RLJ Lodging Receives Double Upgrade from Raymond James Due to Positive Sector Outlook
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Nov 12 2025
0mins
Should l Buy RLJ?
Source: SeekingAlpha
Analyst Upgrade: Raymond James upgraded RLJ Lodging Trust to Strong Buy from Market Perform, citing an improving outlook for the hotel and resort sector in 2026, with a price target set at $9.00.
Market Performance: RLJ shares rose by 3.09% to $7.52 following the upgrade, as the lodging REIT sector outperformed other REIT sectors despite near-term challenges.
Sector Outlook: The analyst highlighted multiple positive factors for the sector in 2026, including major events like the World Cup and a shift in the holiday calendar, which could lead to a reversal in current trends.
Valuation Perspective: Raymond James believes RLJ is trading at compelling valuations compared to its peers, contrasting with the average hold rating from other analysts, while Seeking Alpha authors view the stock as a Buy.
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Analyst Views on RLJ
Wall Street analysts forecast RLJ stock price to rise
6 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
3 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 8.220
Low
6.00
Averages
8.25
High
11.00
Current: 8.220
Low
6.00
Averages
8.25
High
11.00
About RLJ
RLJ Lodging Trust is a self-advised, publicly traded real estate investment trust that owns approximately 95 premium-branded, rooms-oriented, urban-centric hotels. The Company's brand affiliations include Marriott, which includes Courtyard, Residence Inn, Marriott, Fairfield Inn & Suites, Renaissance, SpringHill Suites, AC Hotel, Moxy and Tribute Portfolio; Hilton, which includes Embassy Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, DoubleTree/DoubleTree Suites by Hilton, Hampton Inn/Hampton Inn & Suites, Curio Collection, Homewood Suites, Hilton and Tapestry Collection; Hyatt, which includes Hyatt House, Hyatt Place and Hyatt Centric, and Wyndham. Its hotel properties include Embassy Suites Birmingham, Embassy Suites Phoenix - Biltmore, Courtyard San Francisco, Embassy Suites Milpitas Silicon Valley, Hilton Garden Inn Los Angeles Hollywood, Hilton Garden Inn San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge, Fairfield Inn & Suites Key West, Hyatt Centric The Woodlands, and Residence Inn Atlanta Midtown Historic.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
RLJ Lodging Trust Reveals Tax Implications for 2025 Dividends
- Announcement of Dividend: Trust has announced a dividend for the year 2025.
- Details of the Dividend: Specifics regarding the amount and distribution of the dividend have not been disclosed.
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- Market Reaction: JP Morgan analyst Anthony Paolone downgraded the stock from Neutral to Underweight on November 24, 2025, with a 63% accuracy rate, which may exacerbate negative sentiment in the market and affect its stock performance.
- Earnings Forecast: Park Hotels & Resorts is set to report its fourth-quarter financial results after the market closes on February 19, 2026, with analysts raising the price target from $11 to $12, indicating confidence despite an 8.63% dividend yield.
- RLJ Lodging Trust Update: Analyst Michael Bellisario downgraded RLJ Lodging Trust from Outperform to Neutral on October 3, 2025, cutting the price target from $9 to $7.5, which could influence investor perceptions of the stock, even with a 7.79% dividend yield.
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RLJ Lodging Trust: Major Turning Point Expected in 2026
- Diversification Advice: Analysts recommend that investors diversify across cyclical sectors (like hotels and retail) and defensive sectors (like healthcare and residential) to mitigate downside risks in economic growth, thereby enhancing portfolio resilience.
- Attractive Hotel REITs: RLJ Lodging Trust (RLJ) stands out due to expected U.S. GDP growth rebound and the impact of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, currently offering an attractive nearly 8% dividend yield, indicating strong income potential.
- European Market Opportunities: German residential REITs such as Vonovia (VONOY) and LEG Immobilien (LEGIF) are favored for their mid-single-digit dividends and capital gain potential, expected to trade above book value in 2026, attracting investor interest.
- Small REIT Acquisition Potential: Analysts predict an uptick in REIT M&A activity in 2027, suggesting a focus on smaller REITs with acquisition potential to benefit from market consolidation.
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Financial Stocks Decline as NYSE Financial Index Drops 0.2%
- Market Volatility: Financial stocks experienced a decline on Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Financial Index falling by 0.2%, reflecting market uncertainty regarding economic prospects, which could impact investor confidence and capital flows.
- Investor Reaction: The drop in financial stocks may lead investors to reassess their portfolios, particularly in light of poor economic data, potentially exacerbating market volatility and affecting overall market performance.
- Industry Impact: The weakness in the financial sector could negatively affect earnings expectations for related companies, especially those reliant on a stable market environment, such as banks and financial services firms.
- Future Outlook: As market sentiment shifts, the performance of financial stocks may be influenced by broader economic indicators, prompting investors to closely monitor upcoming economic data and policy developments.
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RLJ Lodging Trust Schedules Q4 2025 Earnings Release for February 26, 2026
- Earnings Release Announcement: RLJ Lodging Trust has announced it will report its financial results for Q4 and the full year ended December 31, 2025, after market close on February 26, 2026, highlighting the company's commitment to transparency and investor communication.
- Conference Call Timing: The company will host a conference call on February 27, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time), which is expected to attract significant attention from investors and analysts, thereby enhancing market understanding of the company's performance.
- Replay Availability: A replay of the conference call will be available from 3:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on February 27, 2026, until midnight on March 13, 2026, ensuring that investors who cannot participate live can access key information, thereby improving information accessibility.
- Webcast Access: The company will also provide a live webcast of the conference call on its official website, further broadening investor participation channels and demonstrating the company's efforts in digital communication.
See More
This Stock Offers a 7.76% Yield and Trades Below Its Book Value
Dividend Investing Strategy: Dividend investors focus on identifying profitable companies with attractive valuations, utilizing a proprietary DividendRank formula to generate a list of promising stocks for further research.
REITs and Dividend Distribution: Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are favored by dividend investors due to their requirement to distribute at least 90% of taxable income as dividends, leading to potentially high yields but also volatility in dividend payments.
RLJ Lodging Trust Dividend Details: RLJ Lodging Trust currently pays an annualized dividend of $0.6 per share, with quarterly payments and an upcoming ex-date of December 31, 2025, highlighting the importance of analyzing a company's dividend history.
Author's Perspective: The views expressed in the report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Nasdaq, Inc.
See More
RLJ Lodging Trust Reveals Tax Implications for 2025 Dividends
- Announcement of Dividend: Trust has announced a dividend for the year 2025.
- Details of the Dividend: Specifics regarding the amount and distribution of the dividend have not been disclosed.
See More
Brandywine Realty Trust Downgraded, Dividend Yield at 15.18%
- Analyst Rating Changes: Keybanc analyst Todd Thomas downgraded Brandywine Realty Trust from Overweight to Sector Weight on December 4, 2025, with a 57% accuracy rate, potentially diminishing investor confidence in the stock.
- Market Reaction: JP Morgan analyst Anthony Paolone downgraded the stock from Neutral to Underweight on November 24, 2025, with a 63% accuracy rate, which may exacerbate negative sentiment in the market and affect its stock performance.
- Earnings Forecast: Park Hotels & Resorts is set to report its fourth-quarter financial results after the market closes on February 19, 2026, with analysts raising the price target from $11 to $12, indicating confidence despite an 8.63% dividend yield.
- RLJ Lodging Trust Update: Analyst Michael Bellisario downgraded RLJ Lodging Trust from Outperform to Neutral on October 3, 2025, cutting the price target from $9 to $7.5, which could influence investor perceptions of the stock, even with a 7.79% dividend yield.
See More
RLJ Lodging Trust: Major Turning Point Expected in 2026
- Diversification Advice: Analysts recommend that investors diversify across cyclical sectors (like hotels and retail) and defensive sectors (like healthcare and residential) to mitigate downside risks in economic growth, thereby enhancing portfolio resilience.
- Attractive Hotel REITs: RLJ Lodging Trust (RLJ) stands out due to expected U.S. GDP growth rebound and the impact of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, currently offering an attractive nearly 8% dividend yield, indicating strong income potential.
- European Market Opportunities: German residential REITs such as Vonovia (VONOY) and LEG Immobilien (LEGIF) are favored for their mid-single-digit dividends and capital gain potential, expected to trade above book value in 2026, attracting investor interest.
- Small REIT Acquisition Potential: Analysts predict an uptick in REIT M&A activity in 2027, suggesting a focus on smaller REITs with acquisition potential to benefit from market consolidation.
See More
Financial Stocks Decline as NYSE Financial Index Drops 0.2%
- Market Volatility: Financial stocks experienced a decline on Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Financial Index falling by 0.2%, reflecting market uncertainty regarding economic prospects, which could impact investor confidence and capital flows.
- Investor Reaction: The drop in financial stocks may lead investors to reassess their portfolios, particularly in light of poor economic data, potentially exacerbating market volatility and affecting overall market performance.
- Industry Impact: The weakness in the financial sector could negatively affect earnings expectations for related companies, especially those reliant on a stable market environment, such as banks and financial services firms.
- Future Outlook: As market sentiment shifts, the performance of financial stocks may be influenced by broader economic indicators, prompting investors to closely monitor upcoming economic data and policy developments.
See More
RLJ Lodging Trust Schedules Q4 2025 Earnings Release for February 26, 2026
- Earnings Release Announcement: RLJ Lodging Trust has announced it will report its financial results for Q4 and the full year ended December 31, 2025, after market close on February 26, 2026, highlighting the company's commitment to transparency and investor communication.
- Conference Call Timing: The company will host a conference call on February 27, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time), which is expected to attract significant attention from investors and analysts, thereby enhancing market understanding of the company's performance.
- Replay Availability: A replay of the conference call will be available from 3:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on February 27, 2026, until midnight on March 13, 2026, ensuring that investors who cannot participate live can access key information, thereby improving information accessibility.
- Webcast Access: The company will also provide a live webcast of the conference call on its official website, further broadening investor participation channels and demonstrating the company's efforts in digital communication.
See More
This Stock Offers a 7.76% Yield and Trades Below Its Book Value
Dividend Investing Strategy: Dividend investors focus on identifying profitable companies with attractive valuations, utilizing a proprietary DividendRank formula to generate a list of promising stocks for further research.
REITs and Dividend Distribution: Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are favored by dividend investors due to their requirement to distribute at least 90% of taxable income as dividends, leading to potentially high yields but also volatility in dividend payments.
RLJ Lodging Trust Dividend Details: RLJ Lodging Trust currently pays an annualized dividend of $0.6 per share, with quarterly payments and an upcoming ex-date of December 31, 2025, highlighting the importance of analyzing a company's dividend history.
Author's Perspective: The views expressed in the report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Nasdaq, Inc.
See More
