Paradigm Asset Management Co. LLC Makes New Investment in Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS)

Paradigm Asset Management Co. LLC acquired a new position in Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 2,000 shares of the casino operator’s stock, valued at approximately $103,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the business. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB acquired a new stake in Las Vegas Sands in the 3rd quarter valued at $26,000. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust acquired a new stake in shares of Las Vegas Sands in the fourth quarter valued at about $26,000. UMB Bank n.a. grew its stake in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 73.5% in the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 583 shares of the casino operator’s stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 247 shares in the last quarter. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Las Vegas Sands during the 3rd quarter valued at about $34,000. Finally, Vestor Capital LLC acquired a new position in Las Vegas Sands during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $43,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 39.16% of the company’s stock.

Las Vegas Sands Trading Down 2.1 %

Shares of NYSE LVS opened at $44.00 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $31.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.34, a PEG ratio of 1.38 and a beta of 1.08. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $46.76 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $47.06. The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.35. Las Vegas Sands Corp. has a 52-week low of $36.62 and a 52-week high of $56.60.

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

Las Vegas Sands Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 19th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 10th were issued a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date 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 2.27%. Las Vegas Sands’s payout ratio is 50.76%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $64.50 to $67.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $60.00 to $59.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Macquarie boosted their price objective on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $57.00 to $58.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 29th. Barclays lowered their target price on Las Vegas Sands from $61.00 to $58.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 29th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price target on Las Vegas Sands from $49.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Four equities research 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, Las Vegas Sands currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $59.58.

Insider Activity at Las Vegas Sands

In related news, CEO Robert G. Goldstein sold 60,187 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $53.02, for a total transaction of $3,191,114.74. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 0.91% of the company’s stock.

About Las Vegas Sands

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.