Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS) Price Target Cut to $45.00 by Analysts at Morgan Stanley

Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS - Free Report) had its target price reduced by Morgan Stanley from $47.00 to $45.00 in a research note released on Wednesday morning,Benzinga reports. They currently have an equal weight rating on the casino operator's stock.

A number of other research analysts also recently weighed in on the stock. Barclays decreased their target price on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $61.00 to $58.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 29th. Jefferies Financial Group raised Las Vegas Sands from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and lifted their target price for the company from $60.00 to $69.00 in a research report on Friday, January 3rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered 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. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $62.00 to $61.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 29th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $60.00 to $59.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $59.08.

Las Vegas Sands Stock Down 0.6 %

LVS traded down $0.19 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $32.58. The company had a trading volume of 5,563,641 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,021,495. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $40.10 and its 200 day moving average price is $46.43. The company has a market capitalization of $23.02 billion, a PE ratio of 16.54, a PEG ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.35. Las Vegas Sands has a one year low of $30.18 and a one year high of $56.61.

Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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 return on equity of 45.82% and a net margin of 12.80%. As a group, equities analysts expect that Las Vegas Sands will post 2.6 earnings per share for the current year.

Las Vegas Sands Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 19th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 10th were given a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.07%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 10th. This is a boost from Las Vegas Sands's previous quarterly dividend of $0.20. Las Vegas Sands's payout ratio is presently 50.76%.

Institutional Trading of Las Vegas Sands

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of LVS. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust bought a new stake in shares of Las Vegas Sands in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new position in shares of Las Vegas Sands in the third quarter worth $26,000. UMB Bank n.a. raised 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 purchasing an additional 247 shares in the last quarter. Optiver Holding B.V. bought a new stake in Las Vegas Sands during the fourth quarter worth about $32,000. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. acquired a new stake in Las Vegas Sands during the fourth quarter worth about $36,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 39.16% of the company's stock.

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.