Hilton Worldwide Holdings (NYSE:HLT) reported robust first-quarter 2026 financial results on Tuesday, April 28, headlined by steady growth in room revenue and the strategic launch of a new brand category.
The global hospitality leader posted a diluted EPS of $1.66, while adjusted EPS reached $2.01, surpassing analyst expectations.
System-wide comparable RevPAR (revenue per available room) increased by 3.6% on a currency-neutral basis compared to the same period in 2025.
This growth was supported by a significant expansion of Hilton’s global footprint; the company added 16,300 rooms to its system during the quarter, contributing to a 6.3% year-over-year net unit growth.
Hilton’s development pipeline has now reached 527,000 rooms, a 5% increase from the prior year.
A major strategic highlight of the quarter was the debut of Select by Hilton.
This new brand category is designed to merge Hilton’s enterprise scale and loyalty perks with the unique identities of independent lifestyle brands.
As part of this launch, Hilton entered into an exclusive agreement with YOTEL, making it the inaugural brand under the Select by Hilton umbrella.
Elsewhere, Hilton’s capital allocation remained aggressive, with $860 million returned to shareholders during the quarter through a combination of dividends and the repurchase of 2.7 million shares.
Looking ahead, Hilton provided an optimistic outlook for the remainder of 2026.
The company projects full-year system-wide RevPAR to increase between 2% and 3%.
Net income is forecasted to land between $1,909 million and $1,937 million, with adjusted EBITDA expected in the range of $4,020 million to $4,060 million.