MAR AI Stock Analysis – Buy, Hold, or Avoid?
Marriott International, Inc. (MAR)
Marriott International (MAR) is fundamentally strong and technically bullish, but its premium valuation and high financial leverage temper near-term upside. The stock is well-positioned for long-term growth, yet current risks and a stretched P/E suggest caution for new buyers. Investors should monitor for macro or company-specific catalysts before taking new positions.
Fundamentals
Marriott International demonstrates a robust fundamental profile, with consistent revenue and earnings growth over the past two years, strong cash generation, and healthy profitability. However, its P/E ratio signals a premium valuation, reflecting high market expectations, and thus requires future growth to deliver in line with or above recent trends. The company displays operational excellence and resilience, but macro factors and industry cyclicality introduce modest risk.
Financial Highlights
- Revenue
- Net Income
- Net Margin (%)
Revenue
6.24% YoY
Q1 2026
Net Income
-2.56% YoY
Q1 2026
Net Margin
Q1 2026
Growth Metrics
Revenue Growth YoY
Latest Quarter: Q1 2026
Net Income Growth YoY
Latest Quarter: Q1 2026
Revenue Per Share Growth YoY
Latest Quarter: Q1 2026
EPS Growth YoY
Latest Quarter: Q1 2026
Book Value Per Share Growth YoY
Latest Quarter: Q1 2026
| Q1 2026 | Q4 2025 | Q3 2025 | Q2 2025 | Q1 2025 | Q4 2024 | Q3 2024 | Q2 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 6.7B | 6.7B | 6.5B | 6.7B | 6.3B | 6.4B | 6.3B | 6.4B |
| Revenue Growth YoY | +6.24% | +4.06% | +3.74% | +4.74% | +4.79% | +5.48% | +5.52% | +5.99% |
| Net Income | 648.0M | 445.0M | 728.0M | 763.0M | 665.0M | 455.0M | 584.0M | 772.0M |
| Net Income Growth YoY | -2.56% | -2.20% | +24.66% | -1.17% | +17.91% | -46.34% | -22.34% | +6.34% |
| EPS | $2.41 | $1.66 | $2.68 | $2.78 | $2.40 | $1.63 | $2.07 | $2.70 |
| EPS Growth YoY | +0.42% | +1.84% | +29.47% | +2.96% | +23.71% | -43.40% | -17.86% | +12.97% |
Profitability Metrics
Gross Margin
TTM
Operating Margin
TTM
Net Margin
TTM
Return on Equity
TTM
Return on Assets
TTM
| Q1 2026 | Q4 2025 | Q3 2025 | Q2 2025 | Q1 2025 | Q4 2024 | Q3 2024 | Q2 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Margin | 20.15% | 16.53% | 21.94% | 26.87% | 19.88% | 17.72% | 20.37% | 23.26% |
| Operating Margin | 15.99% | 11.61% | 18.18% | 18.33% | 15.14% | 11.70% | 15.09% | 18.56% |
| Net Margin | 9.74% | 6.65% | 11.22% | 11.31% | 10.62% | 7.08% | 9.34% | 11.99% |
| Return on Equity (ROE) | -15.84% | -11.80% | -23.34% | -25.74% | -20.99% | -15.21% | -24.12% | -36.92% |
| Return on Assets (ROA) | 7.52% | 5.36% | 5.71% | 8.82% | 8.05% | 5.71% | 7.47% | 10.03% |
Technical Analysis
Marriott International (MAR) is currently in a strong uptrend, supported by bullish moving averages and positive stage analysis indicating institutional accumulation. Momentum is neutral with RSI near 50, suggesting room for continuation without being overextended. Price is trading near $353 with technical signals favoring further upside potential.
No extreme reading
Price in uptrend
Range-bound market
50 above 200 - bullish
Key Technical Values
Price with Moving Averages
50-day, 150-day and 200-day simple moving averages
Relative Strength Index
Momentum oscillator measuring speed and magnitude of price changes
RSI (14)
Earnings
Marriott International demonstrates a robust fundamental profile, with consistent revenue and earnings growth over the past two years, strong cash generation, and healthy profitability. However, its P/E ratio signals a premium valuation, reflecting high market expectations, and thus requires future growth to deliver in line with or above recent trends. The company displays operational excellence and resilience, but macro factors and industry cyclicality introduce modest risk.
Latest Earnings
Q1 2026 Earnings (Mar 31, 2026)
Earnings Per Share (EPS)
Actual
$2.72
Estimated
$2.56
Surprise
+$0.16
Surprise %
+6.25%
Revenue
Actual
$6.65B
Estimated
$6.59B
Surprise
+$67.81M
Surprise %
+1.03%
Historical Earnings
| Q1 2026 | Q4 2025 | Q3 2025 | Q2 2025 | Q1 2025 | Q4 2024 | Q3 2024 | Q2 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earnings Per Share | ||||||||
| EPS (Actual) | $2.72 | $2.58 | $2.47 | $2.65 | $2.32 | $2.45 | $2.26 | $2.50 |
| EPS (Estimated) | $2.56 | $2.60 | $2.38 | $2.61 | $2.25 | $2.37 | $2.31 | $2.47 |
| EPS Surprise | +$0.16 | -$0.02 | +$0.09 | +$0.04 | +$0.07 | +$0.08 | -$0.05 | +$0.03 |
| % Diff | +6.3% | -0.8% | +3.8% | +1.5% | +3.1% | +3.4% | -2.2% | +1.2% |
| Revenue | ||||||||
| Revenue (Actual) | $6.65B | $6.69B | $6.49B | $6.74B | $6.26B | $6.43B | $6.26B | $6.44B |
| Revenue (Estimated) | $6.59B | $6.67B | $6.46B | $6.67B | $6.19B | $6.4B | $6.28B | $6.47B |
| Revenue Surprise | +$67.81M | +$19.14M | +$29.74M | +$76.37M | +$75.86M | +$25.08M | -$20.74M | -$32.57M |
| % Diff | +1.0% | +0.3% | +0.5% | +1.1% | +1.2% | +0.4% | -0.3% | -0.5% |
Valuation
Marriott International (MAR) trades at a premium compared to its sector peers, reflecting its strong brand presence and extensive global pipeline. Recent earnings beat expectations with solid revenue and profit growth, but valuation multiples are elevated, signaling cautious optimism from the market. Analyst consensus shows a mixed sentiment with most assigning neutral to moderate buy ratings and price targets suggesting modest upside.
Valuation Metrics
Price to Earnings
TTM
Price to Sales
TTM
Price to Book
TTM
Enterprise Value to EBITDA
TTM
Enterprise Value to Revenue
TTM
| Q1 2026 | Q4 2025 | Q3 2025 | Q2 2025 | Q1 2025 | Q4 2024 | Q3 2024 | Q2 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price to Earnings | 33.88 | 46.80 | 24.29 | 24.57 | 24.87 | 42.75 | 29.96 | 22.17 |
| Price to Sales | 13.20 | 12.45 | 10.90 | 11.12 | 10.56 | 12.10 | 11.19 | 10.63 |
| Price to Book | -21.46 | -22.09 | -22.68 | -25.30 | -20.88 | -26.00 | -28.91 | -32.74 |
| Enterprise Value to EBITDA | 96.92 | 103.44 | 69.56 | 69.35 | 74.61 | 87.65 | 81.13 | 65.14 |
| Enterprise Value to Revenue | 15.61 | 14.95 | 13.40 | 13.47 | 13.01 | 14.41 | 13.44 | 12.75 |
Sentiment & Analyst Ratings
Marriott International (MAR) currently exhibits cautiously optimistic sentiment among both analysts and retail investors, buoyed by strong Q1 2026 earnings and a robust development pipeline. Despite geopolitical headwinds in the Middle East and some valuation concerns, the overall mood reflects confidence in sustained travel demand and strategic growth initiatives.
Analyst Recommendations
Risk Assessment
Marriott International shows a mixed financial health profile characterized by low liquidity ratios and high leverage, reflecting a capital structure heavily reliant on debt. The company benefits from strong industry positioning and revenue growth in lodging globally but faces risks from domestic market saturation, rising labor costs, geopolitical tensions, and economic uncertainties. Analyst sentiment remains cautiously optimistic, bolstered by robust earnings and expansion plans, though valuation concerns and short-term challenges persist.
Liquidity & Solvency
Current Ratio
Latest Quarter: Q1 2026
Quick Ratio
Latest Quarter: Q1 2026
Debt-to-Equity
Latest Quarter: Q1 2026
Debt-to-Assets
Latest Quarter: Q1 2026
| Q1 2026 | Q4 2025 | Q3 2025 | Q2 2025 | Q1 2025 | Q4 2024 | Q3 2024 | Q2 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liquidity Metrics | ||||||||
| Current Ratio | 0.46 | 0.43 | 0.47 | 0.45 | 0.45 | 0.40 | 0.42 | 0.42 |
| Quick Ratio | 0.46 | 0.43 | 0.47 | 0.45 | 0.45 | 0.40 | 0.42 | 0.42 |
| Solvency Metrics | ||||||||
| Debt-to-Equity | -4.04 | -4.53 | -5.41 | -5.58 | -5.00 | -5.09 | -5.97 | -6.68 |
| Debt-to-Assets | 0.59 | 0.62 | 0.61 | 0.60 | 0.59 | 0.58 | 0.55 | 0.54 |
Liquidity Assessment
Current Ratio: 0.46(Weak)
Quick Ratio: 0.46(Weak)
The company has relatively weak liquidity and may face challenges meeting short-term obligations.
Solvency Assessment
Debt-to-Equity: -4.04(Low)
Debt-to-Assets: 0.59(High)
The company has conservative debt levels, indicating low financial risk and strong long-term solvency.
Frequently Asked Questions about MAR
AI Answers: Common Questions About MAR
Get AI-powered answers to the questions investors ask most about Marriott International, Inc.
Marriott is not a compelling buy at current levels ($353.18) given its premium valuation (P/E 37.02, EV/EBITDA well above peers) and proximity to resistance ($380). While fundamentals and technicals are strong, waiting for a pullback or breakout confirmation is prudent.
There is no urgent reason to sell unless your thesis has changed or you are concerned about valuation risk; the uptrend remains intact and fundamentals are solid, but consider trimming if overexposed or if the stock fails to break above $380.
The biggest risks are high financial leverage (debt-to-assets ~0.59, negative equity), low liquidity (current ratio ~0.46), and exposure to macroeconomic and geopolitical shocks that could impact travel demand and margins.
Technical resistance is at $380 (52-week high), with analyst targets averaging $370; a breakout could see $390-395, while support lies at $343 (50 SMA) and $316 (150 SMA). Near-term upside is modest unless a breakout occurs.
Marriott is fairly to slightly overvalued, trading at a P/E of 37.02 and elevated EV/EBITDA and P/S multiples versus sector averages; the premium reflects quality and growth, but leaves little margin for error if growth slows.
The company is fundamentally strong, with gross margin improving to 21.3% in FY25, EPS up 14% YoY, and high-quality recurring fee income; however, high leverage and low liquidity are notable balance sheet weaknesses.
Technically, MAR is in a strong uptrend above all major moving averages, with a golden cross and neutral RSI (~50), suggesting room for further gains if volume supports a move above $380; downside support is at $343 and $316.
Key catalysts include upcoming earnings reports, potential breakout above $380 resistance, continued global travel recovery, loyalty program growth, and any macroeconomic or geopolitical developments impacting travel.
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