Wyndham Worldwide posts healthy first-quarter earnings

Mark Fightmaster — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 08:40:00 EST

Filed under: Before the Bell, Earnings Reports

Early this morning, Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE: WYN) released its quarterly earnings, handily surpassing the Street's expectations thanks to a rise in first-quarter results. The hotelier announced first-quarter earnings of 25 cents per share, a penny better than a year ago. However, taking restructuring charges out of the equation, WYN would have earned 41 cents per share, far better than the expected 36 cents per share. These results are in stark contrast to a loss in the previous quarter, thanks to the realignment of the company's vacation ownership business and other cost-cutting measures. Quarterly revenue fell to $901 million.

Looking ahead, WYN forecast adjusted second-quarter earnings of 36 cents to 41 cents per share and $1.61 to $1.85 per share for full fiscal 2009.

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Wyndham Worldwide posts healthy first-quarter earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 08:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cramer lists Mariott among potential hotel targets

Brent Archer — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 13:10:00 EST

Filed under: Major Movement, Analyst Reports, Deals, Good news, Industry, Hilton Hotels (HLT), Starwood Hotels Worldwide (HOT), Marriott Intl'A' (MAR), Options, Technical Analysis, Blackstone Group L.P (BX)

Marriott International Inc. (NYSE: MAR) opened at $48.77. So far today the stock has hit a low of $46.82 and a high of $48.85. As of 10:55, MAR is trading at $47.45, up $2.99 (6.7%).

After hitting a one year high of $52.00 in April, the stock dropped sharply to find support just below $44. Hotels are soaring today after Blackstone Group (NYSE: BX) announced plans to purchase Hilton Hotels (NYSE: HLT). Jim Cramer says that some other hotel stocks are deserving of takeovers, and he is tagging Marriott as possible buyout candidate in the aftermath of the HLT deal. Other potential targets mentioned are Starwood Hotels (NYSE: HOT) and Wyndham (NYSE: WYN). Our own Douglas McIntyre sees MAR and HOT as targets as well. Recent technical indicators for MAR have been bearish and steady, while S&P gives the stock a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold rating.

For a bullish hedged play on this stock, I would consider an October bull-put credit spread below the $40 range. MAR hasn't been below $40 since October and has shown support around $43 recently. This trade could be risky if the acquisition buzz surrounding the hotel stocks dies down with little action, but even if that happens, it looks like this stock could find support right near $45, where it bounced a few times in the past two months.

Brent Archer is an options analyst and writer at Investors Observer. DISCLOSURE: Mr. Archer owns and/or controls diversified portfolios of long and short stock and option positions that may include holdings in companies he writes about. At publication time, Brent neither owns nor controls positions in MAR, BX, HOT, HLT, or WYN.

Cramer lists Mariott among potential hotel targets originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 05 Jul 2007 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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