RLJ
Real EstateRLJ Lodging Trust · REIT - Hotel & Motel · $1B
What is RLJ Lodging Trust?
RLJ Lodging Trust is a self-advised real estate investment trust focused on owning premium-branded, focused-service and compact full-service hotels across the United States. Its portfolio spans over 100 hotels in more than 20 states.
RLJ generates revenue by owning and operating hotels under premium national brand flags, targeting high-margin, focused-service and compact full-service formats. Rather than managing brands directly, it functions as a property owner, leasing operations to hotel management companies. This asset-ownership model is typical of lodging REITs, where income flows primarily from room revenues across a geographically diversified portfolio.
RLJ Lodging Trust was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland.
- Premium-branded focused-service hotels
- Compact full-service hotel properties
- Geographically diversified lodging portfolio across 23 states and Washington D.C.
- REIT structure with regular dividend distributions
Is RLJ a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates RLJ as Below Average overall.
The Valuation pillar stands out as the clearest relative strength, rating Good — suggesting the stock may not be priced at a premium relative to its fundamentals. The Risk pillar comes in at Neutral, indicating the balance sheet and risk profile are neither particularly alarming nor especially reassuring compared to sector peers.
Quality, Moat, and Growth all rate Weak, pointing to limited competitive differentiation, below-average earnings quality, and constrained growth prospects within the lodging REIT space.
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Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does RLJ pay dividends?
Yes — RLJ Lodging Trust pays a dividend.
RLJ Lodging Trust pays a regular dividend, consistent with its REIT structure — REITs are required to distribute the majority of taxable income to shareholders. Income-focused investors often look to lodging REITs for yield, though dividend levels can fluctuate with hotel operating conditions and broader travel demand cycles.
When does RLJ report earnings?
RLJ Lodging Trust reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, typical for US-listed REITs.
As a lodging REIT, RLJ's quarterly results are closely tied to hotel occupancy trends, average daily rates, and broader travel demand. Investors watch revenue per available room as a key operating indicator, alongside funds from operations, which is the standard REIT earnings measure.
For the most recent quarter's results, visit RLJ Lodging Trust's investor relations page directly.
RLJ Price History
-36.2% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in RLJ Lodging Trust?
Based on RLJ Lodging Trust's historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
RLJ Long-term Outlook
The UQS Growth pillar rates Weak for RLJ, reflecting limited near-term expansion potential in a competitive lodging market. The Neutral Risk rating suggests the company is managing leverage and operational exposure at a moderate level, but the combination of weak quality and moat scores points to a business without strong structural tailwinds. Valuation rated Good may offer some downside cushion, but fundamental improvement across other pillars would be needed to shift the overall outlook.
Growth drivers
- Recovery in business and leisure travel demand supporting occupancy rates
- Portfolio concentration in premium-branded, higher-margin hotel formats
- Potential for asset recycling or portfolio optimization to improve returns
Key risks
- Cyclical exposure to travel demand downturns and macroeconomic slowdowns
- Limited competitive moat in a commoditized lodging ownership market
- Weak quality and growth scores suggest constrained earnings power relative to peers
RLJ vs Peers
RLJ Lodging Trust competes with other lodging-focused REITs that similarly own premium hotel assets across the United States.
Xenia focuses on upper-upscale and lifestyle hotels in top urban and resort markets, targeting a somewhat different demand segment than RLJ's focused-service emphasis.
Pebblebrook concentrates on independent and soft-branded lifestyle hotels in gateway cities, offering a more boutique-oriented portfolio compared to RLJ's premium-branded approach.
Sunstone targets long-term relevant real estate in urban and resort locations, with a portfolio strategy that emphasizes asset quality and long-term capital appreciation alongside income.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does RLJ Lodging Trust do?
RLJ Lodging Trust is a publicly traded REIT that owns a portfolio of over 100 premium-branded, focused-service and compact full-service hotels across more than 20 US states and Washington D.C. It generates income through hotel room revenues managed under major national brand flags.
Does RLJ pay dividends?
Yes, RLJ Lodging Trust pays a regular dividend. As a REIT, it is required by law to distribute the majority of its taxable income to shareholders, making dividends a core part of the investment proposition. Dividend levels can vary with hotel operating performance and travel demand cycles.
When does RLJ report earnings?
RLJ Lodging Trust reports on a quarterly cadence, standard for US-listed REITs. Key metrics investors watch include funds from operations and revenue per available room. For the latest earnings dates and results, check RLJ's official investor relations page.
Is RLJ a good stock to buy?
The UQS Score rates RLJ as Below Average overall. While the Valuation pillar rates Good and Risk is Neutral, the Quality, Moat, and Growth pillars all rate Weak. This profile suggests limited fundamental strength relative to peers. Pro members can view the complete pillar breakdown to form their own view.
Is RLJ overvalued?
The UQS Valuation pillar rates RLJ as Good, suggesting the stock does not appear to be trading at a significant premium relative to its fundamentals. However, valuation alone does not determine investment merit — the full five-pillar profile is available to Pro members.
How does RLJ compare to its competitors?
RLJ competes with lodging REITs including Xenia Hotels & Resorts, Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, and Sunstone Hotel Investors. Each focuses on different hotel segments and geographies. RLJ's premium-branded, focused-service model distinguishes it from peers with more boutique or resort-oriented strategies. UQS Score comparisons are available on each ticker's page.
What is RLJ's market cap bracket?
RLJ Lodging Trust is classified as a small-cap company. This places it below large-cap lodging REITs in terms of total market value, which can mean different liquidity profiles and analyst coverage levels compared to larger peers in the real estate sector.
Who founded RLJ Lodging Trust?
RLJ Lodging Trust was founded in 2011. The company's founding history and leadership background are publicly available through its official investor relations materials and SEC filings for those seeking detailed founding context.
Is RLJ a long-term quality investment?
As a long-term quality indicator, the UQS Score rates RLJ as Below Average, with Weak scores across Quality, Moat, and Growth pillars. These ratings reflect structural challenges in competitive differentiation and earnings power. Long-term investors should weigh the Good Valuation rating against these fundamental limitations before deciding.
What sector does RLJ belong to?
RLJ Lodging Trust belongs to the Real Estate sector, specifically the lodging REIT sub-segment. Lodging REITs are more cyclically sensitive than other real estate categories because hotel revenues fluctuate directly with travel demand, occupancy rates, and broader economic conditions.
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Pro Analysis
RLJ — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 2026 | 27.0 | 34.2 | 15.0 | 10.0 | 21.2 | 63.2 | -0.3 |
| May 12, 2026 | 27.3 | 34.2 | 15.0 | 9.9 | 21.2 | 65.5 | -3.8 |
| May 7, 2026 | 31.1 | 34.6 | 15.0 | 9.8 | 43.4 | 68.1 | -0.1 |
| May 3, 2026 | 31.2 | 34.6 | 15.0 | 9.8 | 43.4 | 68.7 | 0.0 |
| Apr 26, 2026 | 31.2 | 34.6 | 15.0 | 9.8 | 43.4 | 69.0 | +0.1 |
| Apr 19, 2026 | 31.1 | 34.6 | 15.0 | 9.7 | 43.4 | 68.4 | -0.1 |
| Apr 18, 2026 | 31.2 | 34.6 | 15.0 | 9.7 | 43.4 | 68.8 | +1.4 |
| Apr 8, 2026 | 29.8 | 34.6 | 15.0 | 9.7 | 43.4 | 59.6 | 0.0 |
| Apr 5, 2026 | 29.8 | 34.6 | 15.0 | 10.0 | 43.4 | 59.6 | +1.5 |
| Apr 4, 2026 | 28.3 | 34.3 | 15.0 | 13.9 | 28.1 | 59.6 | 0.0 |
RLJ — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 34.2/100 (25%)RLJ Lodging Trust currently shows below-average quality metrics, suggesting challenges with profitability.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 10.0/100 (20%)RLJ Lodging Trust faces growth headwinds with declining or stagnant revenue trends.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Risk
— 21.2/100 (15%)RLJ Lodging Trust presents elevated risk with concerns around leverage or financial stability.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 62.7/100 (15%)RLJ Lodging Trust trades at a reasonable valuation with decent earnings yield and FCF multiples.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 15/100 (25%)RLJ Lodging Trust operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for RLJ.
Score Composition
Financial Data
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How is the RLJ UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for RLJ Lodging Trust is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses RLJ Lodging Trust's competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether RLJ Lodging Trust is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.