Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC Trims Stake in Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS)

Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC decreased its position in shares of Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS) by 5.6% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 15,482 shares of the casino operator’s stock after selling 927 shares during the period. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC’s holdings in Las Vegas Sands were worth $773,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in LVS. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new position in shares of Las Vegas Sands during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $26,000. UMB Bank n.a. boosted its position 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 worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 247 shares in the last quarter. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new stake in shares of Las Vegas Sands in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $34,000. Vestor Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Las Vegas Sands in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $43,000. Finally, Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new stake in shares of Las Vegas Sands in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $43,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 39.16% of the company’s stock.

Las Vegas Sands Stock Performance

LVS stock opened at $44.00 on Monday. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $46.76 and its 200 day simple moving average is $47.18. The stock has a market capitalization of $31.50 billion, a PE ratio of 22.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 1.08. The company has a current ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.35. 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 released its quarterly 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 net margin of 12.80% and a return on equity of 45.82%. As a group, research analysts forecast that Las Vegas Sands Corp. will post 2.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Las Vegas Sands Increases Dividend

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

LVS has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Morgan Stanley reissued an “equal weight” rating and issued a $51.00 price target (down from $54.00) on shares of Las Vegas Sands in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on Las Vegas Sands from $62.00 to $61.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 29th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price target on Las Vegas Sands from $66.00 to $62.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 29th. 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 report on Tuesday, November 5th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised Las Vegas Sands from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their price objective for the company from $60.00 to $69.00 in a research report on Friday, January 3rd. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $59.58.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Robert G. Goldstein sold 60,187 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on 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 legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.91% of the stock is currently owned by 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.