Ashford Dives After Reverse Stock Split Ashford Hospitality Trust Inc (NYSE:AHT) is trading significantly lower Tuesday morning after the company announced a one-for-10 reverse stock split. As of the effective date on July 16, each share of the Ashford Hospitality Trust''s outstanding common stock will be automatically converted into 1|10 of a share of the company''s common stock. The common stock is expected to begin trading on the split-adjusted basis on July 19. Ashford Hospitality Trust said the reverse stock split was aimed at increasing the price-per-share above the $5 threshold required by many institutions to hold shares. Some brokers had also limited the ability or increase the cost to margin a stock under $5 per share. The companys current options trading is less attractive due to limited applicable strike prices. Moreover, there are high transaction costs as a percentage of Ashford Hospitality Trust''s stock price commissions. "The company is committed to making owning Ashford Trust''s common stock as shareholder friendly as possible, and we believe implementing a reverse stock split is another important step for the Company and its stockholders to optimize our position," said CEO Rob Hays.