Ventas (NYSE:VTR) Hits New 1-Year High – Should You Buy?

Ventas, Inc. (NYSE:VTR) shares reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $91.31 and last traded at $91.6050, with a volume of 210511 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $89.65.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently commented on VTR shares. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b-)” rating on shares of Ventas in a research note on Wednesday, June 24th. UBS Group raised their price target on shares of Ventas from $85.00 to $93.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Monday, May 4th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Ventas from $93.00 to $96.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, June 1st. Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on Ventas from $97.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 12th. Finally, Mizuho set a $98.00 price target on Ventas in a research report on Friday, May 22nd. Fifteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $96.00.

Ventas Price Performance

The stock has a market cap of $44.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 167.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.91 and a beta of 0.70. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $85.46 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $83.03. The company has a quick ratio of 0.25, a current ratio of 0.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95.

Ventas (NYSE:VTR) last posted its earnings results on Monday, April 27th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.12 by ($0.01). Ventas had a net margin of 4.25% and a return on equity of 2.09%. The business had revenue of $1.65 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.59 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.84 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 22.0% on a year-over-year basis. Ventas has set its FY 2026 guidance at 3.820-3.890 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Ventas, Inc. will post 3.88 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Ventas Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 16th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, June 30th will be issued 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 is Tuesday, June 30th. Ventas’s payout ratio is 378.18%.

Insider Transactions at Ventas

In related news, Director Michael J. Embler bought 2,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 3rd. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $78.81 per share, with a total value of $197,025.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director directly 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 purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Walter C. Rakowich sold 1,152 shares of Ventas stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.20, for a total value of $103,910.40. Following the transaction, the director owned 28,349 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $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. 0.53% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ventas

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Ventas by 856.1% in the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 7,926 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $545,000 after buying an additional 7,097 shares in the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC boosted its stake in shares of Ventas by 6.8% during the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 8,373 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $576,000 after acquiring an additional 536 shares in the last quarter. Woodline Partners LP boosted its stake in shares of Ventas by 46.8% during the 1st quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 36,826 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $2,532,000 after acquiring an additional 11,739 shares in the last quarter. Focus Partners Wealth grew its position in shares of Ventas by 130.4% during the 1st quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 21,613 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $1,486,000 after acquiring an additional 12,233 shares during the period. Finally, Gamco Investors INC. ET AL purchased a new position in shares of Ventas in the 2nd quarter valued at about $805,000. 94.18% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.