Hilton Worldwide (HLT) and Marriott International (MAR) were among the top performers in the lodging sector in Q1, as stronger-than-expected US revenue per available room drove sector upgrades, BofA Securities said in a Monday note.
BofA said US RevPAR rose 3.8% in Q1, with hotel C-corps tracking about 80 basis points ahead of Street expectations, supported by resilient leisure demand and improving pricing trends across key segments.
Hilton and Marriott tracked above consensus RevPAR forecasts for the quarter, with Hilton up about 2.8% and Marriott about 3%, BofA said. Choice Hotels International (CHH) was slightly negative but still outperformed relative to Street estimates, according to the report.
Across the broader sector, the bank raised 2026 EBITDA estimates by about 30 basis points on average, citing a stronger-than-expected Q1 start, with gains led by luxury and resort segments, while economy and midscale chains remained weaker but are expected to improve as comparisons ease later in the year.
Among lodging REITs, performance also exceeded expectations, with RevPAR rising about 2.5% in Q1, roughly 60 basis points above consensus, led by select-service and higher-end hotel REITs amid continued strength in leisure and urban travel demand, BofA added.
BofA has buy ratings on Marriott and Hilton, with price targets of $395 and $375, respectively, while Choice is rated underperform with a $120 price target.
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