Hilton Worldwide Q4 Profit Tops View; Provides Rosy Guidance - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (HLT) reported Wednesday net income for the fourth quarter was $224 million or $0.75 per share, sharply lower than $729 million or $2.27 per share in the prior-year quarter. Adjusted for special items, earnings were $0.79 per share, compared to $0.53 per share last year.

Total revenues for the quarter increased to $2.29 billion from last year's $2.08 billion.

On average, analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected earnings of $0.69 per share on revenues of $2.27 billion for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.

Looking ahead to the first quarter, the company forecast earnings per share before special items between $0.56 and $0.61, and earnings per share adjusted for special items between $0.73 and $0.78. The company projects system-wide RevPAR to increase between 1.0 percent and 3.0 percent on a comparable and currency neutral basis compared to the first quarter of 2018.

Analysts expect earnings of $0.59 per share for the quarter.

For fiscal year 2019, the company forecast earnings per share, before special items, is projected to be between $3.00 and $3.12, earnings per share adjusted for special items between $3.66 and $3.78, and system-wide RevPAR to increase between 1.0 percent and 3.0 percent on a comparable and currency neutral basis compared to 2018.

The Street expects the company to earn $3.18 per share for the year.