A wise investment decision involves buying well-performing stocks at the right time while selling those that are at risk. A rise in share price and strong fundamentals signal a stock’s bullish run.
Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS) has performed extremely well so far this year and possesses a great potential to carry the momentum forward. Therefore, if you have not taken advantage of the share price appreciation yet, it’s time you add this gaming stock to your portfolio.
Let’s check out why Las Vegas Sands is an attractive pick right now.
Impressive Run on the Bourse
A glimpse of the company’s price trend reveals that the stock has had an impressive run on the bourse over the past six months. Las Vegas Sands returned 30.9%, which compared favorably with the S&P 500’s gain of 16.3%.
Favorable Zacks Rank and Style Scores
Las Vegas Sands carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), Growth Score of A and Value Score of B. Our Growth Style Score condenses all the essential metrics from a company’s financial statements to get a true sense of the quality and sustainability of its growth.
Socks with Growth Scores of A or B when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 offer the best investment opportunities in the growth investing space.
Meanwhile, the Zacks Momentum Style Score indicates when the timing is right to grab a stock and make the most of its momentum. Back-tested results show that stocks with Momentum Scores of A or B, when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 or 2 handily outperform others.
Northward Estimate Revisions
Eight estimates for the current year moved north over the past 60 days versus no southward revisions, showcasing analysts’ confidence in the company. Over the same period, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2018 climbed 8.8% to $3.35 which reflects year-over-year growth of 10.2%. For 2019, earnings are expected to register 7.7% growth.
Positive Earnings Surprise History
Las Vegas Sands has an impressive earnings surprise history. The company surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the trailing four quarters, delivering a positive average earnings surprise of 13.8%.
Las Vegas Sands Corp. Price and EPS Surprise
Growth Drivers
Las Vegas Sands has a strong portfolio, solid business model, extensive non-gaming revenue opportunities, high quality assets and attractive property locations. The strong portfolio has significantly aided the company in withstanding the economic downturn in China thus protecting its Macao operations. Moreover, some entertainment offerings in the pipeline are expected to deliver increased profitability across the company’s properties.
Additionally, the company remains focused on a convention-based Integrated Resort business model. Notably, this model helps in generating the most diversified set of cash flows and profit from non-gaming segments, besides bringing unsurpassed economic and diversification benefits to the regions in which it operates. In fact, non-gaming revenues have relatively improved over the past few quarters.
The company is also concentrating on renovation and promotion of its Las Vegas properties in order to drive segmental performance. The Las Vegas Strip has been recording high occupancy rates over the past year. The improvement in employment rate and rise in tourism numbers has been boosting demand at the company’s properties in the region.
Other Stocks to Consider
Some other top-ranked stocks in the same space are Wynn Resorts, Limited (NASDAQ:WYNN) , Churchill Downs, Incorporated (NASDAQ:CHDN) and Monarch Casino & Resort (NASDAQ:MCRI) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Wynn Resorts, Churchill Downs and Monarch Casino & Resort earnings in 2018 are expected to increase 43.2%, 93.5% and 26.5%, respectively.
More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!
It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.
Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020.
Click here for the 6 trades >>
Las Vegas Sands Corp. (LVS): Free Stock Analysis Report
Wynn Resorts, Limited (WYNN): Free Stock Analysis Report
Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. (MCRI): Free Stock Analysis Report
Churchill Downs, Incorporated (CHDN): Free Stock Analysis Report
Original post
Zacks Investment Research