Artisan Partners Limited Partnership Has $67.44 Million Stock Holdings in Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE:MTN)

Artisan Partners Limited Partnership raised its holdings in shares of Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE:MTN) by 0.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 359,749 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 191 shares during the period. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership owned approximately 0.96% of Vail Resorts worth $67,435,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Heck Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Vail Resorts during the fourth quarter worth $33,000. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its holdings in Vail Resorts by 246.7% during the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 208 shares of the company’s stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 148 shares during the last quarter. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Vail Resorts during the 4th quarter worth about $40,000. UMB Bank n.a. increased its stake in shares of Vail Resorts by 37.9% in the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 302 shares of the company’s stock valued at $57,000 after acquiring an additional 83 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Quarry LP raised its position in shares of Vail Resorts by 418.6% in the 3rd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 363 shares of the company’s stock valued at $63,000 after acquiring an additional 293 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.94% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have commented on MTN shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Vail Resorts from $166.00 to $167.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 11th. StockNews.com raised Vail Resorts from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, December 13th. Macquarie reduced their target price on Vail Resorts from $195.00 to $185.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, March 12th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on Vail Resorts from $216.00 to $217.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. Finally, Mizuho cut their price objective on Vail Resorts from $227.00 to $215.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, March 11th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $193.56.

Insider Transactions at Vail Resorts

In related news, CFO Angela A. Korch bought 185 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 13th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $160.00 per share, for a total transaction of $29,600.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief financial officer now owns 2,956 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $472,960. The trade was a 6.68 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 1.20% of the company’s stock.

Vail Resorts Stock Down 1.9 %

MTN stock opened at $161.06 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.64, a current ratio of 0.63 and a quick ratio of 0.51. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.75, a P/E/G ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 1.12. Vail Resorts, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $151.99 and a fifty-two week high of $233.57. The business has a 50-day moving average of $163.87 and a 200-day moving average of $174.29.

Vail Resorts (NYSE:MTN) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, March 10th. The company reported $6.56 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.29 by $0.27. Vail Resorts had a return on equity of 21.90% and a net margin of 8.07%. The firm had revenue of $1.14 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.14 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $5.76 EPS. The business’s revenue was up 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Vail Resorts, Inc. will post 7.62 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Vail Resorts Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 27th will be given a dividend of $2.22 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 27th. This represents a $8.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.51%. Vail Resorts’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 130.21%.

Vail Resorts Profile

Vail Resorts, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates mountain resorts and regional ski areas in the United States. It operates through three segments: Mountain, Lodging, and Real Estate. The Mountain segment operates 41 destination mountain resorts and regional ski areas. This segment is also involved in the ancillary activities, including ski school, dining, and retail/rental operations, as well as real estate brokerage activities.