Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG) Shares Sold by Prudential PLC

Key Points

• Prudential PLC has reduced its holdings in Cheniere Energy, Inc. by 34.9%, now owning approximately 36,315 shares valued at $8,403,000.
• Cheniere Energy reported a significant earnings surprise for the last quarter, with $7.30 EPS compared to analysts' estimates of $2.35, and a 42.8% year-over-year revenue increase.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.50, equating to an annual yield of 0.9%, with a low dividend payout ratio of 11.68%.

Prudential PLC lessened its position in shares of Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG - Free Report) by 34.9% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 36,315 shares of the energy company's stock after selling 19,456 shares during the period. Prudential PLC's holdings in Cheniere Energy were worth $8,403,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of LNG. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Cheniere Energy by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 20,937,749 shares of the energy company's stock worth $4,844,995,000 after buying an additional 54,801 shares during the last quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company boosted its stake in shares of Cheniere Energy by 4.5% in the 4th quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 5,681,846 shares of the energy company's stock valued at $1,220,858,000 after purchasing an additional 243,418 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its stake in shares of Cheniere Energy by 12.9% in the 1st quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 4,660,545 shares of the energy company's stock valued at $1,078,450,000 after purchasing an additional 534,033 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Cheniere Energy by 7.9% in the 1st quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 3,492,443 shares of the energy company's stock valued at $808,151,000 after purchasing an additional 255,140 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Cheniere Energy by 12.7% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 3,185,605 shares of the energy company's stock valued at $737,149,000 after purchasing an additional 359,435 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 87.26% of the company's stock.

Cheniere Energy Stock Performance

Shares of Cheniere Energy stock traded down $2.32 on Friday, reaching $230.31. 1,268,772 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,120,150. Cheniere Energy, Inc. has a twelve month low of $175.14 and a twelve month high of $257.65. The firm has a market capitalization of $50.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.44 and a beta of 0.43. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $234.86 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $228.85. The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.96.

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 7th. The energy company reported $7.30 earnings per share for the quarter, topping 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 company had revenue of $4.64 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.48 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $3.84 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 42.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Cheniere Energy, Inc. will post 11.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Cheniere Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 18th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 8th will be paid a $0.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 8th. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.9%. Cheniere Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 11.68%.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Neal A. Shear sold 4,300 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $245.93, for a total value of $1,057,499.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 29,733 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,312,236.69. This trade represents a 12.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 0.26% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Scotiabank reaffirmed an "outperform" rating on shares of Cheniere Energy in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. Barclays restated an "overweight" rating and issued a $262.00 price target (up previously from $253.00) on shares of Cheniere Energy in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. Wolfe Research cut shares of Cheniere Energy from an "outperform" rating to a "peer perform" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of Cheniere Energy from $252.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut shares of Cheniere Energy from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, May 9th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Cheniere Energy has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $261.93.

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.