Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG) Shares Sold by Dalton Investments Inc.

Key Points

• Dalton Investments Inc. reduced its holdings in Cheniere Energy by 23.2%, now owning 11,942 shares valued at approximately $2.76 million after selling 3,600 shares in the first quarter.
• Cheniere Energy reported a significant earnings beat with $7.30 EPS for the last quarter, exceeding expectations of $2.35, alongside a revenue of $4.64 billion.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.50 per share, with a yield of 0.9%, and a payout ratio of 11.68% as of the latest announcement.

Dalton Investments Inc. decreased its stake in Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG - Free Report) by 23.2% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 11,942 shares of the energy company's stock after selling 3,600 shares during the period. Cheniere Energy makes up 1.5% of Dalton Investments Inc.'s portfolio, making the stock its 11th biggest position. Dalton Investments Inc.'s holdings in Cheniere Energy were worth $2,763,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of LNG. REAP Financial Group LLC raised its stake in Cheniere Energy by 150.0% during the fourth quarter. REAP Financial Group LLC now owns 125 shares of the energy company's stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Banque Transatlantique SA acquired a new stake in Cheniere Energy during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Cooksen Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Cheniere Energy during the first quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Ameriflex Group Inc. acquired a new stake in Cheniere Energy during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $42,000. Finally, Tsfg LLC raised its stake in Cheniere Energy by 676.0% during the first quarter. Tsfg LLC now owns 194 shares of the energy company's stock valued at $45,000 after buying an additional 169 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.26% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have issued reports on LNG. Cowen restated a "buy" rating on shares of Cheniere Energy in a research note on Friday, August 8th. Raymond James Financial restated a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Cheniere Energy in a research note on Wednesday, April 23rd. Barclays reiterated an "overweight" rating and set a $262.00 price target (up from $253.00) on shares of Cheniere Energy in a research report on Tuesday, July 15th. Bank of America increased their price target on Cheniere Energy from $258.00 to $271.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 25th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group set a $288.00 price target on Cheniere Energy and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, June 26th. 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. According to data from MarketBeat, Cheniere Energy currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $261.93.

Cheniere Energy Stock Performance

LNG traded up $1.55 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $232.84. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,067,161 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,125,675. Cheniere Energy, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $175.14 and a fifty-two week high of $257.65. The company has a current ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.96. The firm has a market capitalization of $51.17 billion, a PE ratio of 13.59 and a beta of 0.43. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $235.08 and a 200 day simple moving average of $228.79.

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, beating the consensus estimate of $2.35 by $4.95. Cheniere Energy had a return on equity of 37.83% and a net margin of 21.05%. The firm had revenue of $4.64 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.48 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $3.84 EPS. The firm's revenue was up 42.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Cheniere Energy, Inc. will post 11.69 EPS for the current year.

Cheniere Energy Announces Dividend

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

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.