National Pension Service Has $73.76 Million Stock Position in Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG)

Key Points

• The National Pension Service has reduced its position in Cheniere Energy, owning 319,374 shares worth approximately $73.76 million, a reduction of 5.4%.
• Cheniere Energy reported impressive quarterly earnings with an EPS of $7.30, significantly exceeding analysts' expectations of $2.35.
• The recent quarterly dividend announced is $0.50 per share, with a yield of 0.9% and a payout ratio of 11.68%.

National Pension Service lessened its position in Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG - Free Report) by 5.4% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 319,374 shares of the energy company's stock after selling 18,159 shares during the period. National Pension Service owned 0.14% of Cheniere Energy worth $73,756,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in LNG. Nuveen LLC acquired a new position in Cheniere Energy during the 1st quarter worth approximately $294,793,000. Two Sigma Advisers LP raised its stake in shares of Cheniere Energy by 84.6% in the fourth 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 last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA raised its stake in shares of Cheniere Energy by 12.9% in the first quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 4,660,545 shares of the energy company's stock worth $1,078,450,000 after purchasing an additional 534,033 shares during the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Cheniere Energy by 346.6% in the first quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 568,627 shares of the energy company's stock worth $131,580,000 after purchasing an additional 441,296 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Cheniere Energy by 12.7% in the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 3,185,605 shares of the energy company's stock worth $737,149,000 after purchasing an additional 359,435 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 87.26% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions at Cheniere Energy

In related 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 completion of the sale, the director owned 29,733 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $7,312,236.69. This trade 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 the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.26% of the company's stock.

Cheniere Energy Price Performance

Cheniere Energy stock opened at $232.84 on Friday. Cheniere Energy, Inc. has a one year low of $175.14 and a one year high of $257.65. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $234.86 and a 200-day moving average price of $228.85. 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 firm has a market capitalization of $51.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.59 and a beta of 0.43.

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 7th. The energy company reported $7.30 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates 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 during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.48 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $3.84 earnings per share. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 42.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Cheniere Energy, Inc. will post 11.69 EPS for the current year.

Cheniere Energy Dividend Announcement

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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have recently commented on LNG shares. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Cheniere Energy from $267.00 to $284.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday. Raymond James Financial reissued a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Cheniere Energy in a research note on Wednesday, April 23rd. Jefferies Financial Group set a $288.00 price target on Cheniere Energy and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, June 26th. Barclays reaffirmed 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. Finally, TD Cowen increased their price target on Cheniere Energy from $265.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, August 8th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Cheniere Energy presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $261.93.

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.

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