It's been a mediocre week for Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS) shareholders, with the stock dropping 11% to US$45.88 in the week since its latest quarterly results. The result was positive overall - although revenues of US$3.0b were in line with what the analysts predicted, Las Vegas Sands surprised by delivering a statutory profit of US$0.66 per share, modestly greater than expected. Earnings are an important time for investors, as they can track a company's performance, look at what the analysts are forecasting for next year, and see if there's been a change in sentiment towards the company. We've gathered the most recent statutory forecasts to see whether the analysts have changed their earnings models, following these results.

Check out our latest analysis for Las Vegas Sands  earnings-and-revenue-growth

Taking into account the latest results, the consensus forecast from Las Vegas Sands' 15 analysts is for revenues of US$11.9b in 2024. This reflects a credible 5.9% improvement in revenue compared to the last 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are predicted to bounce 29% to US$2.69. Before this earnings report, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of US$12.2b and earnings per share (EPS) of US$2.69 in 2024. The consensus seems maybe a little more pessimistic, trimming their revenue forecasts after the latest results even though there was no change to its EPS estimates.

The average price target was steady at US$62.45even though revenue estimates declined; likely suggesting the analysts place a higher value on earnings. The consensus price target is just an average of individual analyst targets, so - it could be handy to see how wide the range of underlying estimates is. Currently, the most bullish analyst values Las Vegas Sands at US$76.00 per share, while the most bearish prices it at US$53.00. Analysts definitely have varying views on the business, but the spread of estimates is not wide enough in our view to suggest that extreme outcomes could await Las Vegas Sands shareholders.

Another way we can view these estimates is in the context of the bigger picture, such as how the forecasts stack up against past performance, and whether forecasts are more or less bullish relative to other companies in the industry. For example, we noticed that Las Vegas Sands' rate of growth is expected to accelerate meaningfully, with revenues forecast to exhibit 7.9% growth to the end of 2024 on an annualised basis. That is well above its historical decline of 14% a year over the past five years. By contrast, our data suggests that other companies (with analyst coverage) in a similar industry are forecast to see their revenue grow 9.7% per year. So although Las Vegas Sands' revenue growth is expected to improve, it is still expected to grow slower than the industry.



The Bottom Line

The most obvious conclusion is that there's been no major change in the business' prospects in recent times, with the analysts holding their earnings forecasts steady, in line with previous estimates. On the negative side, they also downgraded their revenue estimates, and forecasts imply they will perform worse than the wider industry. Still, earnings per share are more important to value creation for shareholders. The consensus price target held steady at US$62.45, with the latest estimates not enough to have an impact on their price targets.

Keeping that in mind, we still think that the longer term trajectory of the business is much more important for investors to consider. We have forecasts for Las Vegas Sands going out to 2026, and you can see them free on our platform here.

However, before you get too enthused, we've discovered 3 warning signs for Las Vegas Sands that you should be aware of.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.