Las Vegas Sands Corp (NYSE:LVS) making its money work for its investors

Northern, WI 04/15/2013 (avauncer) –At a board meeting, the casino company that Sheldon Adelson controls, Las Vegas Sands Corp (NYSE:LVS) (Closed: $55.99, Up by 1.86%) will be considering either a stock buyback or a special dividend, towards the end of this month. This would add to Adelson’s aim to provide Sands’ shareholders with cash returns said a person in the know who wishes to remain unidentified as the matter is still not public. Sands is the largest casino company based in the United States. At the end of last year the company had cash of $2.51 billion. According to its annual report, it also paid $3.09 billion in dividends which included a special payment of $2.75 per share, in December. 79-year-old Adelson who is the owner of 52 percent of the company’s stock raked in $1.62 billion.

Expansion plans

Adelson, who is the chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sands, said that it is very fulfilling to be able to build the business and cash flow. Strengthening the balance sheet to such a point has meant that a substantial cash amount could be returned to the company’s stockholders while maintaining enough liquidity to fund growth opportunities that the company might find lucrative. In March, Macau’s gambling revenue more than doubled its February pace and increased by 25 percent. Sands owns several casinos there and is also building a new resort. Other regions where it is considering opportunities is Japan, South Korea and Spain.

Strategizing smartly

Adelson said that Sands will only take up projects that generate returns of at least 20 percent however some analysts have said that investors have opposed the Madrid project. Richard Suen the businessman has sued Sands and his claim is that the company owes him $328 million for helping it acquire licenses to run casinos in Macau. That trial is still in progress in the Nevada state court. This month Adelson said that it was his company’s expertise and vision that needs to be credited and not any of Suen’s efforts. According to the Center for Responsive Studies based in Washington, Adelson and Miriam, his wife, were the biggest donors of political action committees in the 2012 presidential campaign.