Aberdeen Group plc Has $9.08 Million Position in Las Vegas Sands Corp. $LVS

Key Points

• Aberdeen Group plc increased its stake in Las Vegas Sands Corp. by 97%, owning 235,962 shares worth approximately $9.08 million after acquiring additional shares in Q1.
• Las Vegas Sands Corp. reported $3.18 billion in revenue for the last quarter, exceeding analyst expectations, with an EPS of $0.79, significantly above the consensus estimate of $0.53.
• The company has initiated a $2 billion stock buyback plan to repurchase up to 8.2% of its outstanding shares, indicating the board's belief that its shares are undervalued.

Aberdeen Group plc increased its holdings in Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS - Free Report) by 97.0% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 235,962 shares of the casino operator's stock after purchasing an additional 116,162 shares during the period. Aberdeen Group plc's holdings in Las Vegas Sands were worth $9,083,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in LVS. Optiver Holding B.V. acquired a new position in Las Vegas Sands in the fourth quarter worth about $32,000. Center for Financial Planning Inc. acquired a new position in Las Vegas Sands in the first quarter worth about $42,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC raised its position in Las Vegas Sands by 133.1% in the first quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 1,499 shares of the casino operator's stock worth $59,000 after purchasing an additional 856 shares in the last quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC raised its position in Las Vegas Sands by 104.7% in the fourth quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC now owns 1,775 shares of the casino operator's stock worth $91,000 after purchasing an additional 908 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Neo Ivy Capital Management acquired a new position in Las Vegas Sands in the first quarter worth about $127,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 39.16% of the company's stock.

Las Vegas Sands Price Performance

LVS opened at $53.5850 on Wednesday. Las Vegas Sands Corp. has a one year low of $30.18 and a one year high of $56.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.53, a current ratio of 1.22 and a quick ratio of 1.21. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $48.55 and its 200-day simple moving average is $43.03. The stock has a market capitalization of $36.78 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.00 and a beta of 1.08.

Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 23rd. The casino operator reported $0.79 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.53 by $0.26. Las Vegas Sands had a net margin of 12.16% and a return on equity of 55.37%. The business had revenue of $3.18 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.83 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.55 earnings per share. Las Vegas Sands's revenue was up 15.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Las Vegas Sands Corp. will post 2.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Las Vegas Sands announced that its board has approved a stock buyback plan on Wednesday, April 23rd that authorizes the company to buyback $2.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the casino operator to repurchase up to 8.2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are usually a sign that the company's board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Las Vegas Sands Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 13th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, August 5th were paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, August 5th. Las Vegas Sands's dividend payout ratio is 50.51%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently issued reports on LVS shares. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on shares of Las Vegas Sands in a research report on Monday, July 7th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $52.00 price target for the company. Bank of America increased their price target on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $52.50 to $58.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 24th. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $57.00 to $58.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, July 24th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Las Vegas Sands from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, July 26th. Finally, Susquehanna dropped their price objective on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $59.00 to $58.00 and set a "positive" rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 21st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have given a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $58.33.

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.

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