Equities researchers at Goldman Sachs began coverage on shares of Ventas (NYSE: VTR) in a report issued on Thursday. The firm set a “buy” rating on the stock.

Ventas (NYSE: VTR) opened at 70.13 on Thursday. Ventas has a 52-week low of $53.94 and a 52-week high of $72.10. The stock’s 50-day moving average is currently $69.22. The company has a market cap of $20.474 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 56.83.

Ventas (NYSE: VTR) last announced its earnings results on Friday, February 15th. The company reported $0.99 EPS for the quarter, beating the Thomson Reuters consensus estimate of $0.97 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $660.71 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $644.71 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.89 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 17.3% on a year-over-year basis. Ventas has set its FY13 guidance at $3.99-4.07 EPS. Analysts expect that Ventas will post $4.06 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Analysts at Zacks reiterated a “neutral” rating on shares of Ventas in a research note to investors on Friday, March 15th. They now have a $74.00 price target on the stock. Separately, analysts at Jefferies Group raised their price target on shares of Ventas from $72.00 to $78.00 in a research note to investors on Monday, March 11th. They now have a “buy” rating on the stock. Finally, analysts at Jefferies Group reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Ventas in a research note to investors on Friday, March 1st. They now have a $78.00 price target on the stock, up previously from $72.00.

One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. Ventas currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $70.63.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which is scheduled for Thursday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 8th will be paid a dividend of $0.67 per share. This represents a $2.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.82%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 6th. This is a boost from Ventas’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.62.

Ventas, Inc. is a real estate investment trust (NYSE: VTR) with a portfolio of seniors housing and healthcare properties in the United States and Canada.

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