Analyst Raises FY2025 EPS Estimate for Las Vegas Sands to $3.03

Equities researchers at Seaport Res Ptn have revised their earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS), projecting an increase for the fiscal year 2025. In a research note dated December 1, 2023, analyst V. Umansky stated that the casino operator is now expected to earn $3.03 per share, up from the previous estimate of $2.96. This new forecast is significantly higher than the current full-year consensus estimate of $2.60 per share.

The report also included projections for Las Vegas Sands’ fourth quarter of 2025, estimating an EPS of $0.87. This follows the company’s recent earnings announcement on October 22, 2023, where it reported an EPS of $0.78 for the quarter, exceeding analyst expectations of $0.62 by $0.16. The company generated revenue of $3.33 billion during this quarter, surpassing the consensus estimate of $3.04 billion.

Las Vegas Sands demonstrated strong performance in its latest quarter, achieving a return on equity of 73.14% and a net margin of 12.69%. The quarterly revenue represented an increase of 24.2% compared to the same period in the previous year, when the company recorded an EPS of $0.44.

Analyst Ratings and Stock Performance

Several research analysts have provided insights on Las Vegas Sands’ stock. On October 23, 2023, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its target price from $60.00 to $70.00 and assigned an “overweight” rating. Zacks Research upgraded the stock from “hold” to “strong buy” on October 10, 2023. Additionally, Wells Fargo & Company initiated coverage on November 18, issuing an “equal weight” rating with a target price of $66.00.

Analysts continue to show optimism, with Macquarie increasing its target from $62.00 to $64.00 and maintaining an “outperform” rating. Susquehanna also raised its price target from $62.00 to $63.00, assigning a “positive” rating. Currently, two analysts have rated the stock as a strong buy, ten as a buy, and six as a hold, leading to an average rating of “moderate buy” with a consensus target price of $65.60, according to data from MarketBeat.com.

Las Vegas Sands’ stock opened at $68.45 on Tuesday, with a market capitalization of $46.28 billion. The stock has a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 30.97 and a P/E/G ratio of 1.62. Over the past year, shares have fluctuated between a low of $30.18 and a high of $70.45.

Institutional Activity and Insider Transactions

Recent data indicates that institutional investors and hedge funds hold significant stakes in Las Vegas Sands, owning approximately 39.16% of the company’s stock. Notably, Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position by 4.4% in the second quarter, acquiring 1,822,806 additional shares, bringing its total ownership to 43,072,014 shares valued at $1.87 billion.

Other notable institutional activities include Price T Rowe Associates Inc., which raised its stake by 3.9%, and ARGA Investment Management LP, which increased its holdings by 36.8%. Invesco Ltd. and Geode Capital Management LLC also made significant adjustments to their positions.

In terms of insider trading, D. Zachary Hudson, Executive Vice President, sold 100,000 shares on November 7, 2023, at an average price of $64.99, totaling $6.5 million. Following the sale, Hudson retained 13,735 shares valued at approximately $892,000. Similarly, Randy Hyzak, Chief Financial Officer, sold 57,545 shares on November 25, 2023, for a total of $3.82 million.

Las Vegas Sands has also recently declared a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share, which was paid on November 12. This dividend translates to an annualized amount of $1.00 per share, with a yield of 1.5%. The company’s dividend payout ratio stands at 45.25%.

With strong earnings expectations and significant institutional interest, Las Vegas Sands continues to be a focal point for investors, reflecting a positive outlook for the casino operator in the coming years.