Mizuho Securities reiterated a Buy rating on Ventas (NYSE: VTR), and raised the price target to $84.00 (from $82.00), following a 35% stock increase year-to-date. Mizuho believes that the company has positioned itself to weather the risk and expects management to focus on growth.

Analyst Richard Anderson commented, "Although we acknowledge the valuation risk of maintaining our Buy rating on VTR after a 35% year-to-date increase to the stock (now a 38% premium to our NAV estimate), we think uncharted territory from a macro standpoint calls for uncharted territory from a valuation perspective. The healthcare businesses underlying VTR's real estate portfolio are far from perfect, but we believe the company has advantageously positioned itself to weather the risk. Cash flow is visible and relatively safe, in our view, as is the ability to grow the dividend. Price target raised to $84 from $82."

For an analyst ratings summary and ratings history on Ventas click here. For more ratings news on Ventas click here.

Shares of Ventas closed at $76.16 yesterday.