Marriott’s Stock Climbs to 329th in Trading Volume as Institutional Investors Shift Holdings Amid Analyst Upgrades and Dividend Hikes

Marriott International (NASDAQ: MAR) rose 0.20% on August 19, 2025, with a trading volume of $300 million, ranking 329th in daily equity activity. Institutional investor Windward Capital Management reduced its stake by 1.2% during the first quarter, while other firms including Brighton Jones LLC, CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co, and Capital International Inc. increased holdings by 2.5% to 11.8%. The company’s stock is now owned by institutional investors and hedge funds at a combined 70.70%.

Analysts have revised their outlook for Marriott, with Jefferies Financial Group raising its price target to $303 from $226 and Dbs Bank upgrading the stock to "strong-buy." A $0.67 quarterly dividend and a $25 million share repurchase program were announced, signaling management’s confidence in the stock’s valuation. However, insider sales by executives Rajeev Menon and Anthony Capuano reduced their ownership stakes by 30.47% and 8.82%, respectively.

The strategy of buying the top 500 stocks by daily trading volume and holding them for one day yielded a total profit of $2,940 from December 2022 to August 2025, with a maximum drawdown of $1,960. This reflects a volatile yet ultimately positive performance, marked by a peak-to-trough decline of 19.6% during the period.