NYSE: HLT
Key Data Points
In 1964, the company spun off its international businesses into a separately traded entity called Hilton International Co. By the late 1990s, there were two companies operating Hilton Hotels both domestically and abroad, but each was unable to use the Hilton name in the other's operating regions.
Eventually, the two segments entered into a joint marketing agreement that allowed each to promote the other's brands, share logos, and enable system-wide reservations. In 2005, Hilton Hotels Corporation bought back the Hilton International chain from its British counterpart, making the company a single entity again.
Stock
How to buy Hilton Hotels stock
Hilton Hotels stock is publicly traded, so you can buy shares of the business like any other stock. Here are important steps to follow if you want to buy shares of Hilton stock.
- Open your brokerage account: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments.
- Search for the stock: Enter the ticker or company name into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.
- Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
- Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
- Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
- Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.
Should I invest in Hilton Hotels?
Deciding if you should invest in Hilton Hotels stock depends on you and your investment goals. Whether the hospitality industry is one you gravitate towards, as well as whether you tend to be a more growth or value-oriented investor, will be a big part of your decision. That being said, there are some notable reasons to consider investing in Hilton Hotels stock.
One of the company's core competitive advantages that enables it to remain relatively asset-light is its franchise model. About 90% of the company's hotels are owned and operated by independent companies or franchisees, not Hilton Worldwide.
While Hilton Worldwide maintains the intellectual property for these brands, the fact that it isn't responsible for operating these properties or employing their staff means that capital-intensive areas like wages, maintenance, and real estate costs are minimized.
Instead, Hilton Worldwide makes the majority of its money from franchise and licensing fees, management fees, and incentive management fees related to this model. For example, Hilton Worldwide reported a total revenue of nearly $9 billion in the first three quarters of 2025. That total included:
- $2.1 billion derived from franchise and licensing fees
- $888 million from other revenues from owned and leased hotels
- $278 million from base and other management fees
- $212 million from incentive management fees
- $187 million from other revenue
The franchise model is designed to also drive greater profitability over the long run. Investors considering putting cash into Hilton Hotels stock should understand that there is a general cyclicality to the industry.
However, Hilton is focused on investing in growth and expanding its global portfolio, as well as delivering enhanced guest experiences and meeting evolving travel trends. This could make it a compelling buy for some long-term investors with risk appetite, interest in hotel stocks, and the appropriate investment time horizon.
Is Hilton Hotels profitable?
Hilton Hotels stock has a steady track record of profitability. The company reported $1.2 billion in net income in the first three quarters of 2025, up from $1 billion the prior year.
Does Hilton Hotels pay a dividend?
Hilton Hotels stock does pay a dividend, although it was temporarily suspended in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The company restored the dividend in 2022.
Its current quarterly payout is $0.15 per share, or an annual dividend of $0.60 per share. The dividend yield for Hilton Hotels stock is approximately 0.23%.
ETFs with exposure to Hilton Hotels
There are numerous exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that offer exposure to Hilton Hotels stock. If you don't want the exposure of owning the individual stock, putting cash into an ETF can enable you to become part-owner of Hilton Hotels while diversifying your capital across an assortment of other intriguing businesses.
Several examples of funds that offer exposure to Hilton Hotels stock include the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund (VTI +0.24%), the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO +0.23%), and the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY +0.15%).
Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF)
Will Hilton Hotels stock split?
Hilton Hotels stock has split multiple times in the history of the company. The first split was a 2-for-1 split in June 20, 1988, and the second was a 4-for-1 split on Sept. 26, 1996.
The most recent stock split was related to the spinoff of Park Hotels & Resorts and Hilton Grand Vacations. This stock split occurred on Jan. 4, 2017, and was a 1000-for-2,052 reverse stock split. After spinning off the two entities into their own publicly traded companies, Hilton Hotels Worldwide wanted to retain the value of its own company shares.
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The bottom line on Hilton Hotels
Hilton Hotels is one of the world's largest hospitality companies, with a footprint that spans several continents. The recovery in travel, increases in daily rates, and additions of new hotels and rooms are driving steady revenue and profits.
Like other companies in the hospitality industry, Hilton Hotels is somewhat dependent on consumer spending, which can change with fluctuations in macroeconomic conditions. However, Hilton Hotels stock boasts a relatively asset-light model, which can lend resilience and profitability in a wide range of environments.
For investors who want to put cash into a mainstay brand with an established history of growth and a clear long-term value proposition to consumers, Hilton Hotels stock might be a valuable addition to a long-term investor's portfolio.
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