RLJ Lodging Trust (OTCMKTS:RLJ.PA – Get Free Report) and Host Hotels & Resorts (NASDAQ:HST – Get Free Report) are both real estate companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, profitability, dividends, risk, institutional ownership, earnings and analyst recommendations.

This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for RLJ Lodging Trust and Host Hotels & Resorts, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Host Hotels & Resorts has a consensus price target of $24.27, suggesting a potential downside of 3.44%. Given RLJ Lodging Trust’s higher probable upside, research analysts clearly believe RLJ Lodging Trust is more favorable than Host Hotels & Resorts.

98.5% of Host Hotels & Resorts shares are held by institutional investors. 1.5% of Host Hotels & Resorts shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

This table compares RLJ Lodging Trust and Host Hotels & Resorts’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

This table compares RLJ Lodging Trust and Host Hotels & Resorts”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Host Hotels & Resorts has higher revenue and earnings than RLJ Lodging Trust.

Host Hotels & Resorts beats RLJ Lodging Trust on 9 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

RLJ Lodging Trust is a self-advised, publicly traded real estate investment trust that owns primarily premium-branded, high-margin, focused-service and compact full-service hotels. The Company's portfolio consists of 103 hotels with approximately 22,570 rooms, located in 23 states and the District of Columbia and an ownership interest in one unconsolidated hotel with 171 rooms.

Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. is a real estate investment trust, which engages in the management of luxury and upper-upscale hotels. It operates through the following geographical segments: United States, Brazil, and Canada. The company was founded in 1927 and is headquartered in Bethesda, MD.