New York State Common Retirement Fund Has $40.85 Million Stake in Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS)

New York State Common Retirement Fund lifted its position in Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS) by 15.5% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 795,377 shares of the casino operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 106,830 shares during the quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund owned 0.11% of Las Vegas Sands worth $40,851,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of LVS. Raymond James & Associates raised its stake in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 82.2% in the third quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 499,852 shares of the casino operator’s stock valued at $25,163,000 after purchasing an additional 225,510 shares in the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC grew its position in Las Vegas Sands by 7.8% in the third quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 3,510 shares of the casino operator’s stock valued at $177,000 after acquiring an additional 253 shares during the period. Private Advisor Group LLC bought a new stake in Las Vegas Sands in the third quarter valued at $230,000. Ballentine Partners LLC bought a new stake in Las Vegas Sands in the third quarter valued at $236,000. Finally, Mediolanum International Funds Ltd bought a new stake in Las Vegas Sands in the third quarter valued at $1,391,000. 39.16% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity

In other Las Vegas Sands news, CEO Robert G. Goldstein sold 60,187 shares of the 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 transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.91% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Las Vegas Sands Trading Up 2.1 %

Shares of LVS opened at $44.98 on Friday. 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 Corp. has a 12-month low of $36.62 and a 12-month high of $56.60. The firm has a market capitalization of $32.20 billion, a PE ratio of 22.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.38 and a beta of 1.08. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $46.96 and its 200-day simple moving average is $47.02.

Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The casino operator reported $0.54 earnings per share (EPS) 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, research analysts predict that Las Vegas Sands Corp. will post 2.6 earnings per share for the current year.

Las Vegas Sands Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 19th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 10th were paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.22%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 10th. This is a positive change from Las Vegas Sands’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.20. Las Vegas Sands’s dividend payout ratio is 50.76%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have weighed in on LVS shares. 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. Citigroup upped their price target on Las Vegas Sands from $64.50 to $67.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on 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. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Las Vegas Sands from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their price target for the company from $60.00 to $69.00 in a research report on Friday, January 3rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on Las Vegas Sands from $62.00 to $61.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 29th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Las Vegas Sands presently 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.