limit profits of blue-chip manufacturers like Caterpillar Inc. , whose commercial real estate customers account for around 75% of construction sales. Overexposed regional banks are now offloading commercial real estate loans at a discount. Troubled regional lender PacWest Bancorp (PACW.O) announced in May it would sell $2.6 billion worth of real estate construction loans. Banks started to reduce their hotel loan portfolios in the first quarter of 2023, an analysis by S&P Global Market Intelligence found.
Persons: Joseph Delli Santi, James Hansen, Andy Ingraham, Ingraham, Evens Charles, Banks, Mitchell Hochberg, Bianca Flowers, Caroline Stauffer, Deepa Babington Organizations: U.S, Silicon Valley Bank, Shopoff, Reuters, Build Central Inc, Hilton, Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc, Marriott International, Caterpillar Inc, Signature Bank, First Republic Bank, National Association of Black, Developers, Frontier Development, Hospitality Group, Washington D.C, PacWest Bancorp, P Global Market Intelligence, Lightstone, Thomson Locations: Silicon, California, Florida , Texas, Washington, Arizona, New York, Chicago, Bengaluru
June 5 (Reuters) - Tighter lending standards from regional banks are making it harder for U.S. hotel developers to secure funding, slowing construction of new hotels at a time Americans' appetite for travel is ripe. Analysts say slower hotel development will also limit profits of blue-chip manufacturers like Caterpillar Inc. , whose commercial real estate customers account for around 75% of construction sales. Overexposed regional banks are now offloading commercial real estate loans at a discount. Troubled regional lender PacWest Bancorp (PACW.O) announced in May it would sell $2.6 billion worth of real estate construction loans. Banks started to reduce their hotel loan portfolios in the first quarter of 2023, an analysis by S&P Global Market Intelligence found.
Persons: Joseph Delli Santi, James Hansen, Andy Ingraham, Ingraham, Evens Charles, Banks, Mitchell Hochberg, Bianca Flowers, Caroline Stauffer, Deepa Babington Organizations: U.S, Silicon Valley Bank, Shopoff, Reuters, Build Central Inc, Hilton, Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc, Marriott International, Caterpillar Inc, Signature Bank, First Republic Bank, National Association of Black, Developers, Frontier Development, Hospitality Group, Washington D.C, PacWest Bancorp, P Global Market Intelligence, Western Alliance, Lightstone, Thomson Locations: Silicon, California, Florida , Texas, Washington, Arizona, New York, Chicago, Bengaluru
[1/2] A woman checks the arrivals and departures board at Chicago Midway International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. April 18, 2023. REUTERS/Jim Vondruska/File PhotoNEW YORK, May 10 (Reuters) - A gloomy forecast from vacation rental firm Airbnb (ABNB.O) weighed on travel-related stocks on Wednesday as an expected slowdown in bookings signaled an impending slump in travel demand with consumers seeking cheaper accommodation amid inflation and recession fears. Airbnb's forecast will heighten caution in the travel sector, which encompasses hotels, airlines, and vacation rental firms, according to an investor note by JPMorgan analysts, led by Doug Anmuth. "We also believe Airbnb's commentary will result in increased caution in the travel space, but more specifically around vacation and the U.S.," the analysts said. Reporting by Chibuike Oguh in New York; Editing by Lance Tupper and Aurora EllisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Booking Holdings beats profit estimates on strong travel demand
  + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +1 min
May 4 (Reuters) - Booking Holdings Inc (BKNG.O) reported a better-than-expected profit for the first quarter on Thursday, as the online travel agency benefited from pent-up demand that drove consumers to book flights and hotels despite worries of an imminent recession. While experts in the industry largely remain confident about demand in the near-term, high inflation and concerns around a potential slowdown, however, threaten consumer spending. Last month, U.S. hotel operator Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc (HLT.N) signaled signs of travel demand weakening in the second half of the year after it raised its full-year profit outlook. Booking reported an adjusted profit of $11.60 per share in the quarter ended March 31, compared to analysts' estimate of $10.61 per share, as per Refinitiv data. Reporting by Priyamvada C and Aishwarya Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel and Shailesh KuberOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Executives still remained confident about the momentum in demand continuing in the near-term, including in international travel, led by U.S. travelers and China's reopening. Hilton now expects full-year adjusted profit per share between $5.68 and $5.88, compared with a prior forecast of $5.42 to $5.68. The company's net unit growth - which reflects room additions - fell 32% to 5,300 rooms in the first quarter. "We predicted this air pocket (fall in net unit growth), and expect it to be short-term... but this will play to key investor concern on financing risk," Bernstein analyst Richard Clarke said, adding that investor focus was more on unit growth than demand. Hilton reported an adjusted profit of $1.24 per share, compared with analysts' average estimates of $1.13, according to Refinitiv data.
"The Board fully supports the use of the Goldman Sachs planes for travel, just as it supported the use of private aircraft by previous Goldman Sachs executives," said Tony Fratto, a company spokesman. "Executives at Goldman Sachs have been flying on private aircrafts for decades as it is proven to be the most secure, effective, and cost-efficient solution to meet the extensive travel obligations for CEOs of firms like Goldman Sachs — which is why all of our peer institutions also extensively use private aircraft." John Waldron, president of Goldman Sachs Reuters/Brendan McDermidOccasionally, Solomon and Waldron switch planes, particularly when Waldron flies overseas. Goldman Sachs has a sponsorship deal with pro golfer Patrick Cantlay. "These estimates wildly overstate the cost of such flights to Goldman Sachs and are not an accurate representation," he said.
NEW YORK, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Fears of recession and the impact of inflation on consumer budgets could curb a rebound in travel demand reported by U.S. travel companies in the fourth quarter, although bookings are holding up so far this year, analysts said. U.S. travel spending in December 2022 totaled $97 billion, 3% above 2019 levels and 7% above 2021 levels, according to the U.S. Travel Association. The demand contrasts with declining home improvement sales and other discretionary purchases that have hurt furniture stores and retailers like Home Depot. International travel spurred demand growth for Airbnb and Marriott International Inc (MAR.O) in the fourth quarter. Group bookings are still down 15% compared to pre-pandemic levels, while headwinds in several industries continue to affect business travel, said Truist's Scholes.
The research points to growing demand for high-end and luxury hotels in China now that the country has ended domestic travel restrictions — and a Covid wave has passed. watch nowThe report said that "37% of the consumers prefer higher star-rated hotels, up from 18% in 2020, with higher-income consumers showing even stronger appetites for luxury hotel stays (47% vs. 31% in 2020)." "The growing mid-/high-income population in China will fuel continued growth in demand for upscale hotels," the UBS report said. "At present, the number of upscale and luxury hotel guest room contribution and brand penetration rate in China are both lower than in North America." "China's hotel groups are still exploring the upscale hotel market, and we think acquisition of established overseas upscale brands may be their best option, and that founding joint ventures with real estate developers could provide property management resources for expansion into the upscale hotel market."
Hilton, which owns brands including Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, reported a net unit growth of 4.7% in 2022, below its earlier forecast of about 5% growth. China's strict COVID-19 curbs, which have now been lifted, had halted construction of some luxury properties and impeded travel to a key global tourism markets. "They probably for the first time in quite a while missed on unit growth blaming on China so that obviously one of the reasons that their unit growth has been a bit softer," Bernstein analyst Richard Clarke said. Hilton expects annual net unit growth between 5.0% and 5.5%. Capital returns are projected to be between $1.7 billion and $2.1 billion, compared with $1.7 billion last year.
Hilton profit, revenue beat on high room tariff, travel demand
  + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +1 min
[1/2] People enter a Hilton hotel in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., March 23, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File PhotoFeb 9 (Reuters) - Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc (HLT.N) reported better-than-expected quarterly profit and revenue on Thursday, as the hotel operator sold rooms at higher prices benefiting from strong travel demand. Hilton, which owns brands including Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, expects to post an adjusted profit per share between $5.42 and $5.68 per share for this year. For the fourth quarter, Hilton said revenue per available room, or RevPAR - a key metric for investors - rose 24.8% on a currency neutral basis from a year earlier. Excluding items, Hilton earned $1.59 per share for the quarter ended Dec. 31, beating analyst expectations of $1.22 per share.
Sonos — Shares surged 17% after Sonos reported a big beat in its fiscal first-quarter results. The audio products developer posted per-share earnings of 57 cents, compared to consensus estimates of 40 cents per share, according to Refinitiv. Affirm Holdings — The buy now, pay later finance company slumped 20% a day after its fiscal second-quarter earnings and revenue missed analysts' estimates, according to Refinitiv. Revenue and earnings were both below analysts' estimates, according to Refinitiv. Credit Suisse Group — Shares plunged 14% after the Swiss bank reported a fourth-quarter and annual net loss that missed estimates, according to Eikon.
Total: 25