Marriott Gains 2.73 on Earnings Match and Buyback as Trading Volume Ranks 362nd

Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR) rose 2.73% on August 12, 2025, with a trading volume of $0.29 billion, ranking 362nd in market activity. The stock’s performance followed the company’s recent quarterly earnings report, which showed 4.7% year-over-year revenue growth to $6.74 billion and an EPS of $2.68, meeting analyst expectations. The board authorized a 25 million share repurchase program, signaling confidence in the stock’s valuation despite a 93.44% negative return on equity and a 9.60% net margin reported in the latest quarter.

Institutional investors have shown mixed activity. Federated Hermes Inc. cut its stake in Marriott by 87.2%, reducing holdings to 580 shares valued at $138,000. Meanwhile, several funds increased or maintained positions, including Sound Income Strategies LLC, which boosted its stake by 46.7%. Institutional ownership remains strong at 70.70%, though insider selling has drawn attention. CEO Anthony Capuano sold 12,000 shares, and insider Rajeev Menon reduced holdings by 30.47%, highlighting cautious sentiment amid market fluctuations.

The stock’s technical indicators show a 50-day moving average of $268.78 and a 200-day average of $261.31, with a market cap of $70.56 billion. Analysts have issued varied ratings, with Jefferies upgrading to “buy” and Melius Research to “strong-buy,” while others like Goldman Sachs maintained “neutral” positions. The company’s dividend yield of 1.0% and a 30.21% payout ratio remain stable, though earnings growth projections for the current fiscal year stand at $10.1 EPS.

The strategy of buying the top 500 stocks by daily trading volume and holding for one day yielded a $2,300 profit from 2022 to the present. However, the approach faced a maximum drawdown of -15.7% in early 2023, underscoring its volatility and risk exposure during market downturns.