Jump Financial LLC Trims Position in Cheniere Energy, Inc. $LNG

Key Points

• Jump Financial LLC has reduced its holdings in Cheniere Energy, Inc. by 29.4% in the first quarter, now owning 9,764 shares valued at $2.26 million.
• Barclays has upgraded its target price for Cheniere Energy shares to $262.00, while the consensus rating among analysts is a Buy.
• Cheniere Energy reported a 42.8% increase in revenue year-over-year for the latest quarter, with earnings per share dramatically exceeding analysts' expectations.

Jump Financial LLC cut its holdings in shares of Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG - Free Report) by 29.4% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 9,764 shares of the energy company's stock after selling 4,070 shares during the period. Jump Financial LLC's holdings in Cheniere Energy were worth $2,259,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of LNG. Nuveen LLC purchased a new position in Cheniere Energy during the first quarter valued at approximately $294,793,000. Two Sigma Advisers LP grew its stake in shares of Cheniere Energy by 84.6% during the 4th quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 1,651,500 shares of the energy company's stock worth $354,858,000 after purchasing an additional 756,900 shares during the period. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increased its holdings in shares of Cheniere Energy by 12.9% during 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. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Cheniere Energy by 346.6% during the 1st quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 568,627 shares of the energy company's stock valued at $131,580,000 after purchasing an additional 441,296 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted 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 during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.26% of the company's stock.

Cheniere Energy Price Performance

Shares of Cheniere Energy stock traded down $0.50 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $241.64. 1,655,524 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,748,588. The stock has a market capitalization of $53.11 billion, a PE ratio of 14.11 and a beta of 0.43. The business has a 50-day moving average of $235.39 and a 200 day moving average of $229.95. 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 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 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.35 by $4.95. The firm had revenue of $4.64 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.48 billion. Cheniere Energy had a return on equity of 37.83% and a net margin of 21.05%.The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 42.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $3.84 earnings per share. On average, analysts predict that Cheniere Energy, Inc. will post 11.69 EPS for the current year.

Cheniere Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, August 18th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 8th were paid a $0.50 dividend. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 8th. Cheniere Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 11.68%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms recently commented on LNG. Cowen restated a "buy" rating on shares of Cheniere Energy in a research report on Friday, August 8th. Bank of America increased their target price on shares of Cheniere Energy from $258.00 to $271.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 25th. Barclays restated an "overweight" rating and set a $262.00 target price (up from $253.00) on shares of Cheniere Energy in a research report on Tuesday, July 15th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Cheniere Energy from $267.00 to $284.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, August 12th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group set a $288.00 price objective on Cheniere Energy and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, June 26th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have given a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Cheniere Energy has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $263.29.

Insider Buying and Selling at Cheniere Energy

In related news, Director Neal A. Shear sold 4,300 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated 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 transaction, the director directly owned 29,733 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,312,236.69. The trade was a 12.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.26% of the company's stock.

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.