Hilton (HLT): analysis in plain words
Is Hilton cheap or expensive? How it makes money, whether it grows and its risks, explained in plain words and with its official accounts.
Hilton (HLT) is listed on the NYSE and we classify it in travel, leisure and gaming. Below are its key dated figures, how it makes money, how it compares with its sector, what works for and against Hilton according to those figures, and the questions people ask most about the stock. No buy or sell tips.
Hilton (HLT) key figures as of November 4, 2026
| Figure | Value | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $376.53 | Last price on November 4, 2026 |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 50.8x | Price over earnings per share |
| Revenue growth | +5.8% | Latest quarter vs the same quarter a year earlier |
| Net margin (TTM) | 32.8% | Profit for every 100 of sales |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 4.1x | Years of operating profit to repay debt |
| Dividend yield | 0.16% | Annual dividend over price |
| Market cap | $83.8 billion | What the stock market values it at |
The Hilton figures come from Yahoo Finance, the same source the Fintols analysis uses, retrieved on November 4, 2026. Any HLT figure that is not available shows as N/A: we do not estimate it.
How Hilton makes money
Hilton Worldwide earns fees for managing and franchising hotels under brands like Hilton, Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, DoubleTree, Hampton and Embassy Suites, while property owners put up the buildings. Its core segment is Management and Franchise, alongside a smaller Ownership segment, and it licenses Hilton Honors to credit card partners.
Over the last 12 months, Hilton brought in revenue of $5.2 billion. For every 100 it sells, Hilton keeps 79.5 after the direct cost of what it sells (gross margin) and 66.8 after all operating costs (operating margin).
Hilton against its sector
To know whether a Hilton figure is high or low you have to put it next to similar companies. This table compares Hilton with the median of the 13 travel, leisure and gaming companies Fintols covers, with data as of November 4, 2026.
| Figure | Hilton | travel, leisure and gaming median |
|---|---|---|
| P/E | 50.8x | 17.8x (13) |
| Revenue growth | +5.8% | +8.8% (14) |
| Net margin | 32.8% | 11.6% (14) |
| Dividend yield | 0.16% | 1.31% (14) |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 4.1x | 2.8x (14) |
In short, against the typical travel, leisure and gaming company, Hilton trades on a higher P/E, grows more slowly and earns a wider margin. By size, Hilton ranks number 5 of 11 travel, leisure and gaming companies quoted in USD on Fintols.
The bull case for Hilton
What works in favour of Hilton, according to its figures as of November 4, 2026:
- Hilton keeps 32.8 of every 100 it sells as net profit, against 11.6 for the median travel, leisure and gaming company: a margin like that leaves money to invest, buy back shares or pay dividends.
- Analysts expect Hilton earnings to rise: its P/E on the next 12 months of estimated earnings is 36.0x, below the current 50.8x.
The main risk for Hilton
The price already assumes a lot: Hilton trades at 50.8x its last 12 months of earnings, against 17.8x for the travel, leisure and gaming median. If growth disappoints, the multiple can shrink and the share price with it.
On top of that: debt is heavy: Hilton carries net debt equal to 4.1x its annual EBITDA. With high interest rates or a weak year, interest payments eat into what it can invest or pay out.
And, like the rest of travel, leisure and gaming, Hilton is exposed to people travelling and spending less on leisure if the economy worsens, plus fuel prices.
Frequently asked questions about Hilton
Is it a good time to buy Hilton stock?
Fintols does not tell you whether to buy or sell Hilton, and nobody knows what the price will do tomorrow. What we can show you is where it stands today. As of November 4, 2026, Hilton stock trades at $376.53, 0% below its 52-week high ($377.76) and 46% above its low ($257.04). Its P/E is 50.8x against a travel, leisure and gaming median of 17.8x, and 36.0x on the earnings analysts expect over the next 12 months. With Hilton, as with any stock, timing matters less than understanding the business, investing for the long run and not betting everything on a single company.
Does Hilton pay a dividend?
Yes. As of November 4, 2026, Hilton pays $0.60 per share a year, which at today's price is a yield of 0.16%. It uses 8% of its profit to pay it, which leaves room to keep paying it if profit dips.
Is Hilton stock expensive?
It depends on what you compare it with. On P/E, Hilton trades at 50.8x its last 12 months of earnings: more expensive than the travel, leisure and gaming median (17.8x). A high P/E alone does not make Hilton expensive: it can be justified if earnings grow fast, and a low one can reflect a business in trouble.
Who are Hilton's competitors?
On Fintols we compare Hilton with Airbnb, Marriott and Booking Holdings, which are also in travel, leisure and gaming. As of November 4, 2026, Airbnb is worth $105.6 billion and trades on a P/E of 40.2; Marriott is worth $109.4 billion and trades on a P/E of 42.4; Booking Holdings is worth $128.5 billion and trades on a P/E of 19.0. Each has a side-by-side comparison with Hilton below.
Hilton competitors
- Airbnb (ABNB) analysis · Hilton vs Airbnb comparison
- Marriott (MAR) analysis · Hilton vs Marriott comparison
- Booking Holdings (BKNG) analysis · Hilton vs Booking Holdings comparison
To understand Hilton better
- How to Read a Balance Sheet: A Beginner's Guide
- P/E Ratio and EPS Explained: How to Read Them Without Traps
More companies like Hilton: travel, leisure and gaming stocks and S&P 500 companies. Open the full HLT analysis with its valuation and scenarios. Educational content about Hilton, not investment advice.