Ventas, Inc. (NYSE:VTR) Given Consensus Rating of "Moderate Buy" by Analysts

Key Points

• Analysts rate Ventas “Moderate Buy”: Fourteen of 17 analysts recommend buying the stock, while three rate it a hold. The average 12-month price target is $99.11, implying potential upside from the $86.70 share price cited.
• Ventas exceeded quarterly expectations, reporting $0.97 EPS versus the $0.96 consensus and $1.73 billion in revenue, up 21.7% year over year. Analysts expect full-year EPS of $3.89.
• The healthcare REIT declared a quarterly dividend of $0.52 per share, equivalent to $2.08 annually and a 2.4% yield. Institutional investors own 94.18% of the company’s outstanding stock.

Ventas, Inc. (NYSE:VTR - Get Free Report) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from the seventeen research firms that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $99.1111.

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Ventas from $100.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, August 4th. Mizuho lifted their target price on Ventas from $98.00 to $104.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 22nd. Raymond James Financial began coverage on Ventas in a research report on Tuesday, June 16th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $94.00 target price for the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $100.00 target price on shares of Ventas in a research note on Tuesday, June 16th. Finally, Scotiabank raised their price target on Ventas from $93.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 2nd.

Ventas Stock Performance

Shares of VTR stock opened at $86.70 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $44.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 160.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.42 and a beta of 0.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a current ratio of 0.44. Ventas has a one year low of $66.54 and a one year high of $101.60. The company's 50-day moving average is $92.47 and its 200 day moving average is $88.02.

Ventas (NYSE:VTR - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.97 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.96 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $1.73 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.68 billion. Ventas had a net margin of 4.08% and a return on equity of 1.99%. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 21.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.87 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect that Ventas will post 3.89 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Ventas Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 15th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, September 30th will be paid a $0.52 dividend. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, September 30th. Ventas's dividend payout ratio is 385.19%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ventas

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Dynamic Wealth Strategies LLC bought a new stake in Ventas during the first quarter valued at about $25,000. Silvant Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Ventas in the second quarter worth about $28,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Ventas in the second quarter worth about $30,000. Reflection Asset Management purchased a new stake in shares of Ventas during the fourth quarter worth about $34,000. Finally, Western Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Ventas during the first quarter worth about $40,000. Institutional investors own 94.18% of the company's stock.

About Ventas

Ventas, Inc is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns and manages a diversified portfolio of healthcare and senior living properties. Its real estate platform includes senior housing communities, medical office buildings, life science and innovation centers, and other healthcare-related facilities.

The company generally leases or operates its properties through relationships with healthcare providers, senior living operators, universities, and research institutions. Its properties support services such as independent and assisted living, skilled nursing, outpatient care, physician practices, medical research, and biotechnology development.

Ventas serves major healthcare and life science markets in the United States and Canada.

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