HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee, and MILWAUKEE—The Baird/STR Hotel Stock Index dropped 7.1% in September to a level of 3,329. Year to date through the first nine months of 2020, the stock index was down 36.8%.

“Hotel stocks declined in September, which mirrored the broader market’s pullback,” said Michael Bellisario, senior hotel research analyst and director at Baird. “After significant absolute and relative gains in August, the September declines were modest in comparison. Investors have become more focused on a potentially slower economic growth outlook, an expected rise in coronavirus case counts as colder weather approaches, and the uncertainties associated with additional stimulus and the upcoming election, all of which negatively impacted hotel stocks’ performance during the month.”

“Much of the industry has reached the expected point where summer leisure demand has dried up and occupancy growth has stalled because of the absence of significant corporate travel and events,” said Amanda Hite, STR’s president. “There are pockets of the world, such as China, that are pushing closer to normal activity and levels of performance, but we don’t anticipate that trend to extend in the short term to regions like the U.S. and Europe.”

September performance of the Baird/STR Hotel Stock Index fell behind both the S&P 500 (-3.9%) and the MSCI US REIT Index (-3.7%).

The Hotel Brand sub-index declined 8.1% from August to 5,969, while the Hotel REIT sub-index fell 3.3% to 739.

Hotel Stock Index September

About the Baird/STR Hotel Stock Index and Sub-Indices

The Baird/STR Hotel Stock Index was set to equal 1,000 on 1 January 2000. Last cycle, the Index peaked at 3,178 on 5 July 2007. The Index’s low point occurred on 6 March 2009 when it dropped to 573.

The Hotel Brand sub-index was set to equal 1,000 on 1 January 2000. Last cycle, the sub-index peaked at 3,407 on 5 July 2007. The sub-index’s low point occurred on 6 March 2009 when it dropped to 722.

The Hotel REIT sub-index was set to equal 1,000 on 1 January 2000. Last cycle, the sub-index peaked at 2,555 on 2 February 2007. The sub-index’s low point occurred on 5 March 2009 when it dropped to 298.

The Baird/STR Hotel Stock Index and sub-indices are available exclusively on www.HotelNewsNow.com. The indices are cobranded and were created by Robert W. Baird & Co. (Baird) and STR. The market-cap-weighted, price-only indices comprise 20 of the largest market-capitalization hotel companies publicly traded on a U.S. exchange and attempt to characterize the performance of hotel stocks. The Index and sub-indices are maintained by Baird and hosted on Hotel News Now, are not actively managed, and no direct investment can be made in them.

As of 30 September 2020, the companies that comprised the Baird/STR Hotel Stock Index included: Apple Hospitality REIT, Chatham Lodging Trust, Choice Hotels International, DiamondRock Hospitality Company, Extended Stay America, Hersha Hospitality Trust, Hilton Inc., Host Hotels & Resorts, Hyatt Hotels, InterContinental Hotels Group, Marriott International, Park Hotels & Resorts, Inc., Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, RLJ Lodging Trust, Ryman Hospitality Properties, Service Properties Trust, Summit Hotel Properties, Sunstone Hotel Investors, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, and Xenia Hotels & Resorts.

This communication is not a call to action to engage in a securities transaction and has not been individually tailored to a specific client or targeted group of clients. Research reports on the companies identified in this communication are provided by Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, and are available to clients through their Baird Financial Advisor. This communication does not provide recipients with information or advice that is sufficient on which to base an investment decision. This communication does not take into account the specific investment objectives, financial situation or need of any particular client and may not be suitable for all types of investors. Recipients should consider the contents of this communication as a single factor in making an investment decision. Additional fundamental and other analyses would be required to make an investment decision about any individual security identified in this release.