Braemar Hotels & Resorts: Ashford Is Gone, But Problems Remain
Braemar Hotels & Resorts maintains a 'Sell' rating despite governance improvements and a shift to self-management. The company's $480 million Ashford termination fee is now crystallized, funded by accelerated asset sales rather than supporting the balance sheet.
Intelligence analysis by Llama

Braemar Hotels & Resorts' governance improvements and shift to self-management are overshadowed by the company's shrinking hotel portfolio, fully floating-rate debt structure, and unresolved proxy contest, limiting upside for common shareholders.
Imagine you're running a hotel business, but you're also in debt and can't afford to pay it back. That's what's happening with Braemar Hotels & Resorts. They're trying to fix their problems, but it's not easy. They need to sell some of their hotels to pay off their debt, but that means they'll have fewer hotels to run. It's a tough situation, and it's not a good time to invest in this company.
Analysis
Governance Improvements and Shift to Self-Management
Braemar Hotels & Resorts has made significant strides in governance improvements, including the shift to self-management. However, these improvements are overshadowed by the company's financial situation and unresolved proxy contest.
Shrinking Hotel Portfolio and Fully Floating-Rate Debt Structure
The company's shrinking hotel portfolio and fully floating-rate debt structure heighten earnings risk and liquidity concerns. This makes it challenging for Braemar Hotels & Resorts to maintain a stable financial position.
Unresolved Proxy Contest and Lack of Common Dividend
The unresolved proxy contest and lack of a common dividend add further uncertainty, limiting upside for common shareholders. This makes it essential for investors to carefully evaluate the company's financial situation and governance concerns before making any investment decisions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Braemar Hotels & Resorts' financial situation and governance concerns make it a stock to avoid for investors seeking stable returns. The company's shrinking hotel portfolio, fully floating-rate debt structure, and unresolved proxy contest create significant risks for common shareholders.
Key points
- Braemar Hotels & Resorts maintains a 'Sell' rating despite governance improvements and a shift to self-management.
- The company's $480 million Ashford termination fee is now crystallized, funded by accelerated asset sales rather than supporting the balance sheet.
- Braemar Hotels & Resorts' shrinking hotel portfolio and fully floating-rate debt structure heighten earnings risk and liquidity concerns.
- Unresolved proxy contest and lack of a common dividend add further uncertainty, limiting upside for common shareholders.
If Braemar Hotels & Resorts can successfully navigate their financial challenges and resolve their proxy contest, they may be able to stabilize their financial position and provide a more stable return for investors.
If Braemar Hotels & Resorts is unable to resolve their financial challenges and proxy contest, they may face significant risks, including defaulting on their debt and losing value for common shareholders.



