So, you're looking at the marriott international inc stock price and wondering if it’s finally time to check in or if you're just paying for a late checkout fee you didn't see coming. Honestly, the hospitality world has been a bit of a rollercoaster lately. One minute everyone is talking about "revenge travel" being over, and the next, Marriott is hitting all-time highs.
As of mid-January 2026, the stock is hovering around $325.88. Just a few days ago, it actually touched a new peak. But here is the thing: if you just look at the ticker symbol MAR on your phone, you're missing the real story of what’s happening behind the lobby doors.
The $370 Question
Most people see a stock at its all-time high and think, "I missed the boat." But Wall Street isn't so sure about that. BMO Capital just slapped a $370 price target on it. Why? Because Marriott isn't just a hotel company anymore; it’s basically a massive data and credit card business that happens to have beds.
Kinda wild, right? About 21% of their franchise fees now come from those co-branded credit cards. When you swipe your Marriott Bonvoy card for groceries, the marriott international inc stock price gets a tiny little boost. They’ve got nearly 248 million members in that loyalty program. That’s more than the entire population of Brazil. That kind of scale creates a "moat" that makes it really hard for smaller chains to compete.
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Why 2026 is Different
In the past, Marriott lived and died by RevPAR (Revenue Per Available Room). If people didn't sleep in the rooms, the stock tanked. But the company has shifted to an "asset-light" model. They don't actually own most of these buildings. They manage them or franchise the name.
This means when the economy gets shaky, Marriott doesn't have to worry about paying the mortgage on a 500-room skyscraper in New York. They just collect their fees. Analysts like Stephen Grambling at Morgan Stanley have been boosting their targets because of this. They recently moved their outlook from $296 up to **$328**, acknowledging that the "fee machine" is more durable than people expected.
The Competition: Marriott vs. Hilton vs. Booking
People love to compare Marriott to Hilton (HLT). It's the classic rivalry. Honestly, Hilton has been winning the "unit growth" game—meaning they are opening new hotels faster. But Marriott is winning the "premium" game. They have a massive lead in luxury and full-service hotels.
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| Metric (Early 2026) | Marriott (MAR) | Hilton (HLT) | Booking (BKNG) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Price | ~$325 | ~$245 | ~$6,100 |
| P/E Ratio | 34.4 | 36.2 | 28.5 |
| Dividend Yield | 0.82% | 0.25% | 0.8% |
Marriott's net margin is sitting around 10.07%. Compare that to Booking.com, which is closer to 19%. It shows that while Marriott is a powerhouse, the physical world of hospitality still has more "friction" than a pure tech play like Booking.
What Could Go Wrong?
It's not all champagne and room service. There are real risks.
- Labor Costs: Finding people to work the front desk or clean rooms is getting more expensive every year.
- Regional Slowdowns: China hasn't bounced back as fast as everyone hoped, which weighs on the international side of the business.
- The "Cage-Free" Controversy: Lately, there’s been some negative press about Marriott failing to meet its 100% cage-free egg pledge. It sounds minor, but in 2026, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) scores actually move stock prices. Some activists have been protesting, and it's a small dent in that "gold standard" reputation.
The Real Driver: Credit Card Renewals
If you're watching the marriott international inc stock price this year, you need to circle the "Credit Card Renewal" on your calendar. Their major deals with banks are up for renewal soon. BMO analysts think a "conservative" 10% uplift in these deals could add 120 basis points to their earnings growth. That's the "secret sauce" that could push the stock toward that $370 mark.
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Actionable Insights for Investors
If you're thinking about putting money into MAR, don't just "buy and forget."
- Watch the $313 Support Level: Technical analysts say that if the stock dips, it usually finds "support" at $313. If it stays above that, the uptrend is still healthy.
- Focus on the February 10 Earnings Call: This is when they’ll drop the full 2025 year-end numbers. Pay attention to "Net Unit Growth." If they aren't adding enough new rooms, the P/E ratio might start to look a bit bloated.
- Check the "International" Mix: Marriott gets about 31% of its revenue from outside the US. A strong dollar can actually hurt their earnings when they convert that foreign cash back into USD.
- The "Bonvoy" Factor: Monitor the membership numbers. If Bonvoy growth slows down, the "moat" starts to shrink.
The marriott international inc stock price is currently a bet on the "resilient traveler." Even with inflation and weird global politics, people are still booking trips. As long as the Bonvoy machine keeps humming and the credit card swipes keep coming, Marriott looks less like a dusty hotel chain and more like a modern financial powerhouse with very nice lobbies.
Next Steps for You:
Check your portfolio's exposure to the "Consumer Discretionary" sector. Marriott currently trades at a P/E of 34, which is high compared to the S&P 500 average. If you already own it, look at setting a trailing stop-loss around the $304 mark to protect your gains in case the broader market takes a hit. If you're looking to enter, wait for a "mean reversion" back toward the 50-day moving average, which currently sits near $315, rather than buying at the absolute peak of a news cycle.