Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG) Stake Raised by IFP Advisors Inc

IFP Advisors Inc increased its position in Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG - Free Report) by 139.9% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 12,214 shares of the energy company's stock after purchasing an additional 7,123 shares during the period. IFP Advisors Inc's holdings in Cheniere Energy were worth $2,827,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd grew its stake in Cheniere Energy by 7.5% during the 1st 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. Martin Investment Management LLC grew its stake in Cheniere Energy by 615.4% during the 4th quarter. Martin Investment Management LLC now owns 28,223 shares of the energy company's stock worth $6,064,000 after buying an additional 24,278 shares during the last quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. grew its stake in Cheniere Energy by 3.8% during the 4th quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 37,378 shares of the energy company's stock worth $8,032,000 after buying an additional 1,359 shares during the last quarter. LPL Financial LLC grew its stake in Cheniere Energy by 27.0% during the 4th quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 293,201 shares of the energy company's stock worth $63,000,000 after buying an additional 62,338 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Gateway Investment Advisers LLC grew its stake in Cheniere Energy by 6.7% during the 1st quarter. Gateway Investment Advisers LLC now owns 51,781 shares of the energy company's stock worth $11,982,000 after buying an additional 3,252 shares during the last quarter. 87.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Cheniere Energy Price Performance

Shares of Cheniere Energy stock traded up $0.09 during trading on Friday, hitting $225.89. The stock had a trading volume of 498,588 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,136,594. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.24, a current ratio of 1.19 and a quick ratio of 1.06. The firm has a market cap of $50.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.52 and a beta of 0.42. The business has a fifty day moving average of $235.22 and a two-hundred day moving average of $229.16. Cheniere Energy, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $167.66 and a fifty-two week high of $257.65.

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The energy company reported $1.57 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.81 by ($1.24). The company 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%. Cheniere Energy's quarterly revenue was up 28.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.13 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Cheniere Energy, Inc. will post 11.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Cheniere Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 18th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 8th will be issued a $0.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 8th. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.89%. Cheniere Energy's dividend payout ratio is currently 14.63%.

Insider Activity

In other Cheniere Energy news, Director Neal A. Shear sold 4,300 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on 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 transaction, the director owned 29,733 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $7,312,236.69. This represents a 12.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.26% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

LNG has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Jefferies Financial Group set a $288.00 price objective on Cheniere Energy and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, June 26th. Wells Fargo & Company set a $267.00 price target on Cheniere Energy and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, June 25th. Cowen reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of Cheniere Energy in a report on Wednesday, June 25th. Barclays reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and set a $262.00 price target (up previously from $253.00) on shares of Cheniere Energy in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. Finally, Bank of America lifted their price target on Cheniere Energy from $258.00 to $271.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, June 25th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Cheniere Energy currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $260.36.

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.