Analyst predicts further declines for Hotel REITs | forbes.com

Shares of hotel real estate investment trusts may fall farther this year, said an analyst on Thursday in a research note that forecast a bleak 2009 for hotel owners. "Although lodging REIT share prices are trading close to historical lows, we continue to maintain our underweight bias on the sector," said Stifel Nicolaus & Co. analyst Rod Petrik in a note to investors. "Stocks have rallied since stocks bottomed in mid November; however, we still believe we will experience another leg-down."