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

Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG) has earned a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty analysts that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, sixteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12-month target price among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $268.4667.

A number of research analysts have weighed in on LNG shares. Scotiabank decreased their target price on shares of Cheniere Energy from $261.00 to $257.00 and set a “sector outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, November 13th. Zacks Research cut Cheniere Energy from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 4th. Mizuho boosted their price objective on Cheniere Energy from $268.00 to $273.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, August 29th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Cheniere Energy in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Cowen reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Cheniere Energy in a research report on Friday, August 8th.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director W Benjamin Moreland bought 5,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 4th. The shares were bought at an average price of $208.22 per share, with a total value of $1,041,100.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 9,856 shares in the company, valued at $2,052,216.32. This trade represents a 102.97% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.26% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Cheniere Energy

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in LNG. Altman Advisors Inc. increased its stake in Cheniere Energy by 0.4% in the second quarter. Altman Advisors Inc. now owns 10,206 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $2,409,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC increased its stake in shares of Cheniere Energy by 1.5% during the 3rd quarter. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC now owns 3,268 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $768,000 after acquiring an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. Childress Capital Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Cheniere Energy by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. Childress Capital Advisors LLC now owns 5,385 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $1,265,000 after acquiring an additional 47 shares during the period. Ameriflex Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Cheniere Energy by 7.3% in the third quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. now owns 688 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $162,000 after acquiring an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Hemington Wealth Management grew its holdings in Cheniere Energy by 14.0% in the first quarter. Hemington Wealth Management now owns 390 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $90,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.26% of the company’s stock.

Cheniere Energy Stock Down 0.5%

Shares of LNG opened at $204.45 on Tuesday. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $222.02 and its 200-day moving average price is $230.62. The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.96. The company has a market capitalization of $44.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.94, a PEG ratio of 6.08 and a beta of 0.36. Cheniere Energy has a 52 week low of $188.70 and a 52 week high of $257.65.

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The energy company reported $4.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.75 by $2.00. The company had revenue of $4.44 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.87 billion. Cheniere Energy had a return on equity of 37.83% and a net margin of 21.05%.Cheniere Energy’s revenue for the quarter was up 18.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $3.93 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Cheniere Energy will post 11.69 EPS for the current year.

Cheniere Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, November 18th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 7th were paid a $0.555 dividend. This is a positive change from Cheniere Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 7th. This represents a $2.22 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.1%. Cheniere Energy’s dividend payout ratio is currently 12.37%.

About Cheniere Energy

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.