Compare Marriott and Hilton stock, room counts, brand portfolios, and which hotel company is the better investment.
Marriott vs Hilton Overview
Marriott and Hilton are the world’s largest hotel companies by room count, operating with asset-light franchise models that generate high margins and consistent cash flows.
Company Comparison
Metric
Marriott
Hilton
Market Cap
~$80B
~$60B
Revenue (2025)
~$25B
~$11B
Total Rooms
~1.6M
~1.2M
Properties
~9,000
~7,500
Founded
1927
1919
Brand Portfolio
Marriott (~30 brands)
Tier
Examples
Luxury
Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, W Hotels
Premium
Marriott, Sheraton, Westin
Select
Courtyard, Residence Inn, Fairfield
Hilton (~22 brands)
Tier
Examples
Luxury
Waldorf Astoria, Conrad
Premium
Hilton, DoubleTree
Select
Hampton, Hilton Garden Inn, Home2
Business Model
Both companies operate primarily as franchisors:
Metric
Marriott
Hilton
Franchise/Managed %
~97%
~98%
Asset-Light
Yes
Yes
Revenue per Room
Lower (volume)
Higher (efficiency)
Financial Comparison
Metric
Marriott
Hilton
Revenue Growth
~8%
~10%
EBITDA Margin
~25%
~45%
Net Margin
~10%
~15%
ROIC
~25%
~35%
FCF
~$3.5B
~$2B
Hilton has higher margins due to a more efficient franchise mix.
Loyalty Programs
Program
Marriott Bonvoy
Hilton Honors
Members
~200M
~190M
Strength
Largest room count
Consistent experience
Strong loyalty programs are key competitive moats.
Valuation
Metric
Marriott
Hilton
P/E Ratio
~25x
~28x
EV/EBITDA
~15x
~17x
P/FCF
~22x
~30x
Hilton trades at a premium for higher margins and returns.
Growth Pipeline
Metric
Marriott
Hilton
Pipeline Rooms
~580K
~490K
Pipeline % of Current
~36%
~41%
Fastest Growing Regions
Asia, Europe
Americas, Asia
Both have robust development pipelines for future growth.
Geographic Mix
Region
Marriott
Hilton
Americas
~65%
~75%
International
~35%
~25%
Marriott has more international exposure.
Competitive Advantages
Marriott
Largest room count globally
Strongest loyalty program
Diverse brand portfolio
International presence
Hilton
Superior unit economics
Consistent franchisee returns
Efficient operations
Strong select-service brands
Risks
Risk
Marriott
Hilton
Economic downturn
High
High
Travel disruption
High
High
Airbnb competition
Medium
Medium
Labor costs
Medium
Medium
Which Stock to Buy?
Preference
Choose
Largest scale
Marriott
Higher margins
Hilton
International exposure
Marriott
Better unit economics
Hilton
More brands
Marriott
Lower valuation
Marriott
Both are quality investments in the travel recovery with different strengths.