Golar LNG (NASDAQ:GLNG) Shares Gap Up - What's Next?

Key Points

• Golar LNG shares gapped higher, opening at $55.27 versus a prior close of $51.07, before trading around $52.71.
• The company reported a strong quarter, with adjusted EPS of $0.68 beating expectations and adjusted EBITDA surging 159% to $127.4 million. Golar also approved its fourth FLNG vessel, targeted for delivery by year-end 2029.
• Golar declared a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share, while analysts maintain a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating with an average price target of $58.70.

Shares of Golar LNG Limited (NASDAQ:GLNG - Get Free Report) gapped up prior to trading on Thursday . The stock had previously closed at $51.07, but opened at $55.27. Golar LNG shares last traded at $52.7060, with a volume of 414,441 shares traded.

Key Headlines Impacting Golar LNG

Here are the key news stories impacting Golar LNG this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Second-quarter earnings beat expectations: Golar reported adjusted earnings of $0.68 per share, above the $0.55 consensus estimate and up from $0.26 a year earlier. Net income attributable to Golar rose 145% year over year to $38 million. Golar LNG Q2 Earnings and Revenues Beat Estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Operating performance strengthened substantially: Adjusted EBITDA surged 159% to $127.4 million, while operating revenue increased 72% to $130.5 million. The EBITDA improvement is the primary fundamental catalyst behind the stronger investor sentiment. Golar LNG Interim Results for June 30, 2026
• Positive Sentiment: Fourth FLNG project approved: Golar signed an EPC contract for a 3.5 million-ton-per-year floating LNG vessel, with delivery targeted for year-end 2029. Management says it could provide the earliest available FLNG capacity globally, potentially expanding long-term revenue and cash-flow opportunities. Golar LNG Orders Fourth FLNG Unit
• Positive Sentiment: Shareholder distribution announced: Golar declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share, reinforcing its income appeal. Golar LNG Sets $0.25 Dividend

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts recently issued reports on GLNG shares. Pareto Securities cut shares of Golar LNG from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, May 21st. Weiss Ratings upgraded Golar LNG from a "hold (c+)" rating to a "buy (b-)" rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 23rd. BTIG Research reissued a "buy" rating and set a $67.00 target price on shares of Golar LNG in a research note on Wednesday, May 20th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $66.00 price target on Golar LNG and gave the company a "conviction-buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 7th. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut Golar LNG from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research report on Saturday, June 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Golar LNG has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $58.70.

Golar LNG Trading Up 1.1%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 2.57 and a quick ratio of 2.57. The company has a market cap of $5.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.45 and a beta of 0.05. The business's 50-day simple moving average is $50.08 and its 200-day simple moving average is $49.71.

Golar LNG (NASDAQ:GLNG - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 26th. The shipping company reported $0.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The business had revenue of $137.55 million for the quarter. Golar LNG had a return on equity of 6.86% and a net margin of 30.10%. Research analysts predict that Golar LNG Limited will post 0.72 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Golar LNG Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 1st were issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 1st. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.9%. Golar LNG's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 72.46%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Golar LNG

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Militia Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Golar LNG during the first quarter worth about $1,623,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Golar LNG by 18,550.0% during the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 9,325 shares of the shipping company's stock valued at $505,000 after acquiring an additional 9,275 shares during the last quarter. Arkadios Wealth Advisors acquired a new position in shares of Golar LNG during the 1st quarter valued at about $284,000. Amundi lifted its holdings in shares of Golar LNG by 75.7% during the 1st quarter. Amundi now owns 31,874 shares of the shipping company's stock worth $1,725,000 after acquiring an additional 13,731 shares during the period. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Golar LNG by 17.0% during the 1st quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,532 shares of the shipping company's stock worth $83,000 after acquiring an additional 223 shares during the period. 92.21% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Golar LNG Company Profile

Golar LNG Ltd. is a leading owner and operator of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers and floating infrastructure. The company specializes in the transportation of LNG on long-term and spot charters for major energy firms around the world. In addition to shipping, Golar LNG has broadened its services to include project development and the conversion of existing carriers into Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) and Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) vessels.

Since pioneering the first purpose-built FLNG conversion project, Golar LNG has been at the forefront of offshore gas monetization.

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