Marriott International Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR)

Over the observed five-year period, the composition of total assets reveals notable shifts between current and noncurrent asset categories. Current assets as a percentage of total assets decreased significantly from 22.76% in 2015 to 12.48% in 2019, indicating a reduction in more liquid assets or assets expected to be converted into cash within a year.

Conversely, noncurrent assets increased from 77.24% to 87.52%, reflecting a higher allocation towards long-term investments and assets not readily converted to cash. Such a shift suggests an emphasis on long-term operational capacity or acquisitions.

Cash and Equivalents

A decline is evident, dropping from 1.58% of total assets in 2015 to 0.9% in 2019. This year-over-year decrease indicates a reduced liquidity buffer within the asset structure.

Accounts Receivable, Net

This item showed a sharp decrease from 18.04% in 2015 to a low of 7.01% in 2016, followed by a gradual increase to 9.52% in 2019. The initial decrease might be related to tighter credit management or changes in sales volumes, while the later incremental rise suggests a stabilization or slight expansion in receivables.

Prepaid Expenses and Other

Remained relatively stable, fluctuating slightly around the 1% level, indicating consistent expenditure patterns relative to total asset size.

Assets Held for Sale

Fluctuated considerably, peaking at 2.44% in 2016 before declining to 0.03% by 2018 and rebounding slightly to 1.02% in 2019. This volatility suggests periodic decisions to divest or reclassify assets over the years.

Property and Equipment, Net

Displayed a declining trend from 16.92% in 2015 to 7.6% in 2019, indicating either depreciation outpacing capital expenditures, asset sales, or a shift away from owning physical assets.

Brands and Goodwill

Both categories showed substantial increases early in the period, with Brands rising from 3.24% to around 24-27% between 2015 and 2016, and Goodwill increasing from 15.5% to over 36% by 2019. These elevated levels reflect significant investment in intangible assets likely related to acquisitions and brand development. It is notable these assets slightly declined after their peaks but remained a dominant portion of total assets.

Intangible Assets (Overall)

Experienced a marked rise from 39.36% in 2015 to a peak of 75.21% in 2017, with a slight decrease thereafter, ending at 70.61% in 2019. This emphasizes the company's reliance on intangible value components such as brand equity and contractual rights, correlating with the increases in goodwill and brands.

Contract Acquisition Costs and Other

Decreased from 20.62% in 2015 to approximately 10.73% in 2019, suggesting either efficiency improvements or changes in contract-related asset capitalization policies.

Equity Method Investments

Remained relatively steady around 2-3%, with a slight decline to 2.3% noted in 2019, implying stable but not expanding influence or ownership in associated entities.

Notes Receivable, Net (Noncurrent and Current combined)

Overall low percentages throughout the period, declining to under 0.5% in later years, indicating limited exposure to such financial assets.

Deferred Tax Assets

Drastically reduced after 2015 from 11.05% to below 1%, showing possibly the use or expiration of tax-related timing differences or reassessment of recoverable tax benefits.

Operating Lease Assets

Data is available only for 2019, where it represented 3.54% of total assets, pointing to the capitalization of leases consistent with new accounting standards.

Other Noncurrent Assets

Generally declined from 3.67% in 2015 to around 2.38% in 2019, indicating some reduction or reclassification of miscellaneous long-term assets.

In summary, the asset base shifted from a more balanced current and noncurrent structure toward a dominance of intangible assets and goodwill, reflecting a strategic focus on brand value and acquisition-related assets. Simultaneously, decreases in cash, physical assets, and certain receivables hint at changes in operational or capital investment strategy. These trends suggest a company increasingly leveraging intangible and long-lived assets while managing liquidity more tightly.