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# Hilton Third-Quarter Profit Jumps To $536 Million, But Full-Year Outlook Gets Trimmed
- URL: https://www.bullished.co/hilton-third-quarter-profit-jumps-to-536-million-but-full-year-outlook-gets-trimmed-e44da5db/
- Published: 2026-10-27T10:22:31.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-27T10:22:31.000Z
- Description: Hotel demand lifted earnings, yet softer Middle East results and timeshare license fees pulled down Hilton's 2026 profit forecast.
- Author: Matteo Parrino
- Tags: Earnings, HLT, Industry: Consumer Discretionary

[Hilton Worldwide](https://www.bullished.co/tag/hlt/), which runs and licenses hotels under brands from luxury to focused service, said third-quarter net income rose to [$536 million](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001585689/000158568926000049/q32026earningsrelease.htm?ref=bullished.co) from $421 million a year earlier. It also set full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance of $4,060 million to $4,080 million, which the company said reflects lower expectations for the Middle East and timeshare license fees than its prior outlook.

## Earnings climb on rooms and rates

Diluted earnings per share were $2.37, against $1.78 a year ago. Adjusted for special items, EPS was $2.45 versus $2.11, and adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and other items) rose to $1,058 million from $976 million.

System-wide revenue per available room rose 5.8% on a currency-neutral basis, on higher occupancy and room rates. The U.S. rose 7.0%, while Middle East & Africa fell 5.6% and Asia Pacific slipped 0.5%. Management and franchise fee revenue rose 9.5%.

CEO Christopher J. Nassetta said results "exceeded our expectations" and that the company expects the momentum to continue through the rest of the year and into 2027.

## Why the forecast came down

For the full year, Hilton projects revenue per available room growth of 4.0% to 4.5% and net income of $1,909 million to $1,923 million. The company said the third quarter was helped by the World Cup and favorable calendar and holiday shifts, while the fourth quarter should be hit by midterm elections and a bigger Middle East drag.

Fourth-quarter guidance calls for revenue per available room growth of 3.0% to 3.5% and adjusted EBITDA of $1,047 million to $1,067 million.

Hilton plans about $3.5 billion in capital return this year. It bought back 2.6 million shares in the third quarter at an average $320.05, spending $845 million, and total capital return including dividends reached $879 million for the quarter.

## Pipeline and the Nasdaq move

Hilton opened 182 hotels with 27,000 rooms in the quarter, for 23,000 net additions, and approved 30,500 rooms for development. Its pipeline stands at 543,100 rooms, and net unit growth is tracking around the midpoint of its 6.0% to 7.0% range.

Debt was $13.5 billion at September 30, with $600 million of senior notes due April 2027 the next material maturity. Hilton also named Jeff Moore its chief technology officer.

Hilton moves its listing to Nasdaq on November 5 under the same HLT ticker, and management discussed the quarter on a 9:00 a.m. ET call Tuesday.

### Sources

- [8-K Filing — Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (HLT)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001585689/000158568926000049/hlt-20261027.htm?ref=bullished.co) — SEC EDGAR
- [Exhibit q32026earningsrelease.htm — Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. 8-K exhibit](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001585689/000158568926000049/q32026earningsrelease.htm?ref=bullished.co) — SEC EDGAR
- [Wyndham Rides Data Center Demand as Hotel Earnings Season Opens](https://dlr.skift.com/2026/10/22/wyndham-rides-data-center-demand-as-hotel-earnings-season-opens/?ref=bullished.co) — dlr.skift.com

### More on Hilton Worldwide

- [Hilton Plans To Move Its HLT Stock From NYSE To Nasdaq, With First Trading Day Set For November 5](https://www.bullished.co/hilton-plans-to-move-its-hlt-stock-from-nyse-to-nasdaq-with-first-trading-day-set-for-230549fd/)

[All Hilton Worldwide (HLT) coverage →](https://www.bullished.co/tag/hlt/)