Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank Has $12.71 Million Stock Holdings in Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG)

Key Points

• Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank reduced its stake in Cheniere Energy by 5.3%, holding 54,907 shares valued at approximately $12.7 million.
• Cheniere Energy reported earnings per share of $1.57, missing estimates of $2.81, while achieving a revenue of $5.44 billion for the quarter.
• The company has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.50 per share with a payout ratio of 14.63% and a dividend yield of 0.85%.

Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank cut its holdings in Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG - Free Report) by 5.3% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 54,907 shares of the energy company's stock after selling 3,072 shares during the quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank's holdings in Cheniere Energy were worth $12,705,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Brighton Jones LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Cheniere Energy in the fourth quarter valued at about $335,000. New Age Alpha Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Cheniere Energy during the fourth quarter worth $48,000. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC raised its holdings in shares of Cheniere Energy by 5.1% in the fourth quarter. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC now owns 14,786 shares of the energy company's stock worth $3,177,000 after acquiring an additional 724 shares during the last quarter. Allianz SE acquired a new position in shares of Cheniere Energy in the fourth quarter worth $247,000. Finally, Schroder Investment Management Group lifted its position in shares of Cheniere Energy by 20.6% in the fourth quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group now owns 29,285 shares of the energy company's stock valued at $6,292,000 after acquiring an additional 5,009 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.26% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on LNG shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on shares of Cheniere Energy from $252.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, April 28th. Jefferies Financial Group set a $288.00 price target on Cheniere Energy and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, June 26th. Scotiabank restated an "outperform" rating on shares of Cheniere Energy in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. Cowen reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of Cheniere Energy in a research report on Wednesday, June 25th. Finally, Bank of America increased their target price on Cheniere Energy from $258.00 to $271.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 25th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Cheniere Energy currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $260.36.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Neal A. Shear sold 4,300 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $245.93, for a total transaction of $1,057,499.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 29,733 shares of the company's stock, valued at $7,312,236.69. This trade represents a 12.63% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.26% of the company's stock.

Cheniere Energy Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:LNG traded up $2.51 on Friday, hitting $238.39. The stock had a trading volume of 2,022,089 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,141,852. The company has a market capitalization of $52.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.44 and a beta of 0.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.24, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a current ratio of 1.19. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $235.23 and its 200-day moving average price is $229.37. Cheniere Energy, Inc. has a twelve month low of $167.66 and a twelve month high of $257.65.

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The energy company reported $1.57 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.81 by ($1.24). The business had revenue of $5.44 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.73 billion. Cheniere Energy had a net margin of 18.37% and a return on equity of 32.62%. The business's quarterly revenue was up 28.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.13 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that Cheniere Energy, Inc. will post 11.69 earnings per share for the current year.

Cheniere Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 18th. Investors of record on Friday, August 8th will be paid a $0.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 8th. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.8%. Cheniere Energy's dividend payout ratio is presently 14.63%.

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.