Oppenheimer analysts initiated coverage on Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ:HST) with perform rating and a $21 price target, noting they like the company’s strong balance sheet and multiple strategies to elevate the growth trajectory of the portfolio.
However, the analysts believe the ownership of full-service hotels could leave the company exposed to wage pressures and challenges relating to hiring employees.
The analysts also think the company’s strong portfolio performance should slow in the future. Recent gains have been driven by outsized ADR growth at several resort hotels, something that should reverse in the future. The analysts believe this normalization process could weigh on sentiment toward the stock.