HLT
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.
Travel Lodging
Market Cap$72.93B
5Y Perf.+303.9%
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Stock Comparison
HLT vs IHG
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
IHG
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC
Travel Lodging
Market Cap$22.11B
5Y Perf.+207.1%
HLT vs IHG — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | HLT | IHG |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Travel Lodging | Travel Lodging |
| Market Cap | $72.93B | $22.11B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $12.28B | $10.13B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $1.54B | $1.39B |
| Gross Margin | 44.3% | 45.7% |
| Operating Margin | 23.1% | 22.3% |
| Forward P/E | 35.4x | 26.0x |
| Total Debt | $15.67B | $4.62B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $970M | $1.13B |
HLT vs IHG — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
HLT
IHG
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Worldwide Ho… (HLT) | 100 | 403.9 | +303.9% |
| InterContinental Ho… (IHG) | 100 | 307.1 | +207.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: HLT vs IHG
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: IHG leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
HLT
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.
The Growth Play
HLT is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 7.7%, EPS growth -0.3%, 3Y rev CAGR 11.1%
- 6.2% 10Y total return vs IHG's 275.4%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.94, current ratio 10.81x
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
IHG
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC
The Income Pick
IHG carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability.
- Dividend streak 3 yrs, beta 0.94, yield 1.2%
- Lower P/E (26.0x vs 35.4x)
- 13.7% margin vs HLT's 12.6%
Best for: income & stability
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | HLT | 7.7% revenue growth vs IHG's 5.4% |
| Value | IHG | Lower P/E (26.0x vs 35.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | IHG | 13.7% margin vs HLT's 12.6% |
| Stability / Safety | HLT | Beta 0.94 vs IHG's 0.94 |
| Dividends | IHG | 1.2% yield, 3-year raise streak, vs HLT's 0.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | HLT | +32.8% vs IHG's +29.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | IHG | 26.0% ROA vs HLT's 9.4%, ROIC 159.6% vs 24.7% |
HLT vs IHG — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2020
HLT vs IHG — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLIHGLAGGINGHLT
HLTHilton Worldwide Hold…
2leads
IHGInterContinental Hote…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs HLTMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
HLT4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
IHG5/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
IHG6/6
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
HLT6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
IHG2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
HLT leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
HLT and IHG operate at a comparable scale, with $12.3B and $10.1B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 13.7% (IHG) to 12.6% (HLT). On growth, HLT holds the edge at +9.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | HLTHilton Worldwide … | IHGInterContinental … |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $12.3B | $10.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $3.0B | $2.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.5B | $1.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $2.2B | $1.6B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +44.3% | +45.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +23.1% | +22.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +12.6% | +13.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +17.8% | +15.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +9.0% | +2.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +35.0% | +8.0% |
HLT leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
IHG leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 30.2x trailing earnings, IHG trades at a 42% valuation discount to HLT's 52.3x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, IHG's 19.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than HLT's 30.5x.
| Metric | HLTHilton Worldwide … | IHGInterContinental … |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $72.9B | $22.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $87.6B | $25.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 52.34x | 30.17x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 35.37x | 25.95x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 30.53x | 19.05x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 6.06x | 4.26x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | — | — |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 35.96x | 25.42x |
IHG leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
IHG leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
| Metric | HLTHilton Worldwide … | IHGInterContinental … |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | — | — |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +9.4% | +26.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +24.7% | +159.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +19.0% | +39.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $14.7B | $3.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $970M | $1.1B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $15.7B | $4.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 4.42x | 17.19x |
IHG leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
HLT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in HLT five years ago would be worth $26,146 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $21,464 for IHG. Over the past 12 months, HLT leads with a +32.8% total return vs IHG's +29.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors HLT at 30.3% vs IHG's 29.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | HLTHilton Worldwide … | IHGInterContinental … |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +9.4% | +5.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +32.8% | +29.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +121.3% | +119.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +161.5% | +114.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +615.8% | +275.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +30.3% | +29.9% |
HLT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — HLT and IHG each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
HLT is the less volatile stock with a 0.94 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than IHG's 0.94 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. IHG currently trades 97.4% from its 52-week high vs HLT's 92.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | HLTHilton Worldwide … | IHGInterContinental … |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.94x | 0.94x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $344.75 | $150.89 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $237.57 | $109.79 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +92.9% | +97.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 50.9 | 57.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.6M | 245K |
Evenly matched — HLT and IHG each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
IHG leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates HLT as "Buy" and IHG as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 5.7% upside for HLT (target: $338) vs 2.5% for IHG (target: $151). For income investors, IHG offers the higher dividend yield at 1.18% vs HLT's 0.19%.
| Metric | HLTHilton Worldwide … | IHGInterContinental … |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $338.45 | $150.67 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 49 | 23 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.2% | +1.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 3 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.60 | $1.73 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +4.5% | +4.1% |
IHG leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
IHG leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). HLT leads in 2 (Income & Cash Flow, Total Returns). 1 tied.
Best OverallInterContinental Hotels Gro… (IHG)Leads 3 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
HLT vs IHG: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is HLT or IHG a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.
(HLT) is the stronger pick with 7. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 4% for InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG). InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG) offers the better valuation at 30. 2x trailing P/E (26. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (HLT) a "Buy" — based on 49 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — HLT or IHG?
On trailing P/E, InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG) is the cheapest at 30.
2x versus Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. at 52. 3x. On forward P/E, InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is actually cheaper at 26. 0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — HLT or IHG?
Over the past 5 years, Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.
(HLT) delivered a total return of +161. 5%, compared to +114. 6% for InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HLT returned +615. 8% versus IHG's +275. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — HLT or IHG?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.
(HLT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 94β versus InterContinental Hotels Group PLC's 0. 94β — meaning IHG is approximately 0% more volatile than HLT relative to the S&P 500.
05Which is growing faster — HLT or IHG?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.
(HLT) is pulling ahead at 7. 7% versus 5. 4% for InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: InterContinental Hotels Group PLC grew EPS 26. 5% year-over-year, compared to -0. 3% for Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, HLT leads at 11. 1% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — HLT or IHG?
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG) is the more profitable company, earning 14.
6% net margin versus 12. 1% for Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. — meaning it keeps 14. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: IHG leads at 23. 1% versus 22. 4% for HLT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HLT leads at 41. 1%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is HLT or IHG more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG) trades at 26.
0x forward P/E versus 35. 4x for Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. — 9. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HLT: 5. 7% to $338. 45.
08Which pays a better dividend — HLT or IHG?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG) offers the highest yield at 1. 2%, versus 0. 2% for Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (HLT).
09Is HLT or IHG better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
94), 1. 2% yield, +275. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (IHG: +275. 4%, HLT: +615. 8%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between HLT and IHG?
Both stocks operate in the Consumer Cyclical sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
IHG pays a dividend while HLT does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(HLT: 9.0% · IHG: 2.7%)Net Margin>
%
(HLT: 12.6% · IHG: 13.7%)P/E Ratio<
x
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