Bes Stocks To Buy 2014, Best Stocks For 2014: Las Vegas Sands Beats on Revenue, Matches Expectations on EPS

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Las Vegas Sands Beats on Revenue, Matches Expectations on EPS

Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS ) reported earnings on Feb. 1. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Las Vegas Sands beat expectations on revenues and met expectations on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue expanded significantly and GAAP earnings per share expanded.

Gross margins dropped, operating margins improved, and net margins grew.

Revenue details
Las Vegas Sands tallied revenue of $2.54 billion. The 15 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted revenue of $2.47 billion. Sales were 26% higher than the prior-year quarter's $2.02 billion.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions.

EPS details
Non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.57. The 19 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.57 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.39 for Q4 were 15% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.34 per share.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Figures may be non-GAAP to maintain comparability with estimates.

Margin details
For the quarter, gross margin was 37.4%, 960 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 26.1%, 190 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 17.1%, 90 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $2.47 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.56.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $11.18 billion. The average ! EPS esti mate is $2.56.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,755 members out of 2,081 rating the stock outperform, and 326 members rating it underperform. Among 506 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 434 give Las Vegas Sands a green thumbs-up, and 72 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Las Vegas Sands is outperform, with an average price target of $59.82.