Hilton vs Hyundai: Revenue, Profit and Business Model
Hilton reported $12B of revenue in FY2025 and $1.5B of net income. Hyundai reported ~$132.2B of revenue in FY2025 and ~$6.7B of net income.
Latest financial snapshot
Financial summary
Hilton
Hilton's results reflect its shift from owning hotels to collecting fees. Revenue rose from $4.31 billion in pandemic-hit 2020 to $12.04 billion in 2025, while net income reached $1.46 billion in 2025 against $1.54 billion in 2024 (which included a tax benefit). Adjusted EBITDA grew about 9% to $3.73 billion in 2025, and Hilton returned $3.3 billion to shareholders through buybacks and dividends that year. In Q2 2026 revenue was about $3.34 billion, net income was $482 million, and adjusted EBITDA was $1.05 billion. Hilton raised its full-year 2026 guidance to 3.0% to 3.5% RevPAR growth and $4.04 billion to $4.08 billion of adjusted EBITDA, with about $3.5 billion of planned capital return.
Hyundai
Hyundai's revenue has grown every year since 2020, from ~$83.5 billion (KRW 117.6 trillion) in 2021 to ~$132 billion (KRW 186.25 trillion) in 2025. Profit peaked in 2023 and 2024, when operating profit topped ~$9.94 billion (KRW 14 trillion) on a rich SUV mix and a weak won. In 2025 operating profit fell 19.5% to ~$8.14 billion (KRW 11.47 trillion) and net profit fell 21.7% to ~$7.36 billion (KRW 10.36 trillion), mostly because of U.S. tariffs. Q2 2026 revenue was a record ~$34.9 billion (KRW 49.22 trillion), up 1.9%, but operating profit dropped 20.8% to ~$2.02 billion (KRW 2.85 trillion), leaving H1 2026 operating profit at ~$3.81 billion (KRW 5.37 trillion) against ~$5.14 billion (KRW 7.24 trillion) a year earlier. The company paid a total 2025 dividend of KRW 10,000 per share, and its 2026 guidance calls for 1-2% revenue growth and a 6.3-7.3% operating margin, which its CFO said in July it may miss on volume.
Revenue and profit by year
Hilton
| Year | Revenue | Net income | Margin | Growth | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | $12B | $1.5B | 12.1% | +7.7% | Source |
| FY2024 | $11.2B | $1.5B | 13.7% | +9.2% | Source |
| FY2023 | $10.2B | $1.1B | 11.1% | +16.7% | Source |
| FY2022 | $8.8B | $1.3B | 14.3% | +51.6% | Source |
| FY2021 | $5.8B | $410M | 7.1% | +34.4% | Source |
| FY2020 | $4.3B | -$715M | -16.6% | -54.4% | Source |
| FY2019 | $9.5B | $881M | 9.3% | +6.1% | Source |
| FY2018 | $8.9B | $764M | 8.6% | +9.5% | Source |
| FY2017 | $8.1B | $1.1B | 13.3% | +23.6% | Source |
| FY2016 | $6.6B | $338M | 5.1% | — | Source |
Hyundai
| Year | Revenue | Net income | Margin | Growth | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | ~$132.2B | ~$6.7B | 5.1% | +6.3% | Source |
| FY2024 | ~$124.4B | ~$8.9B | 7.1% | +7.7% | Source |
| FY2023 | ~$115.5B | ~$8.5B | 7.4% | +14.4% | Source |
| FY2022 | ~$100.9B | ~$5.2B | 5.2% | +20.9% | Source |
| FY2021 | ~$83.5B | ~$3.5B | 4.2% | — | Source |
Where the revenue comes from
Hilton
- Franchise and Licensing Fees
Largest fee stream
Royalties from owners of franchised Hilton hotels, typically a percentage of room revenue, plus licensing fees such as those from co-branded Hilton Honors credit cards and Hilton Grand Vacations.
- Base and Incentive Management Fees
Second fee stream
Fees for operating hotels on behalf of owners: a base fee tied to hotel revenue and an incentive fee tied to hotel profitability.
- Cost Reimbursement Revenues
Majority of reported revenue
Reimbursements from managed and franchised hotels for payroll and system costs Hilton pays on their behalf; largely offset by matching expenses.
- Owned and Leased Hotels
Small share
Room, food and beverage revenue from the limited number of hotels Hilton still owns or leases.
- Other Revenues
Small share
Purchasing, timeshare and other ancillary revenue tied to Hilton's platform.
Hyundai
- SUVs and Passenger Vehicles
Core revenue engine
Tucson, Santa Fe, Palisade, Sonata, Elantra, and other global models generate volume, dealer traffic, and cash flow across major regions.
- Hybrids and Electrified Vehicles
Growth and transition
Hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery-electric, and fuel-cell vehicles support Hyundai's transition while giving buyers powertrain choice during uneven EV adoption.
- Genesis Luxury
Premium margin contributor
Genesis sedans and SUVs lift brand perception and average transaction prices while competing with Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi.
- Parts, Services, and Mobility
Recurring and adjacent
After-sales service, parts, connected services, fleet offerings, robotics, and future mobility investments extend Hyundai beyond one-time vehicle sales.
Business model and strategy
Hilton
How it makes money
Hilton runs an asset-light, fee-based model. Third-party owners pay to build and own hotels; Hilton supplies the brand, design standards, central reservations, revenue management tools, procurement, and access to Hilton Honors, which had 243 million members at the end of 2025. In return Hilton collects franchise fees, typically a percentage of room revenue, plus management fees on hotels it operates.
Growth strategy
Hilton grows by adding rooms rather than buying buildings. Its main levers are new brands aimed at gaps in the market (Spark by Hilton in premium economy, LivSmart Studios in extended stay, Tempo and Motto in lifestyle, Outset Collection for independent hotels, Apartment Collection and Undergraduate by Hilton in 2026), conversions of independent hotels into Hilton brands, and expansion into new countries.
Competitive advantage
Hilton's advantage is scale on both sides of its network. Guests join Hilton Honors because it covers more than 9,000 hotels, and owners sign Hilton franchise agreements because Honors members and Hilton's booking channels deliver demand. That loop is hard to copy: a new brand would need thousands of owners to risk capital before it had the loyalty base to justify it.
Hyundai
How it makes money
Hyundai earns most of its revenue from wholesale vehicle sales to dealers and distributors across North America, Korea, Europe, India and emerging markets. Three layers sit on top of that core: the Genesis luxury brand, which lifts average transaction prices; a finance division (Hyundai Capital and Hyundai Capital America) that earns interest and lease income on vehicle loans; and after-sales parts and service.
Growth strategy
Hyundai's growth strategy rests on four moves: localising production in the United States, India and other big markets to avoid tariffs; expanding hybrids across its range while keeping EV investment flexible; pushing Genesis higher in luxury; and building software, autonomous driving and robotics. In the U.S.
Competitive advantage
Hyundai's edge is breadth plus speed. It can offer gasoline, hybrid, plug-in, battery-electric and hydrogen versions of key models, which matters as EV demand stalls in some markets and hybrids take more than a quarter of its U.S. sales.
Questions about Hilton vs Hyundai
Which company has higher revenue — Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. or Hyundai Motor Company?
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. reported $12.0B (FY2025), while Hyundai Motor Company reported ~$132.2B (FY2025). By last reported revenue, Hyundai Motor Company is the larger business, with Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. reporting a smaller revenue base.
What is the market cap of Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. vs Hyundai Motor Company?
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.'s market capitalisation stands at $70.7B, while Hyundai Motor Company's is $52.0B. Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. carries the higher market valuation, reflecting investors' expectations of its future earnings power relative to Hyundai Motor Company.
Which is more financially efficient — Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. or Hyundai Motor Company?
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. generates $66k / employee in revenue per employee, while Hyundai Motor Company generates $1.08M / employee. Hyundai Motor Company shows higher revenue efficiency per headcount, though this reflects business model differences — capital-light software companies routinely outperform labour-intensive manufacturers on this metric.
How do Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. and Hyundai Motor Company make money?
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. and Hyundai Motor Company generate revenue in fundamentally different ways. Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.: Hilton runs an asset-light, fee-based model. Hyundai Motor Company: Hyundai earns most of its revenue from wholesale vehicle sales to dealers and distributors across North America, Korea, Europe, India and emerging markets.
Which company is valued higher relative to revenue — Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. or Hyundai Motor Company?
On a price-to-sales (P/S) basis, Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. trades at 5.9x P/S and Hyundai Motor Company at 0.4x P/S. Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. commands a higher revenue multiple, typically indicating that investors expect faster growth or higher future margins compared to Hyundai Motor Company. A higher multiple is not inherently better — it may also signal that the stock is priced for perfection.
Is Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. bigger than Hyundai Motor Company?
By last reported revenue, Hyundai Motor Company (~$132.2B (FY2025)) is the larger company compared to Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. ($12.0B (FY2025)). Revenue scale is one dimension of size — market capitalisation, employee count, and geographic reach are also relevant depending on the context.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Hilton vs Hyundai overview