Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS) Hits New 52-Week High – What’s Next?

Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS)’s share price reached a new 52-week high on Monday . The stock traded as high as $65.90 and last traded at $66.3690, with a volume of 5228 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $65.21.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on LVS. Zacks Research upgraded Las Vegas Sands from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Friday, October 10th. Barclays upped their target price on Las Vegas Sands from $59.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on Las Vegas Sands from $60.00 to $68.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 23rd. Bank of America lifted their price objective on Las Vegas Sands from $52.50 to $58.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, July 24th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $57.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, October 24th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Las Vegas Sands currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $64.13.

Las Vegas Sands Price Performance

The company has a market cap of $44.96 billion, a PE ratio of 30.09, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.03. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $54.82 and a 200-day simple moving average of $49.43. The company has a quick ratio of 1.21, a current ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 7.42.

Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 22nd. The casino operator reported $0.78 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.62 by $0.16. The business had revenue of $3.33 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.04 billion. Las Vegas Sands had a net margin of 12.69% and a return on equity of 73.14%. The company’s revenue was up 24.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.44 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Las Vegas Sands Corp. will post 2.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Las Vegas Sands Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 12th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, November 4th will be given a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, November 4th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.5%. Las Vegas Sands’s dividend payout ratio is presently 45.25%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Las Vegas Sands

In related news, CEO Robert G. Goldstein sold 360,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $63.05, for a total transaction of $22,698,000.00. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP D. Zachary Hudson sold 100,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.99, for a total value of $6,499,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 13,735 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $892,637.65. This trade represents a 87.92% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 2,100,000 shares of company stock valued at $126,218,200. Company insiders own 1.20% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Las Vegas Sands

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of LVS. Westside Investment Management Inc. grew its position in Las Vegas Sands by 48.0% during the 3rd quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 512 shares of the casino operator’s stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 166 shares during the last quarter. Total Investment Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Las Vegas Sands in the second quarter worth $25,000. Root Financial Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Las Vegas Sands during the third quarter worth $33,000. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 549.5% during the third quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 630 shares of the casino operator’s stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 533 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MAI Capital Management grew its holdings in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 78.4% during the third quarter. MAI Capital Management now owns 710 shares of the casino operator’s stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 312 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 39.16% of the company’s stock.

Las Vegas Sands Company Profile

Las Vegas Sands Corp., together with its subsidiaries, develops, owns, and operates integrated resorts in Macao and Singapore. It owns and operates The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel, the Londoner Macao, The Parisian Macao, The Plaza Macao and Four Seasons Hotel Macao, Cotai Strip, and the Sands Macao in Macao, the People’s Republic of China; and Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.