RLJ Lodging Trust (RLJ) AI Stock Analysis

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

RLJ AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

RLJ Lodging Trust is a self-advised lodging REIT owning 103 hotels across 23 states and the District of Columbia. The company generated $1.38B in trailing twelve months revenue and delivered an 80.7% 1-year share price return. RLJ offers a 5.15% dividend yield and trades at an EV to EBITDA multiple of 12.0x.

Market cap
$1.78B
Revenue (TTM)
$1.38B
P/E
—
1Y return
80.7%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$11.85
1.7% vs last close

Bull case

  • RLJ achieved quarterly revenue growth of 5.6% and quarterly earnings growth of 9.4% for the quarter ended June 30, 2026.
  • The stock trades at an EV to EBITDA multiple of 12.0x, below the US-listed Real Estate peer median of 14.7x.
  • RLJ has delivered a 5-year annualized dividend growth rate of 71.9% while offering a 5.15% dividend yield.

Bear case

  • Total debt of $2.81B significantly exceeds the cash balance of $937.6M, resulting in net debt of $1.88B.
  • FY2025 gross margin fell to -0.9% as annual revenue contracted 1.4% to $1.35B.
  • Analysts project next fiscal year EPS to fall 77.1% to $0.01.

What RLJ Lodging does

RLJ Lodging Trust is a publicly traded real estate investment trust that operates as a self-advised entity specializing in premium-branded hotels. Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, the company concentrates on high-margin, focused-service and compact full-service properties. Its portfolio includes 103 hotels across 23 states and the District of Columbia, alongside an ownership interest in one unconsolidated hotel comprising 171 rooms. RLJ targets key urban and suburban markets to achieve geographic diversification, disciplined asset management, and operational efficiencies across diverse market segments through partnerships with leading hotel brands.

Growth and profitability

RLJ Lodging Trust generated $1.38B in trailing twelve months revenue, with an operating margin of 14.5% and a profit margin of 2.0%. For the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue grew 5.6% year-over-year while quarterly earnings expanded 9.4%. Over the longer term, annual revenue grew from $785.7M in FY2021 to $1.37B in FY2024 before dipping 1.4% to $1.35B in FY2025. Net income transitioned from -$305.2M in FY2021 to $28.5M in FY2025, while FY2025 operating cash flow reached $243.8M and free cash flow stood at $117.4M.

RLJ income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of June 30, 2026, RLJ held $937.6M in cash and short-term investments against total debt of $2.81B, leaving net debt at $1.88B. Shareholders' equity was $2.15B, resulting in a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31 and a current ratio of 1.94. In FY2025, the company deployed capital toward $126.4M in capital expenditures, $116.5M in dividends paid, and $32.1M in share buybacks, which contributed to an 8.8% reduction in share count over 5 years.

RLJ balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

RLJ trades at an enterprise value of $3.91B and a market capitalization of $1.78B. The stock trades at an EV to EBITDA multiple of 12.0x, below the 14.7x median of its US-listed Real Estate peers. Its price-to-sales ratio of 1.3x also sits below the peer median of 3.7x, while price-to-book stands at 0.9x. RLJ's shares rose 80.7% over the past year, outperforming the S&P 500 benchmark ETF return of 16.8%, though its 5-year return of -2.3% trails the S&P 500 gain of 83.0%.

RLJ key metrics →

RLJ dividend

RLJ offers a forward annual dividend of $0.60 per share, representing a dividend yield of 5.15% with a payout ratio of 54.5%. RLJ has paid dividends for 16 consecutive years, demonstrating a 5-year annualized dividend growth rate of 71.9%. The quarterly dividend had its most recent ex-dividend date on September 30, 2026.

RLJ dividend history →

What analysts expect

Wall Street analyst sentiment includes 2 Strong Buy, 0 Buy, 7 Hold, 2 Sell, and 1 Strong Sell ratings. The mean price target of $11.85 implies an upside of 1.7% from the last close of $11.65. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, analysts estimate revenue of $1.40B and EPS of $0.03. RLJ beat EPS estimates in each of the last 4 quarters, with next earnings scheduled for November 4, 2026.

RLJ forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • Short interest stands at 10.1% of float, reflecting elevated bearish sentiment.
  • Total debt of $2.81B relative to equity of $2.15B leaves RLJ with a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31.
  • Despite a 1-year gain of 80.7%, RLJ's 5-year return of -2.3% significantly lagged the S&P 500 return of 83.0%.

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 RLJ AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of RLJ Lodging Trust (RLJ). 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: RLJ income statement, RLJ balance sheet, RLJ key metrics, RLJ analyst forecast, RLJ chart. See the RLJ stock overview for the latest quote and news.

RLJ AI stock analysis FAQ

What dividend does RLJ pay?

RLJ pays an annual forward dividend of $0.60 per share, which equates to a 5.15% dividend yield with a payout ratio of 54.5%.

How many properties does RLJ own?

RLJ maintains a portfolio of 103 hotels across 23 states and the District of Columbia, plus an ownership interest in one unconsolidated hotel comprising 171 rooms.

When does RLJ report earnings next?

RLJ is scheduled to release its next earnings report on November 4, 2026.

What is the consensus analyst price target for RLJ?

The analyst mean price target is $11.85, representing a 1.7% premium over the last closing price of $11.65.

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