Energy Income Partners LLC Reduces Holdings in Cheniere Energy, Inc. $LNG

Key Points

• Energy Income Partners LLC has reduced its stake in Cheniere Energy by 5.1%, owning now approximately 0.18% of the company, valued at $91.37 million.
• Cheniere Energy recently reported $7.30 earnings per share for the quarter, significantly exceeding analysts' estimates, with revenue growth of 42.8% compared to the previous year.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.50, representing an annualized yield of 0.8%, with a payout ratio of 11.68%.

Energy Income Partners LLC lowered its position in Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG - Free Report) by 5.1% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 394,856 shares of the energy company's stock after selling 21,051 shares during the period. Cheniere Energy comprises about 1.7% of Energy Income Partners LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 16th largest position. Energy Income Partners LLC owned about 0.18% of Cheniere Energy worth $91,370,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in LNG. American Century Companies Inc. increased its holdings in Cheniere Energy by 27.6% during the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,304,253 shares of the energy company's stock worth $301,804,000 after buying an additional 282,050 shares during the last quarter. Thompson Davis & CO. Inc. purchased a new stake in Cheniere Energy during the first quarter worth about $529,000. Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors LP increased its holdings in Cheniere Energy by 7.6% during the first quarter. Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors LP now owns 1,494,901 shares of the energy company's stock worth $345,920,000 after buying an additional 105,875 shares during the last quarter. Fractal Investments LLC increased its holdings in Cheniere Energy by 27.7% during the first quarter. Fractal Investments LLC now owns 75,585 shares of the energy company's stock worth $17,490,000 after buying an additional 16,385 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd increased its holdings in Cheniere Energy by 7.5% during the first quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd now owns 23,505 shares of the energy company's stock worth $5,439,000 after buying an additional 1,630 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.26% of the company's stock.

Cheniere Energy Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE LNG traded down $2.08 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $237.31. 1,754,404 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,079,493. Cheniere Energy, Inc. has a 1 year low of $175.14 and a 1 year high of $257.65. The stock has a market capitalization of $52.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.85 and a beta of 0.43. 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 fifty day moving average of $235.64 and a 200 day moving average of $230.42.

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, topping 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 business had revenue of $4.64 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.48 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $3.84 EPS. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 42.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that Cheniere Energy, Inc. will post 11.69 earnings per share for the current year.

Cheniere Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, August 18th. Investors of record on Friday, August 8th were given a $0.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date was 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 (DPR) is currently 11.68%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group set a $288.00 target price on shares of Cheniere Energy and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, June 26th. Cowen reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of Cheniere Energy in a research note on Friday, August 8th. Mizuho raised their price objective on shares of Cheniere Energy from $268.00 to $273.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, August 29th. TD Cowen lifted their target price on shares of Cheniere Energy from $265.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, August 8th. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Cheniere Energy from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, May 9th. One 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 company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $263.29.

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.