Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG) Given Consensus Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts

Shares of Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG) have received a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the ten brokerages that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1 year price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $201.89.

Several research firms have recently issued reports on LNG. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target on Cheniere Energy from $208.00 to $204.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, August 9th. Bank of America initiated coverage on shares of Cheniere Energy in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $215.00 target price on the stock. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Cheniere Energy from $199.00 to $202.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 15th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on Cheniere Energy from $201.00 to $217.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, TD Cowen lifted their target price on Cheniere Energy from $192.00 to $202.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th.

Cheniere Energy Price Performance

Shares of LNG opened at $214.11 on Friday. Cheniere Energy has a fifty-two week low of $152.31 and a fifty-two week high of $217.95. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $185.21 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $175.19. The stock has a market cap of $48.04 billion, a PE ratio of 13.67 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.41, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a current ratio of 1.07.

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The energy company reported $3.93 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.87 by $2.06. The company had revenue of $3.76 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.76 billion. Cheniere Energy had a return on equity of 41.44% and a net margin of 22.70%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was down 9.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.37 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Cheniere Energy will post 11.26 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Cheniere Energy Cuts Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 18th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 8th will be paid a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 8th. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.93%. Cheniere Energy’s dividend payout ratio is currently 11.11%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Cheniere Energy

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Sei Investments Co. grew its holdings in Cheniere Energy by 6.7% during the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 187,236 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $30,198,000 after purchasing an additional 11,800 shares during the period. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC increased its holdings in Cheniere Energy by 215.7% in the 2nd quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 62,551 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $10,936,000 after acquiring an additional 42,737 shares in the last quarter. Silvercrest Asset Management Group LLC bought a new stake in Cheniere Energy during the 1st quarter worth approximately $818,000. M&G PLC lifted its holdings in Cheniere Energy by 21.0% during the third quarter. M&G PLC now owns 268,834 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $48,390,000 after purchasing an additional 46,602 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System boosted its position in shares of Cheniere Energy by 10.0% in the first quarter. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System now owns 270,185 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $42,581,000 after purchasing an additional 24,498 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 87.26% of the company’s stock.

Cheniere Energy Company Profile

Cheniere Energy, Inc, an energy infrastructure company, primarily engages in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) related businesses in the United States. It owns and operates the Sabine Pass LNG terminal in Cameron Parish, Louisiana; and the Corpus Christi LNG terminal near Corpus Christi, Texas. The company also owns Creole Trail pipeline, a 94-mile natural gas supply pipeline that interconnects the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal with several interstate and intrastate pipelines; and operates Corpus Christi pipeline, a 21.5-mile natural gas supply pipeline that interconnects the Corpus Christi LNG terminal with various interstate and intrastate natural gas pipelines.