Golar LNG Limited (NASDAQ:GLNG) Given Average Recommendation of "Buy" by Analysts

Key Points

• Golar LNG Limited (NASDAQ:GLNG) has received an average recommendation of "Buy" from five ratings firms, with the average 12-month target price set at $51.50.
• The company reported $0.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the recent quarter, missing analysts' estimates of $0.29 EPS, and had revenue of $75.67 million.
• Golar LNG recently announced a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share, representing a 2.5% yield, with a significant dividend payout ratio of 3,333.33%.

Shares of Golar LNG Limited (NASDAQ:GLNG - Get Free Report) have been given an average recommendation of "Buy" by the five ratings firms that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy recommendation and two have given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month target price among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $51.50.

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on GLNG shares. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Golar LNG from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday. Dnb Nor Markets raised shares of Golar LNG from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 22nd. BTIG Research reissued a "buy" rating on shares of Golar LNG in a research note on Wednesday, May 28th. Finally, DNB Markets raised shares of Golar LNG from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $48.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 22nd.

Golar LNG Trading Up 0.1%

Shares of Golar LNG stock opened at $40.41 on Friday. Golar LNG has a 12-month low of $29.56 and a 12-month high of $44.36. The company has a current ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38. The stock has a market cap of $4.22 billion, a PE ratio of -577.20 and a beta of 0.56. The company has a 50-day moving average of $41.14 and a two-hundred day moving average of $39.34.

Golar LNG (NASDAQ:GLNG - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, August 14th. The shipping company reported $0.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.29 by ($0.03). Golar LNG had a negative net margin of 2.83% and a positive return on equity of 6.25%. The company had revenue of $75.67 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $79.37 million. On average, research analysts anticipate that Golar LNG will post 1.39 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Golar LNG Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 2nd. Investors of record on Tuesday, August 26th will be given a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, August 26th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.5%. Golar LNG's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 3,333.33%.

Institutional Trading of Golar LNG

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC boosted its position in Golar LNG by 256.7% during the first quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 9,050 shares of the shipping company's stock worth $344,000 after acquiring an additional 6,513 shares during the last quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN boosted its holdings in shares of Golar LNG by 7.8% in the 4th quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 120,200 shares of the shipping company's stock valued at $5,087,000 after purchasing an additional 8,654 shares during the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Golar LNG by 8,554.0% during the 1st quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 8,654 shares of the shipping company's stock valued at $321,000 after acquiring an additional 8,554 shares in the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Golar LNG by 20.2% during the 1st quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 6,561 shares of the shipping company's stock valued at $249,000 after acquiring an additional 1,103 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mariner LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Golar LNG by 7.4% during the 4th quarter. Mariner LLC now owns 5,995 shares of the shipping company's stock valued at $254,000 after acquiring an additional 414 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.21% of the company's stock.

About Golar LNG

Golar LNG Limited designs, converts, owns, and operates marine infrastructure for the liquefaction of natural gas. The company operates through three segments: FLNG, Corporate and Other, and Shipping. It engages in the regasification, storage, and offloading of liquefied natural gas (LNG); operation of floating liquefaction natural gas (FLNG) vessels or projects; transportation of LNG carriers; and vessel management activities.

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