Barclays Has Lowered Expectations for Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS) Stock Price

Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS) had its price objective dropped by equities researchers at Barclays from $58.00 to $53.00 in a report released on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. The firm presently has an “overweight” rating on the casino operator’s stock. Barclays‘s target price indicates a potential upside of 54.15% from the stock’s previous close.

Several other equities analysts have also issued reports on the stock. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $64.50 to $67.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. 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. Macquarie boosted their price objective on Las Vegas Sands from $57.00 to $58.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $62.00 to $61.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 29th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $60.00 to $59.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $58.67.

Las Vegas Sands Stock Up 1.3 %

Shares of Las Vegas Sands stock opened at $34.38 on Tuesday. Las Vegas Sands has a 12 month low of $30.18 and a 12 month high of $56.61. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $39.57 and a 200 day simple moving average of $46.13. The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.35. The stock has a market cap of $24.30 billion, a PE ratio of 17.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 0.99.

Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 23rd. The casino operator reported $0.59 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.60 by ($0.01). Las Vegas Sands had a net margin of 12.80% and a return on equity of 45.82%. The company had revenue of $2.86 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.95 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.78 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that Las Vegas Sands will post 2.6 EPS for the current year.

Las Vegas Sands announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a share repurchase program on Wednesday, April 23rd that authorizes the company to buyback $2.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the casino operator to reacquire up to 8.2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are often an indication that the company’s leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Las Vegas Sands

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. World Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Las Vegas Sands during the 3rd quarter worth about $1,953,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new position in Las Vegas Sands during the third quarter worth about $26,000. Franklin Resources Inc. increased its position in Las Vegas Sands by 10.8% during the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 115,803 shares of the casino operator’s stock worth $6,053,000 after buying an additional 11,261 shares during the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. raised its stake in Las Vegas Sands by 33.3% in the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 548,072 shares of the casino operator’s stock valued at $27,590,000 after buying an additional 136,859 shares during the period. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its position in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 206.8% in the fourth quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,605 shares of the casino operator’s stock valued at $134,000 after buying an additional 1,756 shares during the last quarter. 39.16% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.