Fisher Asset Management LLC Boosts Stock Position in Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS)

Fisher Asset Management LLC lifted its position in Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS) by 1.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 13,810,351 shares of the casino operator’s stock after buying an additional 160,711 shares during the quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Las Vegas Sands were worth $709,300,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new stake in shares of Las Vegas Sands in the 3rd quarter valued at $26,000. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust purchased a new stake in shares of Las Vegas Sands in the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. UMB Bank n.a. grew its stake in Las Vegas Sands by 73.5% during the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 583 shares of the casino operator’s stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 247 shares in the last quarter. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new position in Las Vegas Sands during the 3rd quarter worth $34,000. Finally, Vestor Capital LLC acquired a new position in Las Vegas Sands during the 3rd quarter worth $43,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 39.16% of the company’s stock.

Las Vegas Sands Trading Up 2.3 %

NYSE:LVS opened at $44.74 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $45.98 and a 200-day simple moving average of $47.25. The stock has a market cap of $32.03 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.71, a P/E/G ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 1.08. Las Vegas Sands Corp. has a 1 year low of $36.62 and a 1 year high of $56.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.35, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 0.74.

Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The casino operator reported $0.54 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.58 by ($0.04). Las Vegas Sands had a net margin of 12.80% and a return on equity of 45.82%. As a group, analysts anticipate that Las Vegas Sands Corp. will post 2.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Las Vegas Sands Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 19th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 10th were issued a $0.25 dividend. This is an increase from Las Vegas Sands’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.20. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.24%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 10th. Las Vegas Sands’s payout ratio is presently 50.76%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

LVS has been the subject of several analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group raised Las Vegas Sands from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $60.00 to $69.00 in a research note on Friday, January 3rd. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on Las Vegas Sands from $51.00 to $49.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, February 24th. UBS Group boosted their target price on Las Vegas Sands from $49.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Barclays lowered their target price on Las Vegas Sands from $61.00 to $58.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 29th. Finally, Citigroup boosted their target price on Las Vegas Sands from $64.50 to $67.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $59.42.

Las Vegas Sands 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.