Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS) Issues Quarterly Earnings Results

Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS - Get Free Report) announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday. The casino operator reported $0.79 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.53 by $0.26, Zacks reports. Las Vegas Sands had a return on equity of 51.16% and a net margin of 12.16%. The company had revenue of $3.18 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.83 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.55 EPS. Las Vegas Sands's revenue for the quarter was up 15.0% compared to the same quarter last year.

Las Vegas Sands Stock Up 3.2%

NYSE LVS traded up $1.62 on Friday, reaching $52.41. 6,936,695 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,855,603. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.58, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a current ratio of 0.59. The company has a market cap of $37.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.47, a PEG ratio of 2.45 and a beta of 1.03. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $44.28 and a 200-day moving average price of $42.12. Las Vegas Sands has a 12 month low of $30.18 and a 12 month high of $56.60.

Las Vegas Sands Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 13th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, August 5th will be issued a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.91%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, August 5th. Las Vegas Sands's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 55.56%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Hsbc Global Res raised Las Vegas Sands to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. UBS Group increased their target price on Las Vegas Sands from $43.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. Bank of America increased their target price on Las Vegas Sands from $52.50 to $58.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on Las Vegas Sands in a research report on Monday, July 7th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $52.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus set a $57.00 target price on Las Vegas Sands and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $57.50.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Las Vegas Sands

An institutional investor recently raised its position in Las Vegas Sands stock. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS - Free Report) by 8.4% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 31,251 shares of the casino operator's stock after buying an additional 2,418 shares during the quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd.'s holdings in Las Vegas Sands were worth $1,207,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). 39.16% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Las Vegas Sands announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a share buyback program on Wednesday, April 23rd that allows the company to buyback $2.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the casino operator to repurchase up to 8.2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often a sign that the company's board believes its shares are undervalued.

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.