Host Hotels and Resorts (HST) Annual Valuation
REITs often attract a great deal of investors because of their strong cash flows and dividends, and those investors often overlook other parts of the business, choosing to analyze the company under a different set of criteria than companies in other sectors.  This can create a problem in that it becomes difficult to compare a REIT to an industrial, which is fine if you use the typical top-down approach to stock selection; however, a top-down approach invites speculation in the fact that you are theorizing which sector will perform well going forward.  Benjamin Graham taught that we should avoid speculation as much as possible, which is why it is critical to develop a system for analyzing companies that will allow them to be compared across industries.  This is best done by utilizing a systematic approach to analysis that will provide investors with a sense of how a specific company compares to another investment opportunity.  By using the ModernGraham method one can review a company’s historical accomplishments and determine an intrinsic value that can be compared across industries.  What follows is a specific look at how Host Hotels and Resorts fares in the ModernGraham valuation model.
Company Profile (obtained from Google Finance): Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc (Host Inc), incorporated on September 28, 1998 operates as a self-managed and self-administered REIT. Host Inc. owns properties and conducts operations through Host Hotels & Resorts, L.P. (Host L.P.) of which Host Inc. is the sole general partner and in which it holds approximately 98.6% of the partnership interests (OP units) as of December 31, 2012. As of February 25, 2013, the Company had 118 primarily luxury and upper-upscale hotels containing approximately 62,600 rooms, with the majority located in the United States of America, and 15 properties located outside of the United States of America, in Canada, New Zealand, Chile, Australia, Mexico and Brazil. In July 2013, the Company sold the 336-room Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco to an investment vehicle sponsored by Thayer Lodging Group. In January 2014, Host Hotels & Resorts Inc sold an 89% interest in the entity that owns the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown (the Hotel).
Defensive Investor – must pass at least 6 of the following 7 tests: Score = 4/7
- Adequate Size of Enterprise – market capitalization of at least $2 billion – PASS
- Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition – current ratio greater than 2 – PASS
- Earnings Stability – positive earnings per share for at least 10 straight years – FAIL
- Dividend Record – has paid a dividend for at least 10 straight years – PASS
- Earnings Growth – earnings per share has increased by at least 1/3 over the last 10 years using 3 year averages at beginning and end of period – FAIL
- Moderate PEmg ratio – PEmg is less than 20 – FAIL
- Moderate Price to Assets – PB ratio is less than 2.5 or PB x PEmg is less than 50 – PASS
Enterprising Investor – must pass at least 4 of the following 5 tests or be suitable for a defensive investor: Score = 2/5
- Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition, Part 1 – current ratio greater than 1.5 – PASS
- Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition, Part 2 – Debt to Net Current Assets ratio less than 1.1 – FAIL
- Earnings Stability – positive earnings per share for at least 5 years – FAIL
- Dividend Record – currently pays a dividend – PASS
- Earnings growth – EPSmg greater than 5 years ago – FAIL
Valuation Summary
Key Data:
| Recent Price | $19.67 |
| MG Opinion | Overvalued |
| Value Based on 3% Growth | $0.51 |
| Value Based on 0% Growth | $0.30 |
| Market Implied Growth Rate | 274.10% |
| NCAV | -$6.15 |
| PEmg | 556.70 |
| Current Ratio | 4.42 |
| PB Ratio | 2.05 |
Balance Sheet – 12/31/2013
| Current Assets | $945,000,000 |
| Current Liabilities | $214,000,000 |
| Total Debt | $4,759,000,000 |
| Total Assets | $12,814,000,000 |
| Intangible Assets | $0 |
| Total Liabilities | $5,586,000,000 |
| Outstanding Shares | 754,800,000 |
Earnings Per Share
| 2013 | $0.27 |
| 2012 | $0.01 |
| 2011 | -$0.01 |
| 2010 | -$0.20 |
| 2009 | -$0.43 |
| 2008 | $0.69 |
| 2007 | $0.99 |
| 2006 | $0.59 |
| 2005 | $0.29 |
| 2004 | -$0.30 |
Earnings Per Share – ModernGrahamÂ
| 2013 | $0.04 |
| 2012 | -$0.05 |
| 2011 | $0.02 |
| 2010 | $0.13 |
| 2009 | $0.34 |
| 2008 | $0.63 |
Dividend History
HST Dividend data by YCharts
Conclusion:
Host Hotels and Resorts is a better than average REIT, but still does not qualify for either the Defensive Investor or the Enterprising Investor. Â The company’s poor earnings stability, lack of earnings growth, and high PEmg ratio are all disqualifying factors. Â As a result, value investors seeking to follow the ModernGraham approach based on Benjamin Graham’s methods should explore other opportunities, such as by reviewing a list of 5 Outstanding Dow Components. Â From a valuation perspective, the earnings situation severely impacts the ModernGraham valuation model’s view of the company. Â The company’s EPSmg (normalized earnings) have gone from $0.34 in 2009 to $0.04 for 2013, and at the $0.04 level, the PEmg is through the roof. Â As a result, the ModernGraham valuation model indicates the company may be overvalued presently.
The next part of the analysis is up to individual investors, and requires discussion of the company’s prospects.  What do you think?  What value would you put on Host Hotels and Resorts (HST)?  Where do you see the company going in the future?  Is there a company you like better?  Leave a comment on our Facebook page or mention @ModernGraham on Twitter to discuss.
If you like our valuations, why not check out ModernGraham Stocks & Screens?  It’s a great way to review the valuations while screening for things like low PE ratio, undervalued companies, etc.!
Disclaimer: Â The author did not hold a position in Host Hotels and Resorts (HST) or any of the other companies listed in this article at the time of publication and had no intention of changing that position within the next 72 hours.
Logo taken from the Wikipedia; this article is not affiliated with the company in any manner.
