Ventas, Inc. (NYSE:VTR) Receives $96.50 Average Price Target from Analysts

Ventas, Inc. (NYSE:VTR) has been given an average rating of “Moderate Buy” by the nineteen analysts that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price target among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $97.5556.

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Scotiabank dropped their price objective on shares of Ventas from $95.00 to $88.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, June 18th. Barclays initiated coverage on shares of Ventas in a report on Tuesday, July 7th. They issued an “equal weight” rating and a $99.00 target price for the company. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price target on shares of Ventas from $91.00 to $98.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, May 4th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of Ventas from $93.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, June 1st. Finally, Raymond James Financial began coverage on shares of Ventas in a report on Tuesday, June 16th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $94.00 price target on the stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Ventas

In other news, Director Michael J. Embler purchased 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 3rd. The stock was purchased at an average price of $78.81 per share, with a total value of $197,025.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 19,202 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,513,309.62. The trade was a 14.97% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Walter C. Rakowich sold 1,152 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.20, for a total value of $103,910.40. Following the sale, the director owned 28,349 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,557,079.80. This represents a 3.90% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Company insiders own 0.53% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Ventas

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in Ventas by 3.2% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 75,948,003 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $5,876,856,000 after buying an additional 2,349,176 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted its position in Ventas by 2.5% during the fourth quarter. State Street Corp now owns 29,662,635 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $2,309,234,000 after buying an additional 735,620 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Ventas by 3.8% during the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 12,988,943 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $1,001,447,000 after buying an additional 475,633 shares during the period. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its stake in Ventas by 27.9% during the fourth quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 9,176,254 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $710,060,000 after buying an additional 2,000,341 shares during the period. Finally, Capital World Investors acquired a new stake in shares of Ventas in the fourth quarter worth $594,116,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.18% of the company’s stock.

Ventas Stock Down 0.3%

Shares of NYSE:VTR opened at $92.22 on Friday. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $89.32 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $86.05. The company has a current ratio of 0.44, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86. Ventas has a 12-month low of $66.38 and a 12-month high of $101.60. The firm has a market cap of $47.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 170.78, a PEG ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 0.69.

Ventas Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, July 16th. Investors of record on Tuesday, June 30th were given a $0.52 dividend. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, June 30th. Ventas’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 385.19%.

Ventas Company Profile

Ventas, Inc (NYSE: VTR) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that specializes in healthcare-related real estate. The company acquires, owns and manages a diversified portfolio of properties serving the healthcare continuum, including senior housing communities, skilled nursing facilities, medical office buildings, life science and research centers, and other properties leased to healthcare providers and operators. Ventas generates revenue through long-term leases, property management and selective development activities focused on meeting the real estate needs of the healthcare sector.

Ventas’ business model combines property ownership with active asset management and capital markets activity.