These Two Sell Into Expanding Markets

Article Excerpt

WYNDHAM WORLDWIDE $27.93 (New York symbol WYN; SI Rating: Extra risk) (973-753-6000; www.wyndhamworldwide.com; Shares outstanding: 177.9 million; Market cap: $5.0 billion) is one of the world’s largest hospitality companies. Wyndham Hotel Group has almost 6,500 franchised hotels and almost 541,000 hotel rooms worldwide. Wyndham’s RCI Global Vacation Network has more than 3.4 million members who have exchange access to over 60,000 vacation properties located in approximately 100 countries. Wyndham Vacation Ownership develops, markets and sells vacation ownership interests and provides consumer financing to owners through its network of approximately 140 vacation ownership resorts serving over 800,000 owners throughout North America, the Caribbean and the South Pacific. In the three months ended September 30, 2007, revenues rose 16.1%, to $1.22 billion from $1.05 billion a year earlier. Earnings excluding one-time items rose 16.5%, to $134 million from $115 million. Earnings per share rose 33.9%, to $0.75 from $0.56, on 11.3% fewer shares outstanding due to share buybacks. Vacation travel in particular is benefiting from…