Jefferies has reaffirmed its Buy rating on Hilton Worldwide (NYSE: HLT), keeping a $339.00 price target and reiterating confidence in the hotel operator's underlying business model.
In its commentary, the firm described Hilton's recent report and guidance as "modestly positive" for the shares, and underscored its view that Hilton ranks among the strongest business models within its coverage universe across a range of economic scenarios.
Jefferies pointed to a modest upside in Hilton's results and noted that the company's guidance came in slightly above consensus expectations. The research house also highlighted Hilton's continued Net Unit Growth - NUG - outlook for 2026 as supportive of the company's expansion prospects.
Beyond the snapshot provided in guidance, Jefferies suggested that remarks made during Hilton's upcoming earnings call could be a "key driver" for upward movement in the stock, implying that investor reaction may hinge on management commentary and tone.
Separately, Hilton reported fourth-quarter results that topped analyst forecasts. The company posted adjusted earnings per share of $2.08, compared with a consensus estimate of $2.02. Revenue for the quarter reached $3.09 billion, outpacing the anticipated $2.99 billion. These outcomes point to a robust financial performance in the period.
Although revenue per available room - RevPAR - showed only modest growth, the stronger-than-expected bottom-line results were well received. Market watchers have been focused on metrics such as RevPAR and adjusted EPS because they are central to assessing Hilton's financial health. The recent earnings update indicates the company was able to deliver solid profitability even with only moderate RevPAR gains.
Taken together, Jefferies' reaffirmation and Hilton's reported quarter present a consistent picture: the broker sees a high-quality business model and constructive near-term indicators, while the company demonstrated the capacity to exceed analyst estimates on fundamental financial measures.