Morningstar Investment Management LLC Acquires Shares of 7,074 Cheniere Energy, Inc. $LNG

Key Points

• Morningstar Investment Management LLC has acquired a new stake of 7,074 shares in Cheniere Energy, valued at approximately $1.7 million, during the second quarter.
• Cheniere Energy reported $7.30 earnings per share for the last quarter, significantly exceeding the consensus estimate of $2.35, with a revenue increase of 42.8% year-over-year.
• Analysts have given Cheniere Energy a consensus rating of "Buy" with a target price of $263.60, reflecting a positive outlook for the company’s stock.

Morningstar Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG - Free Report) during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 7,074 shares of the energy company's stock, valued at approximately $1,723,000.

Other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. boosted its holdings in Cheniere Energy by 134.1% during the second quarter. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. now owns 103 shares of the energy company's stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares in the last quarter. Hilltop National Bank acquired a new stake in Cheniere Energy during the second quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Richardson Financial Services Inc. acquired a new stake in Cheniere Energy during the second quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Cooksen Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Cheniere Energy during the first quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Finally, WPG Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in Cheniere Energy during the first quarter valued at approximately $38,000. 87.26% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Cheniere Energy Stock Performance

LNG stock opened at $227.04 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.96, a current ratio of 0.98 and a quick ratio of 0.85. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $235.03 and a 200 day moving average price of $232.99. Cheniere Energy, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $180.62 and a fifty-two week high of $257.65. The stock has a market capitalization of $49.90 billion, a PE ratio of 13.25 and a beta of 0.37.

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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 net margin of 21.05% and a return on equity of 37.83%. The firm had revenue of $4.64 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.48 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $3.84 EPS. Cheniere Energy's revenue was up 42.8% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts forecast that Cheniere Energy, Inc. will post 11.69 EPS for the current year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on LNG shares. Cowen reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of Cheniere Energy in a report on Friday, August 8th. Bank of America lifted their target price on shares of Cheniere Energy from $258.00 to $271.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 25th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of Cheniere Energy from $267.00 to $284.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 12th. Mizuho lifted their target price on shares of Cheniere Energy from $268.00 to $273.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, August 29th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage on shares of Cheniere Energy in a research note on Friday, September 19th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $268.00 target price for the company. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have assigned a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Cheniere Energy has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $263.60.

Cheniere Energy 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.

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