LPL Financial LLC Has $7.92 Million Stock Holdings in Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS)

LPL Financial LLC trimmed its position in Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS - Free Report) by 8.2% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 205,060 shares of the casino operator's stock after selling 18,311 shares during the quarter. LPL Financial LLC's holdings in Las Vegas Sands were worth $7,921,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank grew its holdings in Las Vegas Sands by 8.2% in the 1st quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 250,232 shares of the casino operator's stock valued at $9,666,000 after buying an additional 19,018 shares in the last quarter. Empirical Finance LLC grew its holdings in Las Vegas Sands by 4.8% in the 1st quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 11,686 shares of the casino operator's stock valued at $451,000 after buying an additional 532 shares in the last quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in Las Vegas Sands by 37.1% in the 1st quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC now owns 7,398 shares of the casino operator's stock valued at $286,000 after buying an additional 2,002 shares in the last quarter. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd grew its holdings in Las Vegas Sands by 27.6% in the 1st quarter. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd now owns 219,463 shares of the casino operator's stock valued at $8,379,000 after buying an additional 47,457 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Neo Ivy Capital Management acquired a new position in Las Vegas Sands in the 1st quarter valued at $127,000. 39.16% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Las Vegas Sands Price Performance

Shares of LVS stock traded up $0.29 on Friday, hitting $54.41. 655,977 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,670,808. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.53, a current ratio of 1.22 and a quick ratio of 1.21. Las Vegas Sands Corp. has a 12 month low of $30.18 and a 12 month high of $56.60. The stock has a market cap of $37.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 1.08. The company has a 50 day moving average of $47.84 and a 200 day moving average of $42.87.

Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 23rd. The casino operator reported $0.79 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.53 by $0.26. Las Vegas Sands had a return on equity of 55.37% and a net margin of 12.16%. The business had revenue of $3.18 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.83 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.55 EPS. Las Vegas Sands's revenue for the quarter was up 15.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts predict that Las Vegas Sands Corp. will post 2.6 EPS for the current year.

Las Vegas Sands Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 13th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, August 5th were given a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, August 5th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.8%. Las Vegas Sands's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 50.51%.

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have commented on the company. Hsbc Global Res raised Las Vegas Sands to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Thursday, April 24th. Argus upgraded Las Vegas Sands from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $60.00 target price for the company in a research report on Monday, July 28th. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Las Vegas Sands from $47.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 6th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Las Vegas Sands from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Saturday, July 26th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Las Vegas Sands from $47.00 to $56.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 24th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $58.33.

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.