UPDATE: Stifel Nicolaus Reiterates Buy Rating, Raises PT on Las Vegas Sands Corporation Following 2Q13 Review

In a report published Thursday, Stifel Nicolaus analyst Steven Wieczynski reiterated a Buy rating on

, and raised the price target from $65.00 to $66.00. In the report, Stifel Nicolaus noted, “Following another quarter of sound results across the board, we remain constructive on the LVS story. Our favorable view is supported by our belief that the transition afoot in the Macau market is similar in nature to where Las Vegas was in the late-80's/early-90's, as what was once a destination predominantly frequented by gamblers evolved into one of the nation's preeminent entertainment destinations for gamblers and non-gamblers alike. As the evolution of the Macau gaming market continues, aided by the rollout of infrastructure projects designed to improve access to the SAR, we expect mass market growth, particularly in the Cotai Region, to outpace growth in the VIP segment and the broader market at large. That said, given LVS' unparalleled 9,354 hotel room base and suite of over 1,000 mass market tables, we believe the company remains the best positioned operator to capture future mass market growth. Furthermore, given the favorable margin characteristics associated with the mass market segment (32% of TTM market-wide revenues, 65% of TTM market-wide operating profit), we believe LVS should be able to deliver outsized EBITDA growth relative to its peers in the years ahead.” Las Vegas Sands Corporation closed on Wednesday at $54.95.