Federation des caisses Desjardins du Quebec Increases Stake in Cheniere Energy, Inc. $LNG

Key Points

• The Federation des caisses Desjardins du Quebec increased its position in Cheniere Energy by 41.6% during the first quarter, holding a total of 30,726 shares valued at $7.11 million.
• Cheniere Energy reported earnings of $7.30 per share for the latest quarter, significantly surpassing estimates of $2.35, and noted a revenue increase of 42.8% year-over-year.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.50, representing an annualized yield of 0.8%, with a low dividend payout ratio of 11.68%.

Federation des caisses Desjardins du Quebec grew its holdings in shares of Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG - Free Report) by 41.6% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 30,726 shares of the energy company's stock after buying an additional 9,028 shares during the quarter. Federation des caisses Desjardins du Quebec's holdings in Cheniere Energy were worth $7,111,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in LNG. Brighton Jones LLC bought a new position in Cheniere Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $335,000. AXA S.A. lifted its holdings in shares of Cheniere Energy by 8.0% during the fourth quarter. AXA S.A. now owns 31,816 shares of the energy company's stock worth $6,836,000 after purchasing an additional 2,369 shares during the period. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Cheniere Energy by 161.0% during the fourth quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,406 shares of the energy company's stock worth $732,000 after purchasing an additional 2,101 shares during the period. Baird Financial Group Inc. raised its stake in Cheniere Energy by 34.9% during the fourth quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 85,244 shares of the energy company's stock worth $18,316,000 after buying an additional 22,055 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cary Street Partners Financial LLC bought a new position in Cheniere Energy during the fourth quarter worth $181,000. 87.26% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Cheniere Energy Trading Down 0.9%

Shares of LNG stock traded down $2.17 on Monday, hitting $233.61. 1,714,432 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,078,041. The stock has a market capitalization of $51.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.64 and a beta of 0.43. Cheniere Energy, Inc. has a one year low of $175.14 and a one year high of $257.65. 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 company's fifty day simple moving average is $235.47 and its 200 day simple moving average is $230.84.

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

Cheniere Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, August 18th. Investors of record on Friday, August 8th were paid a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 8th. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.9%. Cheniere Energy's dividend payout ratio is presently 11.68%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on LNG shares. Scotiabank reaffirmed an "outperform" rating on shares of Cheniere Energy in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. TD Cowen lifted their price objective on shares of Cheniere Energy from $265.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, August 8th. Barclays reiterated an "overweight" rating and set a $262.00 price objective (up from $253.00) on shares of Cheniere Energy in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. Jefferies Financial Group set a $288.00 price objective on shares of Cheniere Energy and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, June 26th. Finally, Cowen reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of Cheniere Energy in a report on Friday, August 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have given a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $263.29.

Cheniere Energy 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.