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RLJ Lodging Trust (RLJ)
NYSE:RLJ
US Market

RLJ Lodging (RLJ) AI Stock Analysis

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RLJ Lodging

(NYSE:RLJ)

64Neutral
RLJ Lodging Trust shows a balanced overall performance with strengths in revenue growth and operational margins. The absence of debt and a strong balance sheet enhance financial stability. However, a relatively high P/E ratio and mixed technical indicators suggest caution. Earnings call insights provide a balanced view with growth in urban hotels and group segments, offset by concerns over RevPAR declines and macroeconomic uncertainties.
Positive Factors
Capital Strategy
Proceeds from the asset sale were used to repurchase stock, reflecting a strategic use of capital.
Earnings
RLJ's earnings topped expectations on better top-line performance and better cost controls.
Financial Performance
Margins and expenses were better than anticipated, with Hotel EBITDA surpassing estimates.
Negative Factors
Market Preference
Downgrade of RLJ to Peer Perform is primarily driven by a shift in preference to resorts and group-focused assets.
Outlook
RLJ significantly reduced its 2H24 outlook, which is unchanged today, reflecting 3Q24 outperformance.
Supply Growth
Concerns over supply growth in the select-service segment relative to full-service.

RLJ Lodging (RLJ) vs. S&P 500 (SPY)

RLJ Lodging Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionRLJ Lodging Trust is a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) that primarily focuses on acquiring premium-branded, focused-service, and compact full-service hotels. The company operates in the hospitality sector and owns a diversified portfolio of hotels across the United States, primarily in urban areas and dense suburban markets. RLJ Lodging Trust's properties are often associated with well-known hotel brands, providing high-quality accommodations and services to business and leisure travelers.
How the Company Makes MoneyRLJ Lodging Trust generates revenue primarily through the ownership and operation of its hotel properties. The company's primary revenue stream comes from room rentals, which includes income from nightly stays by guests at its hotels. Additional revenue is earned from food and beverage sales, meeting room rentals, and other ancillary services provided at its hotel locations. RLJ's strategic partnerships with major hotel brands enhance its revenue potential by attracting a steady flow of customers who are loyal to those brands. The company also benefits from economies of scale and operational efficiencies gained through its extensive portfolio of properties.

RLJ Lodging Financial Statement Overview

Summary
RLJ Lodging displays a recovering financial position with strong revenue growth and improving operational margins. The absence of debt in 2024 strengthens the balance sheet, ensuring financial stability. Cash flow generation is adequate, though there is room for improvement in profitability and free cash flow growth to enhance financial resilience and shareholder returns.
Income Statement
65
Positive
RLJ Lodging's revenue has shown a positive growth trajectory over recent years, with a notable recovery from pandemic lows. The gross profit margin is strong at 100%, reflecting efficient cost management. However, the net profit margin is relatively low at 3.13% in 2024, indicating limited profitability, which could be a concern if not improved. EBIT and EBITDA margins have improved significantly, showcasing better operational performance.
Balance Sheet
72
Positive
The balance sheet is strong, with no total debt reported in 2024, indicating a solid financial position. The debt-to-equity ratio is notably low, enhancing financial stability. Return on equity is modest at 1.88%, reflecting moderate returns to shareholders. The equity ratio is healthy, suggesting a robust capital structure.
Cash Flow
60
Neutral
RLJ Lodging's cash flow metrics show a mixed picture. Operating cash flow is solid, but there has been a decline in free cash flow growth, down 9.43% from the previous year. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is robust, indicating good cash generation from operations, though the free cash flow to net income ratio could be strengthened for better financial flexibility.
Breakdown
TTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
1.37B1.37B1.33B1.19B785.66M473.09M
Gross Profit
585.00M384.45M390.46M362.26M185.29M-21.94M
EBIT
237.15M148.31M331.88M135.56M-57.11M-257.09M
EBITDA
284.87M327.74M354.64M320.44M130.67M-66.53M
Net Income Common Stockholders
53.89M68.02M76.41M41.92M-311.09M-408.80M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
347.53M409.81M516.67M481.32M665.34M899.81M
Total Assets
4.82B4.88B4.92B4.98B5.15B5.62B
Total Debt
0.002.34B2.34B2.33B2.53B2.71B
Net Debt
-347.53M1.93B1.83B1.85B1.87B1.81B
Total Liabilities
2.57B2.59B2.57B2.55B2.74B2.93B
Stockholders Equity
2.23B2.28B2.34B2.41B2.40B2.67B
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
314.75M285.42M315.14M132.24M-5.30M-242.04M
Operating Cash Flow
280.95M285.42M315.14M256.52M42.96M-168.71M
Investing Cash Flow
-141.43M-275.73M-134.75M-135.51M-24.63M-66.69M
Financing Cash Flow
-158.09M-131.69M-161.45M-298.49M-239.25M243.03M

RLJ Lodging Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price7.43
Price Trends
50DMA
7.52
Negative
100DMA
8.52
Negative
200DMA
8.83
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
0.04
Negative
RSI
51.46
Neutral
STOCH
51.11
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For RLJ, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 7.43 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 7.25, below the 50-day MA of 7.52, and below the 200-day MA of 8.83, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.04 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 51.46 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 51.11 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for RLJ.

RLJ Lodging Risk Analysis

RLJ Lodging disclosed 2 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. RLJ Lodging reported the most risks in the “Legal & Regulatory” category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

RLJ Lodging Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (60)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
PKPK
72
Outperform
$2.16B18.343.46%9.26%-3.68%35.35%
DRDRH
71
Outperform
$1.60B39.643.22%2.17%3.73%-44.49%
XHXHR
69
Neutral
$1.20B54.911.83%4.12%3.57%12.66%
PEPEB
68
Neutral
$1.18B-0.33%0.40%2.18%56.00%
RLRLJ
64
Neutral
$1.14B28.722.92%7.33%2.82%-8.08%
SHSHO
61
Neutral
$1.77B91.831.66%4.05%-3.90%-89.21%
60
Neutral
$2.82B10.290.31%8508.26%5.91%-17.42%
* Real Estate Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
RLJ
RLJ Lodging
7.43
-2.17
-22.60%
DRH
Diamondrock
7.62
-0.47
-5.81%
SHO
Sunstone Hotel
8.83
-1.18
-11.79%
PEB
Pebblebrook Hotel
9.63
-5.24
-35.24%
XHR
Xenia Hotels & Resorts
11.90
-2.01
-14.45%
PK
Park Hotels & Resorts
10.59
-4.06
-27.71%

RLJ Lodging Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:May 05, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: 2.34%|
Next Earnings Date:Jul 31, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call revealed a balanced sentiment with positive indicators such as strong urban hotel performance, successful capital recycling, and growth in group segment revenues. However, these were countered by RevPAR declines in March and April, uncertainties in macroeconomic conditions, and softness in government and international demand.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Positive RevPAR Growth in Urban Hotels
Urban hotels achieved robust RevPAR growth of 3.6%, with high-single-digit growth in several urban markets, driven by business travel and large events.
Strong Performance in Initial Conversions
The company's six initial conversions achieved RevPAR growth of 14% during the first quarter, and the Nashville conversion saw 16% RevPAR growth.
Successful Capital Recycling and Strengthened Balance Sheet
The company sold a non-core asset at an 18 times multiple and used the proceeds for share repurchases, while also addressing debt maturities and securing a new term loan.
Group Segment Revenue Growth
Group segment revenue grew by 10%, driven by strong city-wide events in key markets such as DC, San Francisco, New Orleans, and Louisville.
Negative Updates
RevPAR Decline in March and April
March RevPAR was down 1.3% due to an elongated spring break and uncertain macro backdrop, with April forecasted to decline between 1% and 2%.
Impact of Uncertain Macro Environment
The company adjusted its full-year guidance due to a reduced visibility on lodging operating results, influenced by elevated macroeconomic risks and volatility.
Soft Government and International Demand
Government demand and international travel remained soft, affecting overall performance. Government demand only represents approximately 3% of revenues.
Company Guidance
During the RLJ Lodging Trust First Quarter 2025 Earnings Call, the company reported a RevPAR growth of 1.6%, driven by a 2.1% increase in ADR, despite a 0.5% decline in occupancy. Urban hotels achieved a 3.6% RevPAR growth. January and February saw RevPAR growths of 3.2% and 3.9% respectively, while March declined by 1.3%. The group's revenue grew by 10%, while leisure segment revenues increased by 2%. Out-of-room spend rose by 3.8%. RLJ also reported a hotel EBITDA of $85.3 million and a margin of 26.1%, with adjusted EBITDA at $77.6 million and adjusted FFO per share at $0.31. The full-year guidance has been revised, projecting a RevPAR growth range between -1% and 1%, with comparable hotel EBITDA between $365.5 million and $395.5 million. The company emphasized its proactive balance sheet management, including refinancing efforts and share repurchases, and maintained a strong liquidity position with over $0.8 billion available.

RLJ Lodging Corporate Events

Executive/Board Changes
RLJ Lodging Executive VP Chad Perry Resigns
Neutral
Apr 15, 2025

On April 9, 2025, Chad Perry, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of RLJ Lodging Trust, announced his decision to resign from his roles effective May 9, 2025, to explore principal investing opportunities. His departure is amicable and not due to any disagreements with the company’s operations, policies, or practices.

Spark’s Take on RLJ Stock

According to Spark, TipRanks’ AI Analyst, RLJ is a Neutral.

RLJ Lodging Trust shows a mixed performance with strong revenue growth and a solid balance sheet, but faces challenges with low profitability and declining free cash flow. The bearish technical indicators and overvaluation are offset by a high dividend yield and positive earnings call outlook. Key risks include occupancy declines and market transaction difficulties.

To see Spark’s full report on RLJ stock, click here.

Executive/Board ChangesBusiness Operations and Strategy
RLJ Lodging CFO Sean Mahoney Announces Retirement
Neutral
Mar 20, 2025

Sean Mahoney, the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of RLJ Lodging Trust, announced his retirement effective May 2025, after seven years with the company and over 30 years in the hospitality REIT industry. His departure is not due to any disagreement with the company, and he will assist in the transition process until his retirement. RLJ Lodging Trust has initiated a succession process to find his replacement, ensuring continued stability and strategic positioning in the industry.

Glossary
OutperformA stock rated as "Outperform" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider this stock a good buying opportunity.
NeutralA stock rated as "Neutral" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly attractive nor unattractive for investment. Investors may consider holding onto the stock, as it is not expected to either significantly outperform or underperform the market.
UnderperformA stock rated as "Underperform" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock may deliver lower returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider selling the stock or avoiding it as an investment.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.