Cohen Capital Management Inc. Trims Holdings in Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS)

Cohen Capital Management Inc. reduced its stake in Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS) by 2.0% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 18,096 shares of the casino operator’s stock after selling 360 shares during the period. Cohen Capital Management Inc.’s holdings in Las Vegas Sands were worth $929,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Signaturefd LLC boosted its position in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 7.8% during the 3rd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 3,510 shares of the casino operator’s stock valued at $177,000 after acquiring an additional 253 shares during the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC acquired a new position in Las Vegas Sands in the 3rd quarter valued at about $230,000. Ballentine Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Las Vegas Sands in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $236,000. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Las Vegas Sands in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $1,391,000. Finally, Osborne Partners Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 5.4% during the 3rd quarter. Osborne Partners Capital Management LLC now owns 103,041 shares of the casino operator’s stock worth $5,187,000 after buying an additional 5,321 shares during the last quarter. 39.16% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Las Vegas Sands Trading Down 2.1 %

NYSE LVS opened at $44.00 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.35, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 0.74. The firm has a market cap of $31.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.34, a PEG ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 1.08. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $46.76 and a 200-day simple moving average of $47.12. Las Vegas Sands Corp. has a one year low of $36.62 and a one year high of $56.60.

Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The casino operator reported $0.54 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.58 by ($0.04). Las Vegas Sands had a net margin of 12.80% and a return on equity of 45.82%. Equities research analysts anticipate that Las Vegas Sands Corp. will post 2.6 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Las Vegas Sands Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 19th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 10th were issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. This is an increase from Las Vegas Sands’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.20. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 10th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.27%. Las Vegas Sands’s dividend payout ratio is 50.76%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts recently commented on LVS shares. Morgan Stanley reiterated an “equal weight” rating and issued a $51.00 price objective (down from $54.00) on shares of Las Vegas Sands in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Citigroup increased their price target on Las Vegas Sands from $64.50 to $67.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on Las Vegas Sands from $60.00 to $59.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Macquarie upped their target price on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $57.00 to $58.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 29th. Finally, Barclays dropped their price target on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $61.00 to $58.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 29th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $59.58.

Insider Buying and Selling at Las Vegas Sands

In other Las Vegas Sands news, CEO Robert G. Goldstein sold 60,187 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $53.02, for a total value of $3,191,114.74. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.91% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Las Vegas Sands 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.