Sandler Capital Management Lowers Stake in Cheniere Energy, Inc. $LNG

Key Points

• Sandler Capital Management decreased its stake in Cheniere Energy, Inc. by 18.6% during the first quarter, now holding 27,088 shares worth approximately $6.27 million.
• Cheniere Energy reported earnings of $7.30 per share, significantly exceeding analyst expectations of $2.35, contributing to a revenue increase of 42.8% year-over-year.
• Wall Street analysts have mixed ratings on Cheniere Energy, with the stock holding a consensus rating of "Buy" and a target price of $263.29, while one analyst lowered the rating to a "hold."

Sandler Capital Management lessened its holdings in shares of Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG - Free Report) by 18.6% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 27,088 shares of the energy company's stock after selling 6,198 shares during the period. Cheniere Energy comprises approximately 1.6% of Sandler Capital Management's investment portfolio, making the stock its 13th biggest position. Sandler Capital Management's holdings in Cheniere Energy were worth $6,268,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. REAP Financial Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Cheniere Energy by 150.0% in the fourth quarter. REAP Financial Group LLC now owns 125 shares of the energy company's stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares during the period. Cooksen Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Cheniere Energy in the first quarter valued at approximately $38,000. WPG Advisers LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Cheniere Energy in the first quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Ameriflex Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Cheniere Energy in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $42,000. Finally, Tsfg LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Cheniere Energy by 676.0% in the first quarter. Tsfg LLC now owns 194 shares of the energy company's stock valued at $45,000 after purchasing an additional 169 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.26% of the company's stock.

Cheniere Energy Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE LNG traded up $0.83 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $234.22. The stock had a trading volume of 1,264,898 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,535,325. 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 company has a 50 day moving average of $235.23 and a two-hundred day moving average of $230.95. Cheniere Energy, Inc. has a twelve month low of $175.14 and a twelve month high of $257.65. The firm has a market cap of $51.47 billion, a PE ratio of 13.67 and a beta of 0.43.

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG - Get Free Report) last announced 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. The company had revenue of $4.64 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate 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% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $3.84 EPS. Research analysts predict that Cheniere Energy, Inc. will post 11.69 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Cheniere Energy Dividend Announcement

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

LNG has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group set a $288.00 target price on Cheniere Energy and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, June 26th. Bank of America upped their target price on Cheniere Energy from $258.00 to $271.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, June 25th. Mizuho upped their price target on Cheniere Energy from $268.00 to $273.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, August 29th. 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 research report on Tuesday, August 12th. Finally, 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. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $263.29.

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.