Venture Global, Inc. (NYSE:VG) Receives Consensus Rating of "Moderate Buy" from Brokerages

Key Points

• Analysts hold a moderately bullish view: Sixteen analysts rate Venture Global a consensus “Moderate Buy,” with eight buys, seven holds and one strong buy. The average 12-month price target is $16.13.
• Recent financial and shareholder updates were positive: The company slightly exceeded quarterly EPS estimates, reported $4.58 billion in revenue and doubled its quarterly dividend to $0.04 per share.
• Insider selling remains a potential concern: Company insiders sold approximately 2.38 million shares worth $33.6 million over the past three months, despite insiders still owning 84.24% of the stock.

Shares of Venture Global, Inc. (NYSE:VG - Get Free Report) have been given an average recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by the sixteen analysts that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $16.1333.

A number of research firms recently weighed in on VG. Raymond James Financial reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $16.00 price objective on shares of Venture Global in a research report on Wednesday, May 20th. Mizuho boosted their target price on Venture Global from $13.00 to $15.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 22nd. US Capital Advisors set a $13.00 target price on Venture Global in a research note on Friday, May 29th. Weiss Ratings downgraded Venture Global from a "hold (c)" rating to a "hold (c-)" rating in a report on Monday, July 20th. Finally, Scotiabank lifted their price target on Venture Global from $15.00 to $16.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Thursday, September 10th.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CFO Jonathan W. Thayer sold 111,111 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $13.86, for a total transaction of $1,539,998.46. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, VP Fory Musser sold 447,534 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $14.02, for a total transaction of $6,274,426.68. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last three months, insiders sold 2,382,442 shares of company stock valued at $33,642,249. 84.24% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Venture Global

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in VG. Ancora Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Venture Global by 3.8% during the second quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC now owns 27,000 shares of the company's stock valued at $301,000 after purchasing an additional 1,000 shares in the last quarter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC increased its holdings in Venture Global by 8.8% in the 1st quarter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC now owns 12,429 shares of the company's stock worth $196,000 after buying an additional 1,004 shares in the last quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc increased its holdings in Venture Global by 67.5% in the 1st quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 4,480 shares of the company's stock worth $71,000 after buying an additional 1,805 shares in the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada lifted its stake in Venture Global by 2.5% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 78,310 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,235,000 after acquiring an additional 1,893 shares during the period. Finally, LRI Investments LLC bought a new position in Venture Global during the 2nd quarter valued at about $28,000.

Venture Global Price Performance

Shares of VG opened at $15.29 on Wednesday. Venture Global has a fifty-two week low of $5.72 and a fifty-two week high of $17.62. The firm's 50-day simple moving average is $13.92 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $13.20. The stock has a market cap of $38.23 billion, a PE ratio of 12.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.61 and a beta of 0.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.44, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.19.

Venture Global (NYSE:VG - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Monday, August 10th. The company reported $0.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.50 by $0.01. Venture Global had a net margin of 21.24% and a return on equity of 34.08%. The firm had revenue of $4.58 billion during the quarter. Analysts anticipate that Venture Global will post 1.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Venture Global Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.04 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 15th. This represents a $0.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.0%. This is an increase from Venture Global's previous quarterly dividend of $0.02. Venture Global's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 5.51%.

Key Venture Global News

Here are the key news stories impacting Venture Global this week:

• Positive Sentiment: D.E. Shaw reports a 5.4% passive stake: The investment firm disclosed a substantial passive position in Venture Global, potentially improving investor sentiment and signaling institutional interest in the LNG exporter. D.E. Shaw discloses a 5.4% passive stake in Venture Global
• Positive Sentiment: New 20-year China Gas agreement: China Gas Holdings will purchase 0.5 million tonnes per annum of U.S. LNG from Venture Global beginning in 2030. The deal adds contracted volume, strengthens long-term revenue visibility and expands the company’s customer base in China. China Gas signs a 20-year LNG import deal with U.S.-based Venture Global
• Positive Sentiment: Nearly 50 MTPA under long-term contracts: Venture Global’s CEO said approximately 50 MTPA of production is committed through 20-year contracts, underscoring substantial future demand coverage as export capacity expands. Venture Global commits about 50 MTPA of LNG production to 20-year contracts
• Positive Sentiment: Improving LNG market outlook: Strengthening gas markets could support Venture Global’s pricing and earnings outlook, with the company viewed as potentially positioned to raise guidance again. QatarEnergy’s search for replacement U.S. LNG supplies may also provide an industry-wide demand tailwind, although no specific Venture Global award was announced. Venture Global: Gas Markets Strengthen, Guidance Poised To Rise Again
• Positive Sentiment: Dividend increased: Venture Global’s quarterly dividend was raised to $0.04 per share from $0.02, providing a $0.16 annualized payout and modestly improving shareholder returns.
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst view remains cautious: Scotiabank maintained a “Sector Perform” rating and a $16 price target. Its EPS estimates are $1.75 for fiscal 2026 and $1.27 for fiscal 2027, compared with the current-year consensus estimate of $1.68. Venture Global analyst estimates
• Negative Sentiment: COO sells shares: Chief Operating Officer Brian Cothran sold 152,660 shares at an average price of $16.15, worth approximately $2.47 million. While one insider sale is not conclusive, it can create a near-term sentiment overhang. SEC insider transaction filing

Venture Global Company Profile

Venture Global, Inc is a liquefied natural gas (LNG) company that develops, constructs and operates LNG export facilities in the United States. The company sources natural gas from domestic markets, liquefies it at its coastal facilities and supplies LNG to customers in international markets.

Venture Global's operating and development portfolio is concentrated along the U.S. Gulf Coast. Its Calcasieu Pass LNG facility in Louisiana has entered commercial operations, while its Plaquemines LNG project in Louisiana is being developed and brought into service.

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