Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS) Trading 5.5% Higher – Should You Buy?

Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS)’s share price was up 5.5% on Monday . The stock traded as high as $47.63 and last traded at $47.18. Approximately 1,701,593 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 70% from the average daily volume of 5,629,264 shares. The stock had previously closed at $44.71.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $51.00 to $49.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 24th. Macquarie lifted their price target on Las Vegas Sands from $57.00 to $58.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Las Vegas Sands from $62.00 to $61.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 29th. Citigroup increased their price objective on Las Vegas Sands from $64.50 to $67.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Las Vegas Sands from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their target price for the company from $60.00 to $69.00 in a research note on Friday, January 3rd. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $59.42.

Las Vegas Sands Trading Up 0.6 %

The company has a market cap of $32.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.83, a P/E/G ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 1.08. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $45.98 and its 200 day moving average price is $47.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.35, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 0.74.

Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The casino operator reported $0.54 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.58 by ($0.04). Las Vegas Sands had a return on equity of 45.82% and a net margin of 12.80%. As a group, analysts expect that Las Vegas Sands Corp. will post 2.6 earnings per share for the current year.

Las Vegas Sands Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 19th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 10th were given a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 10th. This is a positive change from Las Vegas Sands’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.20. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.22%. Las Vegas Sands’s dividend payout ratio is presently 50.76%.

Institutional Trading of Las Vegas Sands

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust acquired a new stake in Las Vegas Sands during the fourth quarter worth approximately $26,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new position in shares of Las Vegas Sands during the third quarter worth approximately $26,000. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its holdings in Las Vegas Sands by 73.5% during the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 583 shares of the casino operator’s stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 247 shares during the last quarter. Optiver Holding B.V. bought a new stake in Las Vegas Sands in the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new position in Las Vegas Sands in the 3rd quarter valued at $34,000. Institutional investors 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.