Marriott Vacations Worldwide (VAC, $80.12, +1.19%)  🏖️ 

As of July 3, 2025 — and yes, we checked — it’s still trading well below its glory days. But insiders? They’re packing their bags and their portfolios.

🛎️ Trigger: Insider Purchases Worth Booking

Not a timeshare pitch — real insider buys:

And Asmar? He increased his stake by 23%. That’s not vacation money. That’s conviction. 💰

🧑💼 A New Captain Joins the Deck — and He’s No Tourist

🏝️ On May 27, 2025, Marriott Vacations Worldwide (VAC) didn’t just hire another corporate suit. They handed the wheel to someone with real skin in the game: Christian Alejandro Asmar, co-founder and managing partner at Impactive Capital — which, by the way, owns a whopping 9.5% of VAC’s outstanding shares. When you drop tens of millions on stock, you’re not here for the free pool towels.

📊 Asmar’s arrival brings board membership up to 12 — 11 of them independent. That’s one seriously chill check-and-balance squad.

But it gets better:

💡 Two new ad hoc committees are setting sail. One is steering modernization and cost-efficiency efforts — with Asmar on board (yep, pun intended). The second will focus on tech innovation, because even beach resorts need serious bandwidth these days. (High-speed Wi-Fi and margarita drones, anyone?)

This is more than corporate reshuffling — it’s a signal. When your biggest outside investor wants a seat and a say in strategy, you pay attention.

Asmar’s résumé? A banger:

• 💼 Former Managing Director at Blue Harbour Group, a top activist firm

• 🏗️ Early team member at Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners, with energy, transport, and multi-billion-dollar board creds

• 🌎 Investment banking pro with experience across emerging markets and Latin America

🔍 In short: he’s no rookie. And he’s not here to relax — he’s here to revamp. Which may mean VAC is about to take its performance from vacation-mode to beast-mode.

🧠 Institutions Are on Board Too

Institutional ownership: 98.35% of float. Translation? Wall Street likes the smell of ocean breeze and earnings.

Top holders include:

• 🦍 Vanguard (9.27%)

• 🧠 BlackRock (8.70%)

• 🎯 Impactive Capital (8.87%)

• 🧱 Dimensional, Principal, Senvest, and more...

Basically, if VAC were a cruise, half of Wall Street would already be onboard, sipping cocktails.

🔍 For full Institutional Ownership breakdown, see here. 

🧳 What Exactly Is Marriott Vacations Worldwide?

Marriott Vacations Worldwide (VAC) isn’t your typical hotel chain. It’s your ticket to time-share paradise. 🌴✈️ The company operates a globe-spanning vacation empire built on vacation ownership, resort management, rentals, and property exchanges.

🎯 Two Core Segments:

• Vacation Ownership: Think timeshares, but with luxury flair. VAC develops, markets, and sells ownership and fractional-use products across some of the world’s top brands.

• Exchange & Third-Party Management: A fancy way of saying “You can swap your spot—or let someone else manage the magic.” 🔄🏖️

🏖️ Brand Power in Overdrive:

• Marriott Vacation Club 💼

• Grand Residences by Marriott 👑

• Sheraton Vacation Club 🏝️

• Westin Vacation Club 🌞

• Hyatt Vacation Club ✨

• The Ritz-Carlton Club 🥂

VAC also holds rights to develop and sell whole ownership residences under the Ritz-Carlton Residences brand (yes, you read that right—own a slice of the Ritz! 🏰) and has the green light to use the St. Regis brand for certain high-end fractional properties. 💎

In short: VAC offers a branded, premium path to globetrotting, relaxing, and investing in luxury getaways—without needing to pack up your life every time you move. 🧳📆

📊 Q1 2025: The Highlights

• 💸 $192M in Adjusted EBITDA

• 🧾 $420M in contract sales

• 💵 $91M returned to shareholders

• 🍾 Dividend yield: 3.94%

• 🎯 Guidance for 2025:

  • Adjusted EPS: $6.30 to $7.00

  • Free cash flow: $290M to $350M

CEO John Geller says they’re making progress — and not just on spa renovations.

🏦 Balance Sheet Snapshot

• 🧊 Liquidity: $914M (including $607M of revolver)

• 🏗 Inventory: Over $1B in vacation property

• 🏦 Corporate Debt: $3.1B

• 📦 Securitized Debt: $2.1B

They’ve got room to move — but let’s not put it all on the corporate card.

👉 Want the full picture? Dive into Marriott Vacations Worldwide's financials here.

📉 The Valuation Check

Not dirt-cheap, but definitely not overpriced — VAC is like a luxury stay on discount. 🏷️

⚠️ Risks — Not Quite Paradise

1. 📉 Growth is real... but moderate. Not a rocket, more of a cruise ship.

2. 💸 Discretionary spending may tighten in a downturn.

3. 💳 Debt is something to watch — shareholder returns shouldn't ride on borrowed funds.

4. 🛬 The industry is competitive. Even with a top-tier brand, turbulence is possible.

5. 🐻 Market downturns hit everyone. Including your vacation stocks.

💡💡 Curious about another deep oil exploration play?
Check our takes on UnitedHealth Group or even Oscar Health.

🏁 Bottom Line: VAC May Be Worth the Trip

Insiders are buying. Institutions are lounging. Dividends are flowing. The valuation is attractive — though not a screaming deal.

🚨 Verdict?
VAC is not your wildest growth fantasy, but it’s a strong brand, paying you to wait. If you believe in the comeback of leisure and luxury — and want to invest in vacation mode — VAC is worth a look.

Just don’t expect to get rich overnight. 🌙

⚖️ Disclaimer:

Risk doesn’t take time off. VAC might help you relax, but investing in it won’t always be a beach. Proceed with SPF... and due diligence. 🧴📉

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