MI
MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL INC /MD/ (MAR)·Q2 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q2 results were resilient: adjusted EPS $2.65 and adjusted EBITDA $1.415B, with worldwide RevPAR +1.5% YoY; International RevPAR +5.3% and U.S. & Canada flat . Consensus EPS was modestly exceeded; pipeline reached a record ~3,900 properties and >590k rooms; net rooms +4.7% YoY .
- Gross fee revenues rose ~4% YoY to $1.4B; owned/leased net contribution was $113M, up from $99M; adjusted operating income margin held at 65% .
- Guidance narrowed: full-year RevPAR growth trimmed to 1.5%–2.5% from 1.5%–3.5% previously; FY adjusted EPS range revised to $9.85–$10.08 from $9.82–$10.19; Q3 RevPAR guided flat to +1% . Bold risks cited: weaker select-service demand, softer near-term group pace, government travel down .
- Capital returns: ~$2.1B YTD through July 30, plus a dividend of $0.67/share and a 25M-share buyback authorization increase post-quarter; FY capital return plan remains ≈$4B .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- International strength: “International RevPAR rose over 5 percent, with strong growth in APEC and EMEA” (APAC +9% RevPAR; Middle East +10%+) .
- Development momentum: “Pipeline stood at a record of more than 590,000 rooms… conversions ~30% of room signings and openings” .
- Loyalty and platform expansion: Bonvoy reached ~248M members; launch of Series by Marriott and completion of citizenM acquisition broadens the offering and drives owner interest .
What Went Wrong
- U.S. & Canada softness: RevPAR flat; select-service and extended-stay RevPAR down ~1.5% YoY; government room nights down 16% YoY; business transient RevPAR down ~2% globally .
- Near-term group pace decelerated: fewer in-quarter bookings and elevated attrition vs expectations, with 3Q pacing down 2% and 4Q up 6% (calendar shifts noted) .
- Higher interest expense: net interest expense rose vs prior-year driven by higher debt balances; total debt ended quarter at $15.7B, up from $14.4B YE24 .
Financial Results
P&L and Margins (As Reported and Adjusted)
Fee and Owned/Leased Detail
RevPAR Summary (Constant Currency YoY)
Consensus vs Actual (S&P Global)
Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
Guidance Changes
Additional capital actions post-quarter: dividend $0.67/share and buyback authorization increased by 25M shares .
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “Marriott delivered another solid quarter… Global RevPAR increased 1.5 percent… International RevPAR rose over 5 percent… U.S. & Canada RevPAR [was] flat” — Anthony Capuano, CEO .
- “We signed nearly 32,000 rooms… pipeline stood at a record of more than 590,000 rooms… Conversions continued to be a key driver of growth” — Capuano .
- “Third quarter adjusted EBITDA is expected to increase 5% to 7%… full year gross fees… $5,370 to $5,420… adjusted EPS $9.85 to $10.08” — Leeny Oberg, CFO .
- “We expect to start deploying the new cloud-based central reservations, PMS in the U.S. & Canada select service hotels later this year… we have stood up a Marriott AI incubator” — Capuano .
Q&A Highlights
- Technology and AI: Cloud-based reservations/PMS rollout in select-service U.S./Canada later this year; AI pilots across concierge, contact centers, Homes & Villas, trip planning; tech spend heavier in 2024–2026 (+~$100M vs typical) .
- Macro and legislation: “Big beautiful bill” passage reduces uncertainty; owners’ development decisions hinge on yields; tariffs uncertainty still a watch point .
- Group dynamics: Near-term softness driven by attrition and fewer in-quarter bookings; 2026 pace +8% in U.S./Canada; luxury F&B spend strong (+6–10%) .
- Business transient: Ex-government BT RevPAR down ~1% globally; government transient RevPAR down 17%; overall BT stable with short booking windows .
- Conversions and China: Conversions ~30% of signings; key money competitive but broadly similar to 2019; Greater China signings +~20% YoY, 70% in select service, rooms growth high-single digits .
Estimates Context
- MAR delivered modest beats on adjusted EPS and adjusted EBITDA across Q4 2024, Q1 2025, and Q2 2025 versus S&P Global consensus, reflecting resilient fee growth and international RevPAR strength despite U.S. select-service softness (see table above) .
- Full-year guidance narrowing (lower RevPAR range; adjusted EPS upper end trimmed) suggests Street models should reduce RevPAR and EPS top-end assumptions and reflect lower residential branding fees timing offset by stronger owned/leased net and disciplined G&A .
Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
Key Takeaways for Investors
- International outperformance and a record pipeline continue to anchor growth; exposure to luxury/full service offsets U.S. select-service headwinds .
- Near-term demand mix pivot: leisure transient remains firm; BT and group softer short-term but 2026 pace supportive; expect calendar-driven 4Q acceleration .
- Guidance prudence: FY RevPAR range lowered; EPS range narrowed; still targeting ≈$4B capital returns with leverage maintained at low end of 3.0–3.5x net debt/EBITDA .
- Strategic expansion: Series by Marriott and citizenM broaden addressable markets; midscale pipeline doubled QoQ—portfolio conversions and soft brands are key levers .
- Technology execution: Cloud-based reservations/PMS rollout and AI pilots should improve efficiency and merchandising, supporting owner economics and customer experience .
- Watch U.S. select-service/government demand: sustained weakness could cap near-term RevPAR in the U.S.; international momentum and pricing help mitigate .
- Capital allocation remains shareholder-friendly: dividend increased post-quarter; buyback authorization expanded; operating cash flow and asset-light model support returns .
Additional Relevant Q2 Press Releases
- citizenM acquisition completed (July 23, 2025), expanding lifestyle/select-service offerings .
- Earnings release date announcement (July 8, 2025) .
- CFO retirement announcement (July 14, 2025) — transition plan disclosed .
- Dividend declaration ($0.67/share) and buyback authorization increase (Aug 7, 2025) .