Kercheville Advisors LLC Purchases 9,401 Shares of Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS)

Kercheville Advisors LLC grew its stake in Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS - Free Report) by 196.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 14,179 shares of the casino operator's stock after buying an additional 9,401 shares during the period. Kercheville Advisors LLC's holdings in Las Vegas Sands were worth $728,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new position in shares of Las Vegas Sands in the 3rd quarter worth about $26,000. CVA Family Office LLC grew its stake in Las Vegas Sands by 118.8% during the third quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 560 shares of the casino operator's stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 304 shares during the period. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its stake in Las Vegas Sands by 73.5% in the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 583 shares of the casino operator's stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 247 shares during the period. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new position in Las Vegas Sands in the third quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new position in shares of Las Vegas Sands during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $43,000. 39.16% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity at Las Vegas Sands

In related news, CEO Robert G. Goldstein sold 60,187 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $53.02, for a total value of $3,191,114.74. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.91% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Las Vegas Sands Stock Up 1.6 %

Shares of LVS traded up $0.68 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $43.00. 9,401,342 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,415,669. Las Vegas Sands Corp. has a 52 week low of $36.62 and a 52 week high of $56.60. The company has a current ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.09. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $49.02 and a 200 day simple moving average of $46.84. The company has a market cap of $31.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.83, a PEG ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 1.08.

Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The casino operator reported $0.54 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.58 by ($0.04). Las Vegas Sands had a return on equity of 43.76% and a net margin of 12.80%. On average, equities analysts forecast that Las Vegas Sands Corp. will post 2.63 EPS for the current year.

Las Vegas Sands Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 19th. Investors of record on Monday, February 10th will be 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 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.33%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 10th. Las Vegas Sands's payout ratio is 40.61%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on LVS shares. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $60.00 to $59.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective 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. Macquarie raised their target price on Las Vegas Sands from $57.00 to $58.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 29th. Susquehanna upped their price target on Las Vegas Sands from $51.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock a "positive" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, Citigroup raised their price objective on Las Vegas Sands from $64.50 to $67.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $59.58.

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.