AQR Capital Management LLC Has $130.12 Million Stock Holdings in Cheniere Energy, Inc. $LNG

Key Points

• AQR Capital Management significantly increased its stake in Cheniere Energy by 188.7%, acquiring an additional 375,400 shares, bringing its total holdings to approximately $130.1 million.
• Cheniere Energy recently reported earnings of $7.30 per share, exceeding analysts' expectations and indicating a 42.8% year-over-year revenue growth.
• Several analysts have raised their price targets for Cheniere Energy, with Wells Fargo increasing its target from $267 to $284 and others maintaining a consensus rating of "Buy" with an average price target of $263.29.

AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG - Free Report) by 188.7% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 574,310 shares of the energy company's stock after acquiring an additional 375,400 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC owned approximately 0.26% of Cheniere Energy worth $130,121,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Altman Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of Cheniere Energy by 0.4% during the first quarter. Altman Advisors Inc. now owns 10,162 shares of the energy company's stock worth $2,348,000 after acquiring an additional 43 shares in the last quarter. Greenleaf Trust boosted its holdings in Cheniere Energy by 1.1% during the first quarter. Greenleaf Trust now owns 4,212 shares of the energy company's stock worth $975,000 after purchasing an additional 46 shares during the last quarter. Hemington Wealth Management boosted its holdings in Cheniere Energy by 14.0% during the first quarter. Hemington Wealth Management now owns 390 shares of the energy company's stock worth $90,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares during the last quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group boosted its holdings in Cheniere Energy by 5.0% during the first quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 1,007 shares of the energy company's stock worth $233,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Venturi Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Cheniere Energy by 4.0% during the first quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,356 shares of the energy company's stock worth $314,000 after purchasing an additional 52 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 87.26% of the company's stock.

Cheniere Energy Stock Performance

LNG traded up $3.40 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $236.79. The company's stock had a trading volume of 456,954 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,070,492. Cheniere Energy, Inc. has a 52 week low of $175.14 and a 52 week high of $257.65. The company's 50-day moving average is $235.27 and its 200-day moving average is $230.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.96, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 0.98. The firm has a market cap of $52.04 billion, a PE ratio of 13.82 and a beta of 0.43.

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 7th. The energy company reported $7.30 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.35 by $4.95. Cheniere Energy had a return on equity of 37.83% and a net margin of 21.05%.The business had revenue of $4.64 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.48 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $3.84 EPS. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 42.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that Cheniere Energy, Inc. will post 11.69 EPS for the current year.

Cheniere Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, August 18th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 8th were paid a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 8th. Cheniere Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 11.68%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

LNG has been the subject of several recent research reports. TD Cowen increased their target price on shares of Cheniere Energy from $265.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, August 8th. Barclays restated an "overweight" rating and set a $262.00 target price (up previously from $253.00) on shares of Cheniere Energy in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. Jefferies Financial Group set a $288.00 target price on shares of Cheniere Energy and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, June 26th. Bank of America lifted their price objective on shares of Cheniere Energy from $258.00 to $271.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 25th. Finally, Cowen reissued a "buy" rating on shares of Cheniere Energy in a research report on Friday, August 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have given a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Cheniere Energy has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $263.29.

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.