GET DAILY SIGNALSChoice Hotels International (CHH) Q3 Earnings: +11% EPS Growth and Raised Outlook Point to Stabilization
Key Takeaways
- Choice Hotels International (CHH) reported third quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.33, beating the consensus estimate of $2.28 by $0.05.
- Total revenue reached $458 million, topping the roughly $447 million consensus estimate and rising 2.5% year over year.
- U.S. RevPAR (revenue per available room, a key lodging metric) grew 3.8% year over year, driving the company to raise its full-year RevPAR outlook.
- U.S. net rooms growth improved for the third consecutive quarter and was flat year over year, with management guiding to roughly 1% growth by year-end.
- Full-year 2026 adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) guidance was raised to a range of $641 million to $651 million.
- The company advanced its asset-light strategy, selling two owned hotels after the quarter while retaining their franchise agreements.
Why This Quarter Matters
Choice Hotels International is one of the world's largest lodging franchisors, operating a portfolio of more than 7,500 hotels and roughly 650,000 rooms across 49 countries and territories. As an asset-light franchise business, its results hinge on franchisee economics, room growth, and the fees those hotels generate. The third quarter report carries added weight because it is the first full period under the new leadership team's stated priorities of accelerating U.S. net rooms growth, strengthening franchisee profitability, and returning to a more capital-efficient model. Investors have been watching closely for signs that U.S. room growth is stabilizing and that revenue momentum is translating into earnings, making this print a meaningful checkpoint for the company's turnaround narrative.
Breaking Down the Numbers
Choice Hotels delivered third quarter 2026 adjusted diluted EPS of $2.33, an 11% increase year over year and $0.05 above the consensus estimate of $2.28. Total revenue came in at $458 million, ahead of the roughly $447 million analysts had projected and up 2.5% from the prior-year period. Revenue excluding reimbursable costs from franchised and managed properties rose 3% to $285 million. Adjusted EBITDA increased 1% to approximately $193 million.
On the operating front, U.S. RevPAR increased 3.8%, driven by a 160-basis-point rise in occupancy and a 1% gain in average daily rate (ADR, the average room price). Global RevPAR rose 3.9% on a currency-neutral basis, and global net rooms grew 1.7% year over year. The company raised its full-year 2026 U.S. and global RevPAR guidance to 1.5% to 2.5% growth and lifted the midpoint of its adjusted EBITDA outlook. However, net income guidance was lowered, primarily reflecting a $24 million charge tied to the termination of a European acquisition arrangement and higher marketing investments. I also checked this using Tickeron’s AI Screener to see how the stock compares to others in the industry.
Market Response
Shares of CHH rose in response to the report, climbing roughly 4.7% to around $116 as investors digested the earnings beat and the improved RevPAR outlook. The positive reaction reflected relief that U.S. room growth is stabilizing and that demand momentum accelerated into October, when U.S. RevPAR was up approximately 7% year over year. Sentiment was tempered somewhat by the lower net income guidance and elevated operating expenses, but the market appeared to reward the stronger top-line trajectory and the company's progress toward a more asset-light, franchise-focused model.
What to Watch Going Forward
Looking ahead, the central question is whether Choice Hotels can sustain its RevPAR momentum while converting that growth into earnings. Management noted that higher in-year operating expenses limited the flow-through of revenue growth to the bottom line, and it expects expense growth to step down in 2027. Investors will be watching whether adjusted SG&A (selling, general, and administrative expenses) moderates as guided and whether the rollout of the company's new rate management platform supports additional pricing gains.
Room growth remains a critical metric. U.S. net rooms were flat in the quarter, but the improvement marks a third straight quarter of progress, and management expects roughly 1% U.S. room growth by year-end. The conversion pipeline, which grew 29% year over year and now represents more than one-third of total pipeline rooms, offers visibility into future openings. Retention trends will be equally important as the company works to slow hotel exits.
Finally, the asset-light pivot deserves continued attention. The company sold two owned hotels after the quarter, retaining franchise agreements, and completed its $130 million acquisition of Harvest Hosts, an RV travel subscription platform. The pace of further asset sales, capital recycling, and free cash flow conversion will be key indicators of whether the return to a lighter, franchise-led model delivers on its long-term promise. From what I see, tracking these elements with tools like Tickeron’s AI Screener helps put the numbers in broader context.
Exploring AI Tools for Stock Analysis
In my own research process, I often turn to Tickeron’s AI Screener when evaluating lodging names like Choice Hotels. It lets me filter for technical patterns, fundamentals, and sector trends in one place, which helps surface comparable ideas and monitor signals across the industry without spending hours on manual work. The tool has become a regular part of how I cross-check earnings data and peer performance.
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.
Contributor
Sergey Savastiouk, Ph.D. has a degree in Applied Mathematics from Moscow University and has extensive experience as an entrepreneur, investor, manager, and mathematician. His professional expertise is in applied mathematics, mathematical modeling, system and pattern analysis, and software and hardware system integration. He has served as the CEO of several hi-tech start-up companies and nonprofit organizations, which has given him proven capabilities in business strategy for high-tech start-up companies, market assessment, company formation, team building, product development, marketing, and sales. He has published numerous articles in journals and magazines on related fields. As a retail investor, he spent 15 years developing his proprietary trading and quantitative algorithms (now Tickeron’s A.I.), which brought him significant returns in trading the stock market. His current work and goal in founding Tickeron is to bring professional, sophisticated stock market analysis capabilities to retail investors via an easy-to-use interface.
CHH in upward trend: 10-day moving average broke above 50-day moving average on October 14, 2026
The 10-day moving average for CHH crossed bullishly above the 50-day moving average on October 14, 2026. This indicates that the trend has shifted higher and could be considered a buy signal. In 14 of 21 past instances when the 10-day crossed above the 50-day, the stock continued to move higher over the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 67%.
Technical Analysis (Indicators)
Bullish Trend Analysis
The Momentum Indicator moved above the 0 level on October 14, 2026. You may want to consider a long position or call options on CHH as a result. In 59 of 94 past instances where the momentum indicator moved above 0, the stock continued to climb. The odds of a continued upward trend are 63%.
CHH moved above its 50-day moving average on October 08, 2026 date and that indicates a change from a downward trend to an upward trend.
Following a +3.46% 3-day Advance, the price is estimated to grow further. Considering data from situations where CHH advanced for three days, in 164 of 304 cases, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 54%.
The Aroon Indicator entered an Uptrend today. In 98 of 191 cases where CHH Aroon's Indicator entered an Uptrend, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued Uptrend are 51%.
Bearish Trend Analysis
The RSI Oscillator demonstrated that the stock has entered the overbought zone. This may point to a price pull-back soon.
The Stochastic Oscillator entered the overbought zone. Expect a price pull-back in the foreseeable future.
Following a 3-day decline, the stock is projected to fall further. Considering past instances where CHH declined for three days, the price rose further in 50 of 62 cases within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 64%.
CHH broke above its upper Bollinger Band on November 02, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to drop as the stock moves back below the upper band and toward the middle band. You may want to consider selling the stock or exploring put options.
Fundamental Analysis (Ratings)
The Tickeron SMR rating for this company is 7 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating very strong sales and a profitable business model. SMR (Sales, Margin, Return on Equity) rating is based on comparative analysis of weighted Sales, Income Margin and Return on Equity values compared against S&P 500 index constituents. The weighted SMR value is a proprietary formula developed by Tickeron and represents an overall profitability measure for a stock.
The Tickeron PE Growth Rating for this company is 33 (best 1 - 100 worst), pointing to outstanding earnings growth. The PE Growth rating is based on a comparative analysis of stock PE ratio increase over the last 12 months compared against S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Price Growth Rating for this company is 44 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating fairly steady price growth. CHH’s price grows at a lower rate over the last 12 months as compared to S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Valuation Rating of 86 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is significantly overvalued in the industry. This rating compares market capitalization estimated by our proprietary formula with the current market capitalization. This rating is based on the following metrics, as compared to industry averages: CHH's P/B Ratio (37.548) is very high in comparison to the industry average of (0.984). P/E Ratio (16.682) is within average values for comparable stocks, (37.871). Projected Growth (PEG Ratio) (1.785) is also within normal values, averaging (20.230). Dividend Yield (0.010) settles around the average of (0.043) among similar stocks. P/S Ratio (2.791) is also within normal values, averaging (2.766).
The Tickeron Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for this company is 100 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating that the returns do not compensate for the risks. CHH’s unstable profits reported over time resulted in significant Drawdowns within these last five years. A stable profit reduces stock drawdown and volatility. The average Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for the industry is 61, placing this stock worse than average.
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General Information
a franchiser of hotel properties
Industry CableSatelliteTV