Charles Schwab Investment Management Increases Stake in Las Vegas Sands Corp.

Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. has raised its ownership in Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS - Free Report) by 2.2% during the last quarter of the previous year. This information comes from the firm's most recent 13F filing submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result, Charles Schwab now holds a total of 2,138,062 shares of the casino operator after acquiring an additional 46,608 shares during that quarter. At the time of the latest filing, these holdings represented 0.29% of Las Vegas Sands, with a value of approximately $109,811,000.

Recently, several other large investors have also adjusted their stakes in Las Vegas Sands. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB took a new position in the shares during the third quarter, valuing about $26,000. Likewise, Bank of Jackson Hole Trust acquired a new position in the fourth quarter, also worth roughly $26,000. UMB Bank n.a. significantly raised its stake by 73.5% during the fourth quarter, bringing its total to 583 shares, valued at about $30,000 after purchasing 247 additional shares. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC and Capital Performance Advisors LLP also initiated new positions in the company's stock, amounting to approximately $34,000 and $43,000, respectively. Currently, hedge funds and institutional investors collectively hold 39.16% of the company's stock.

Analyst Insights

Recent reports from several research analysts provide a mixed view on Las Vegas Sands stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft recently reduced its target price for the stock from $66.00 to $62.00, maintaining a "buy" rating. Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley lowered its price objective from $51.00 to $49.00, designating the stock as "equal weight." In contrast, Jefferies Financial Group upgraded their rating from "hold" to "buy" and increased their target price from $60.00 to $69.00. Wells Fargo & Company adjusted its target from $60.00 to $59.00 and retained an "overweight" rating. Barclays also cut their price target from $61.00 to $58.00 but maintained an "overweight" rating on the stock. Currently, four analysts have rated the stock as a hold, while ten others have given it a buy rating. According to MarketBeat.com, Las Vegas Sands has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" with a consensus target price of $59.42.

Current Stock Status

As of Friday, shares of NYSE:LVS opened at $44.99. The company boasts a market capitalization of $32.21 billion, with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 22.84 and a P/E growth (P/E/G) ratio of 1.41. The stock also has a beta of 1.07, indicating some level of volatility. Additionally, Las Vegas Sands has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.35 and liquidity ratios with a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 0.74. The stock's moving averages show a 50-day average price of $45.34 and a 200-day average price of $47.49. Over the past year, the stock has traded between $36.62 and $56.61.

Earnings Report

On January 29th, Las Vegas Sands reported its quarterly earnings, revealing an earnings per share (EPS) of $0.54, which fell short of analysts' expectations of $0.58 by $0.04. The company's return on equity stood at 45.82%, with a net margin of 12.80%. Analysts project that Las Vegas Sands will achieve an EPS of 2.6 for the ongoing fiscal year.

Dividend Increase

In a recent development, Las Vegas Sands declared a quarterly dividend to be paid on February 19th. Shareholders on record as of February 10th have received a dividend of $0.25 per share, up from the previous quarterly amount of $0.20. This increase translates to an annualized dividend of $1.00, offering a yield of 2.22%. The company’s dividend payout ratio currently stands at 50.76%.

Company Overview

Las Vegas Sands Corp. operates integrated resorts mainly in Macao and Singapore. Its prominent properties include The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel, the Londoner Macao, The Parisian Macao, The Plaza Macao, Four Seasons Hotel Macao, and Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

Investment, Stocks, Earnings