Hilton Worldwide Q1 Profit Jumps; Ups FY14 Outlook - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - Hospitality company Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (HLT) posted a sharp surge in its first-quarter 2014 net income attributable to stockholders to $123 million, or $0.12 per share, from last year's $34 million, or $0.03 per share. Adjusted for special items, quarterly earnings per share amounted to $0.13. On average, 19 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected earnings per share of $0.09 for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude one-time items.

In the 2014 first quarter, there was one special item that led to positive adjustment to net income attributable to Hilton stockholders of $13 million related to share-based compensation prior to and in relation with the initial public offering, which was included in general, administrative and other expenses, the company said.

The firm clocked total revenues of $2.36 billion in the recent quarter, versus the prior-year figure of $2.26 billion, while 11 analysts estimated revenues of $2.34 billion.

Commenting on the future, Hilton Worldwide's President & Chief Executive said: "We are very optimistic about the remainder of 2014, and as a result we have increased our RevPAR, EPS and Adjusted EBITDA outlook for the year."

For 2014, the company sees strong global RevPAR growth with system-wide comparable RevPAR rising 5.5 percent to 7.0 percent and has raised its annual adjusted earnings per share view to $0.64 - $0.67 range and adjusted EBITDA to between $2.415 billion and $2.465 billion. Therefore, the new midpoint of its outlook for 2014 adjusted EBITDA is above the top end of its prior guidance. Analysts project earnings per share of $0.60 for the year.