finance
Travel Sector Stocks Highlighted for Resilience Amid Market Conditions
Analysts from Ritholtz Wealth Management have identified three travel stocks on their Best Stocks in the Market list: Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Marriott International, and Viking Holdings. These selections reflect ongoing demand in the travel industry despite broader consumer spending pullbacks. The analysis covers performance metrics and recent developments as of April 6.
Apr 6, 11:13 AM·2m read1 source
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Travel demand in sectors such as cruising, flying, and lodging has remained steady, according to a report from CNBC citing Josh Brown and Sean Russo of Ritholtz Wealth Management. The report notes that while households have reduced spending on various discretionary items, travel-related expenditures have not shown signs of decline.
This resilience is observed amid market turmoil that began in February, with most travel stocks maintaining value except for Expedia, whose decline is attributed to concerns over AI disruption rather than travel spending. The Best Stocks in the Market list, as of April 6, includes 170 names.
Travel-related companies feature prominently in sector rankings. Brown and Russo selected Hilton Worldwide Holdings (HLT), Marriott International (MAR), and Viking Holdings (VIK) for further analysis, citing their performance in the real economy where consumers prioritize experiential spending over other budget areas.
Hilton Worldwide Holdings reported a net unit growth rate of 6.7% year-over-year in 2025, operating nearly 9,000 hotels and 100,000 rooms. The company anticipates 9% revenue growth, 38% EBIT growth, and 14% EPS growth for the year, based on upcoming earnings reports later in the month.
Over the past five years post-Covid, Hilton has achieved annualized total returns of 21%. Extending to 10 years, including a 51% drawdown in April 2020, annualized returns stand at 23%. Brown noted that Hilton's stock has behaved resiliently during recent market sell-offs.
The stock price pulled back from highs and is testing $300 as support after losing the 50-day moving average. The relative strength index (RSI) is in the low 50s, indicating cooled momentum but no collapse. The 200-day moving average near $280 serves as a key support level on a weekly closing basis.
