5 Best Cruise Stocks To Buy Now

3. Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 57

Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT) is a hospitality company involved in managing, franchising, owning, and leasing hotels and resorts. Hilton Grand Vacations Members have access to a diverse range of cruise itineraries from major cruise lines and are assured of the best-price guarantee. Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT) is one of the best cruise stocks to invest in. On February 7, the company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share, in line with previous. The dividend is payable on March 28, to shareholders on record as of February 23. 

According to Insider Monkey’s fourth quarter database, 57 hedge funds were bullish on Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT), compared to 53 funds in the earlier quarter. Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square is the biggest stakeholder of the company, with 9.18 million shares worth $1.67 billion. 

Pershing Square Holdings made the following comment about Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT) in its first half 2023 investor letter:

Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT) is a high-quality, asset-light, high-margin business with significant long-term growth potential. In the first half of 2023, Hilton generated robust revenue growth. In the second quarter, HLT’s revenue per room (“RevPAR”), the industry metric for same-store sales, increased 12% as compared to 2022. Recent quarters continue to benefit from stable demand and rising rates driving leisure growth to new highs, while business transient continues to sequentially accelerate, with group sales just now approaching pre-COVID levels.

While net managed and franchised units grew 4% year-over-year during the most recent quarter, slightly below the full year target which Hilton adjusted to approximately 5% per annum, net unit growth (“NUG”) is poised to accelerate in the back half of the year. While management anticipates NUG of approximately 5% this year, they anticipate it will accelerate to 5-6% in 2024 and return to its historical 6-7% range over the next several years. Net unit growth is poised to accelerate in 2024 as Hilton begins to roll out its new premium economy and long-term-stay concepts (Spark and H3, respectively) and as international development activity accelerates. Hilton signed more than 36,000 rooms in the quarter, the largest quarterly signing in the company’s history. The company’s pipeline includes 441,000 rooms with approximately 50% under construction…” (Click here to read the full text)