Van ECK Associates Corp Increases Stock Holdings in Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS)

Van ECK Associates Corp grew its stake in Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS) by 204.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 142,509 shares of the casino operator’s stock after buying an additional 95,753 shares during the quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp’s holdings in Las Vegas Sands were worth $7,319,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new position in shares of Las Vegas Sands in the 3rd quarter valued at about $26,000. UMB Bank n.a. boosted its stake in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 73.5% in the 4th 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 during the period. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new position in shares of Las Vegas Sands in the 3rd quarter valued at about $34,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new position in shares of Las Vegas Sands in the 3rd quarter valued at about $43,000. Finally, Vestor Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Las Vegas Sands in the 3rd quarter valued at about $43,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 39.16% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on LVS. Citigroup raised their target price on Las Vegas Sands from $64.50 to $67.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Jefferies Financial Group raised Las Vegas Sands from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their target price for the stock from $60.00 to $69.00 in a research report on Friday, January 3rd. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on Las Vegas Sands from $55.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 24th. Barclays cut their price target on Las Vegas Sands from $61.00 to $58.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 29th. Finally, Mizuho lifted their price target on Las Vegas Sands from $52.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 24th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $59.58.

Insider Transactions at Las Vegas Sands

In related news, CEO Robert G. Goldstein sold 60,187 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 29th. The stock was 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 Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 0.91% of the company’s stock.

Las Vegas Sands Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:LVS opened at $43.38 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $31.45 billion, a PE ratio of 22.02, a P/E/G ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 1.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.09, a current ratio of 0.90 and a quick ratio of 0.89. The business has a 50-day moving average of $47.80 and a two-hundred day moving average of $46.98. Las Vegas Sands Corp. has a 12 month low of $36.62 and a 12 month high of $56.60.

Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The casino operator reported $0.54 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.58 by ($0.04). Las Vegas Sands had a return on equity of 43.76% and a net margin of 12.80%. As a group, research analysts forecast that Las Vegas Sands Corp. will post 2.63 earnings per share for the current year.

Las Vegas Sands Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 19th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 10th will be given a $0.25 dividend. This is an increase from Las Vegas Sands’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.20. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 10th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.31%. Las Vegas Sands’s dividend payout ratio is presently 40.61%.

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.