Global hospitality company Marriott (NASDAQ:MAR) met Wall Street’s revenue expectations in Q4 CY2025, with sales up 4.1% year on year to $6.69 billion. Its non-GAAP profit of $2.58 per share was 1.5% below analysts’ consensus estimates.
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Marriott (MAR) Q4 CY2025 Highlights:
- Revenue: $6.69 billion vs analyst estimates of $6.69 billion (4.1% year-on-year growth, in line)
- Adjusted EPS: $2.58 vs analyst expectations of $2.62 (1.5% miss)
- Adjusted EBITDA: $1.40 billion vs analyst estimates of $1.39 billion (21% margin, 0.9% beat)
- Adjusted EPS guidance for the upcoming financial year 2026 is $11.45 at the midpoint, in line with analyst estimates
- EBITDA guidance for the upcoming financial year 2026 is $5.89 billion at the midpoint, above analyst estimates of $5.72 billion
- Operating Margin: 11.6%, in line with the same quarter last year
- RevPAR: $182.43 at quarter end, up 44.7% year on year
- Market Capitalization: $95.22 billion
StockStory’s Take
Marriott’s fourth quarter results were well received by the market, reflecting a combination of robust global demand, continued expansion of its property portfolio, and strength in higher-end travel segments. Management emphasized that a surge in new property signings, rapid integration of conversion properties, and resilient leisure and luxury travel contributed meaningfully to the company’s performance. CEO Anthony Capuano highlighted that “about 75% of our conversion openings opened within twelve months of signing,” underscoring operational momentum. The Bonvoy loyalty program also continued to grow, with 43 million new members joining in the year.
Looking ahead, management’s guidance is grounded in expectations for accelerated net rooms growth, increased contributions from co-branded credit card fees, and ongoing investment in technology and brand expansion. CFO Kathleen Kelly Oberg pointed to a “meaningful expected year-over-year increase of around 35% in co-branded credit card fees,” driven by both higher spending and a new royalty rate. The company believes that steady global demand, new property launches, and integration of artificial intelligence into booking platforms will support its outlook, while noting that economic conditions and event-driven travel will continue to influence results.
Key Insights from Management’s Remarks
Management attributed quarterly momentum to strong property signings, growth in leisure and luxury travel, and enhancements to the Bonvoy loyalty platform.
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Pipeline and conversions accelerating: Marriott’s pipeline reached 610,000 rooms, up 6% year over year, with conversions accounting for about one-third of signings and openings. Management noted that 75% of conversion rooms began contributing to fee growth within twelve months of signing, reflecting improved operational efficiency.
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Leisure and luxury travel strength: Global RevPAR (revenue per available room) growth remained supported by robust demand in leisure and luxury segments, particularly in international markets such as Asia-Pacific, EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa), and select resort destinations. CEO Anthony Capuano cited double-digit RevPAR gains in India, Japan, and Australia.
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Bonvoy loyalty program expansion: The Bonvoy program added 43 million new members, reaching 271 million, aided by new partnerships and curated experiences. Management emphasized the growing importance of loyalty-driven bookings and partnerships with companies like Uber and Starbucks.
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Credit card fee growth: A major driver of fee revenue was a 35% expected increase in co-branded credit card fees for 2026, attributed to both increased consumer spending and a renegotiated royalty rate. Oberg described the program as “already the largest by far in the industry.”
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Technology and AI investments: Marriott is investing in AI-powered tools for guest personalization and operational efficiency. Initiatives include natural language search for its website and mobile app, as well as partnerships with Google and OpenAI to enhance discovery and direct booking channels.
Drivers of Future Performance
Marriott expects continued rooms growth, loyalty monetization, and technology investments to shape results in 2026.
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Accelerated net rooms growth: Management projects net rooms growth of 4.5% to 5%, citing a strong pipeline, efficient conversion processes, and increased owner interest in both luxury and midscale brands. New property launches and international expansion are expected to support top-line growth.
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Co-branded credit card momentum: The company anticipates an approximately 35% rise in credit card fees, driven by both higher cardholder spending and increased royalty rates from recently renegotiated agreements. Management believes this will provide a substantial lift to franchise fee revenues.
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AI and digital transformation: Ongoing investments in AI and core technology platforms are expected to improve guest experience and operational efficiency. The rollout of new property management, reservations, and loyalty systems is underway, with a focus on enhancing direct booking and personalization, supporting further growth in direct and loyalty-driven channels.
Catalysts in Upcoming Quarters
In upcoming quarters, the StockStory team will watch (1) progress on the rollout of new technology and AI systems, (2) the pace of net rooms growth and successful integration of new and conversion properties, and (3) continued expansion and monetization of the Bonvoy loyalty and co-branded credit card programs. The impact of major events, such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup, will also be a key indicator of demand trends.
Marriott currently trades at $360.16, up from $331.21 just before the earnings. At this price, is it a buy or sell? Find out in our full research report (it’s free).
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