Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (HLT) AI Stock Analysis

NYSE: HLTAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

HLT AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (HLT) is a global hospitality company operating luxury, lifestyle, and full-service hotel brands. The company generated $12.04B in revenue and $1.94B in free cash flow in FY2025. Over the last year, the stock returned 34.3%, supported by 14.1% quarterly earnings growth in the period ended June 30, 2026.

Market cap
$77.67B
Revenue (TTM)
$5.10B
P/E
50.6x
fwd 28.7x
1Y return
34.3%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$353.81
2.5% vs last close

Bull case

  • Diluted EPS increased from $2.08 in FY2021 to $8.11 in FY2025, alongside steady free cash flow generation reaching $1.94B.
  • Hilton reduced its share count by 18.8% over 5 years, supported by $3.25B in share buybacks during FY2025.
  • The stock outperformed broader markets with a 1-year return of 34.3% compared to 16.8% for the S&P 500.

Bear case

  • Valuation multiples remain elevated, with a trailing P/E of 50.6x compared to the peer median of 19.7x.
  • The balance sheet carries $13.01B in net debt, a current ratio of 0.65, and negative shareholders' equity of -$6.30B.
  • Quarterly revenue growth moderated to 2.5% year-over-year in the quarter ended June 30, 2026, below the peer median of 6.5%.

What Hilton does

Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc., established in 1919 and based in McLean, Virginia, is a global hospitality leader that owns, leases, manages, develops, and franchises hotels and resorts. The company operates through two segments: Management and Franchise, and Ownership. Its Management and Franchise segment licenses brands and provides operational expertise to third-party owners, while the Ownership segment directly owns and leases properties. Hilton's portfolio includes luxury brands like Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, and LXR, alongside lifestyle brands such as Canopy, Tempo, and Motto. As of September 30, 2022, Hilton's footprint included 7,061 properties with over 1.1 million rooms across multiple global regions.

Growth and profitability

Hilton expanded annual revenue from $5.79B in FY2021 to $12.04B in FY2025, recording a 5-year revenue CAGR of 22.8%. Gross margin rose from 28.6% in FY2021 to 41.1% in FY2025, while operating margin expanded from 17.4% to 22.4%. Annual net income grew from $410.0M in FY2021 to $1.46B in FY2025, with diluted EPS rising from $2.08 to $8.11. For the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2026, revenue stood at $5.10B with an operating margin of 63.0% and net margin of 31.0%. In the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue increased 2.5% year-over-year, while quarterly earnings grew 14.1%.

HLT income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of June 30, 2026, Hilton held $1.01B in cash and short-term investments against total debt of $14.02B, resulting in net debt of $13.01B. Total assets were $16.93B, the current ratio was 0.65, and shareholders' equity stood at -$6.30B. In FY2025, the company generated $2.13B in operating cash flow and invested $185.0M in capital expenditures. Hilton returned capital to shareholders via $3.25B in share buybacks and $143.0M in dividends paid, contributing to an 18.8% reduction in share count over 5 years.

HLT balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

HLT trades at a trailing P/E of 50.6x and a forward P/E of 28.7x, both above the median of its S&P 500 Consumer Cyclical peers (19.7x trailing and 15.6x forward). Its EV/EBITDA of 26.6x and price-to-sales ratio of 15.2x also exceed the peer medians of 13.2x and 2.0x, respectively. The stock closed at $345.12 on October 16, 2026, trading 8.6% above its 200-day average. Over the past year, HLT returned 34.3% compared to 16.8% for the S&P 500, and its 5-year return of 142.1% outpaced the index return of 83.0%.

HLT key metrics →

HLT dividend

Hilton pays a forward annual dividend of $0.60 per share, yielding 0.17% with a payout ratio of 7.1%. Dividends are distributed quarterly and have been paid for 5 consecutive years, with an annualized 5-year dividend growth rate of 32.0%. The most recent ex-dividend date was August 21, 2026.

HLT dividend history →

What analysts expect

Wall Street coverage includes 14 Strong Buy, 4 Buy, 10 Hold, and 1 Sell ratings. The mean price target is $353.81, representing a 2.5% premium to the last close of $345.12. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, consensus estimates project EPS of $9.05 on revenue of $13.02B. For the next fiscal year, 29 analysts project EPS of $10.42 and revenue of $14.14B. Hilton beat EPS estimates in 3 of the last 4 quarters, with the next earnings release scheduled for October 27, 2026.

HLT forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • Hilton carries substantial leverage with total debt of $14.02B against $1.01B in cash and short-term investments.
  • Negative shareholders' equity of -$6.30B and a current ratio of 0.65 leave minimal short-term liquidity buffers.
  • Revenue growth slowed to 7.7% in FY2025 and 2.5% in the latest quarter, down from 51.6% in FY2022.

AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer

About this HLT AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (HLT). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.

Related: HLT income statement, HLT balance sheet, HLT key metrics, HLT analyst forecast, HLT chart. See the HLT stock overview for the latest quote and news.

HLT AI stock analysis FAQ

What is Hilton's dividend yield and payout schedule?

Hilton pays a forward annual dividend of $0.60 per share, which equates to a dividend yield of 0.17%. The dividend is paid quarterly with a payout ratio of 7.1%.

How much debt does Hilton have?

As of June 30, 2026, Hilton had $14.02B in total debt and $1.01B in cash and short-term investments, resulting in net debt of $13.01B.

When does Hilton report its next quarterly earnings?

Hilton is scheduled to report its next earnings on October 27, 2026.

What are analysts forecasting for Hilton's earnings and revenue?

For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, analysts expect EPS of $9.05 on revenue of $13.02B. For the following fiscal year, 29 analysts forecast EPS of $10.42 on revenue of $14.14B.

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