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HLT vs MAR
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Hilton Worldwide Holdings (HLT) vs. Marriott International (MAR) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- MAR has outperformed HLT year-to-date with a 14.64% return compared to 10.97%, reflecting stronger momentum in recent market activity.
- Both stocks benefit from robust travel demand, but HLT reported Q1 2026 RevPAR (revenue per available room) growth of 3.6% and raised full-year guidance despite a slight revenue miss.
- MAR boasts a larger market cap of $94 billion versus HLT's $72.5 billion, underscoring its scale advantage.
- HLT trades at a higher trailing P/E (price-to-earnings) ratio of 48.6 compared to MAR's 37.3, indicating potentially elevated valuations.
- Analyst price targets suggest upside for both, with HLT at $347 and MAR at $372 on average.
- Recent sentiment favors sustained demand in luxury and international segments for both firms amid economic resilience.
Introduction
Hilton Worldwide Holdings (HLT) and Marriott International (MAR) dominate the global hospitality sector with asset-light models focused on franchising and management. This comparison analyzes their recent performance amid recovering travel demand, geopolitical uncertainties, and economic shifts. Investors tracking consumer discretionary stocks, particularly those exposed to leisure and business travel, will find value in understanding relative momentum, valuation metrics, and growth catalysts. Both companies have delivered strong multi-year returns, but nuances in scale, RevPAR trends, and market positioning influence short-term trader preferences in the current environment.
HLT Overview and Recent Performance
Hilton Worldwide Holdings (HLT) operates an asset-light portfolio of over 7,000 properties across 24 brands, emphasizing franchising for high margins. In recent quarters, the stock has shown resilience, with year-to-date gains of 10.97% and one-year returns of 36.4% as of early May 2026. Q1 2026 results highlighted RevPAR growth of 3.6%, adjusted EPS (earnings per share) of $2.01 beating estimates, and revenue of $2.94 billion, though slightly missing expectations. The company raised its full-year outlook, citing strong U.S. demand and a record development pipeline, offsetting international headwinds. Shares experienced a pullback in recent weeks amid broader market volatility, trading around $319 with a market cap of $72.5 billion.
MAR Overview and Recent Performance
Marriott International (MAR), the world's largest hotel operator, manages nearly 1.8 million rooms across 30 brands, with 99% franchised or managed. Recent market activity has propelled shares higher, achieving year-to-date returns of 14.64% and one-year gains of 46.9%. Trailing twelve-month revenue reached $6.98 billion, with a profit margin of 37.25%. Anticipation builds for Q1 2026 earnings on May 6, with expected EPS of $2.60 and revenue of $6.59 billion. Positive sentiment stems from luxury segment strength, international expansion, and co-branded credit card fee growth. The stock, around $355 with a $94 billion market cap, reflects robust demand despite recent dips.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
Both HLT and MAR leverage asset-light models minimizing real estate ownership, prioritizing franchise fees and management contracts for scalability. MAR edges in size with a broader brand portfolio and higher revenue base, driving superior one-year returns (46.9% vs. 36.4%). Growth drivers include global travel rebound and luxury demand, though HLT shows higher operating margins (57.4% vs. 44%). Risk factors overlap in economic sensitivity and geopolitical tensions, but MAR's larger scale offers diversification. Valuation contrasts: HLT's elevated trailing P/E signals premium pricing, while MAR appears relatively attractive. Market sentiment tilts toward MAR pre-earnings, with both benefiting from positive RevPAR outlooks.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently leans toward MAR based on stronger relative YTD performance, larger market positioning, and favorable analyst expectations ahead of Q1 results. Factors like consistent momentum, higher profitability metrics, and scale provide an edge in the prevailing travel environment, though HLT’s recent earnings beat and pipeline growth maintain competitiveness. This probabilistic assessment highlights MAR’s near-term trend stability without dismissing HLT’s catalysts.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is HLT is a StrongBuy and MAR is a Buy.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
HLT’s FA Score shows that 4 FA rating(s) are green whileMAR’s FA Score has 3 green FA rating(s).
- HLT’s FA Score: 4 green, 1 red.
- MAR’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
HLT’s TA Score shows that 6 TA indicator(s) are bullish while MAR’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
- HLT’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 4 bearish.
- MAR’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
HLT (@Cable/Satellite TV) experienced а +1.33% price change this week, while MAR (@Cable/Satellite TV) price change was +1.75% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Cable/Satellite TV industry was +2.34%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -0.70%, and the average quarterly price growth was -1.18%.
Reported Earning Dates
HLT is expected to report earnings on Jul 29, 2026.
MAR is expected to report earnings on Aug 04, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Cable/Satellite TV (+2.34% weekly)Companies that operate paid and subscriber-based broadcast facilities for cable and home satellite systems. Comcast Corp, Charter Communications, Inc. and DISH Network Corporation are some of the biggest cable/satellite TV providers. Customers typically pay a regular monthly fee to cable TV operators for unlimited access to a certain package of channels. Since the rising popularity of online streaming services have increased instances of cord-cutting among consumers, several cable operators have also diversified into internet services to milk the burgeoning appetite for internet-based content.
| HLT | MAR | HLT / MAR | |
| Capitalization | 71.8B | 93.2B | 77% |
| EBITDA | 3B | 4.94B | 61% |
| Gain YTD | 9.897 | 14.106 | 70% |
| P/E Ratio | 48.17 | 37.00 | 130% |
| Revenue | 12.3B | 26.6B | 46% |
| Total Cash | 564M | 454M | 124% |
| Total Debt | 13.1B | 17.4B | 75% |
HLT | MAR | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 70 | 76 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 3 Undervalued | 99 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 15 | 20 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 4 | 5 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 49 | 35 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 30 | 31 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 55 | 47 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
HLT's Valuation (3) in the Hotels Or Resorts Or Cruiselines industry is significantly better than the same rating for MAR (99). This means that HLT’s stock grew significantly faster than MAR’s over the last 12 months.
HLT's Profit vs Risk Rating (15) in the Hotels Or Resorts Or Cruiselines industry is in the same range as MAR (20). This means that HLT’s stock grew similarly to MAR’s over the last 12 months.
HLT's SMR Rating (4) in the Hotels Or Resorts Or Cruiselines industry is in the same range as MAR (5). This means that HLT’s stock grew similarly to MAR’s over the last 12 months.
MAR's Price Growth Rating (35) in the Hotels Or Resorts Or Cruiselines industry is in the same range as HLT (49). This means that MAR’s stock grew similarly to HLT’s over the last 12 months.
HLT's P/E Growth Rating (30) in the Hotels Or Resorts Or Cruiselines industry is in the same range as MAR (31). This means that HLT’s stock grew similarly to MAR’s over the last 12 months.
| HLT | MAR | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 55% | 1 day ago 58% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 68% | 1 day ago 69% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 46% | 1 day ago 59% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 59% | 1 day ago 51% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 67% | 1 day ago 67% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 42% | 1 day ago 65% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 7 days ago 67% | 1 day ago 67% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 52% | 9 days ago 49% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 85% | 5 days ago 48% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 62% | 1 day ago 60% |
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| 1 Day | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ETFs / NAME | Price $ | Chg $ | Chg % |
| VPU | 195.62 | 1.72 | +0.89% |
| Vanguard Utilities ETF | |||
| IBIG | 26.52 | 0.03 | +0.10% |
| iShares iBonds Oct 2030 Term Tips ETF | |||
| AFLG | 43.08 | 0.01 | +0.02% |
| First Trust Active Factor Large Cap ETF | |||
| CLIX | 60.41 | N/A | N/A |
| ProShares Long Online/Short Stores ETF | |||
| WNTR | 20.92 | -0.63 | -2.92% |
| YieldMax MSTR Short Option Income Strategy ETF | |||
HLT and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, HLT has been closely correlated with MAR. These tickers have moved in lockstep 85% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if HLT jumps, then MAR could also see price increases.