Golar LNG (NASDAQ:GLNG) Shares Down 5.2% - Should You Sell?

Key Points

• Golar LNG shares fell 5.2% to $41.93, with a trading volume decline of 28% from its average daily volume.
• Analysts have mixed ratings on Golar LNG, with a Moderate Buy average rating and price target of $49.17.
• Golar LNG reported EPS of $0.26 for the last quarter, missing estimates and experiencing a negative net margin of 2.83%.

Golar LNG Limited (NASDAQ:GLNG - Get Free Report)'s share price dropped 5.2% during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as low as $42.10 and last traded at $41.93. Approximately 1,095,913 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 28% from the average daily volume of 1,514,795 shares. The stock had previously closed at $44.22.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages recently weighed in on GLNG. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Golar LNG from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Sunday, September 7th. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Golar LNG from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a research note on Thursday, August 14th. BTIG Research reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of Golar LNG in a research note on Wednesday, May 28th. Finally, B. Riley reiterated a "neutral" rating and set a $44.50 price target on shares of Golar LNG in a report on Monday, August 25th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have assigned a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Golar LNG presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $49.17.

Golar LNG Stock Performance

The firm's fifty day moving average price is $41.68 and its 200-day moving average price is $39.66. The company has a current ratio of 1.47, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63. The firm has a market cap of $4.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -580.92 and a beta of 0.42.

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 the consensus estimate of $0.29 by ($0.03). Golar LNG had a negative net margin of 2.83% and a positive return on equity of 6.36%. The company had revenue of $75.67 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $79.37 million. Analysts expect that Golar LNG Limited will post 1.39 earnings per share for the current year.

Golar LNG Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 2nd. Investors of record on Tuesday, August 26th were given a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, August 26th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.5%. Golar LNG's dividend payout ratio is -1,428.57%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Golar LNG

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Quantbot Technologies LP grew its stake in Golar LNG by 577.8% in the 1st quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP now owns 181,123 shares of the shipping company's stock valued at $6,881,000 after acquiring an additional 154,402 shares during the last quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC grew its stake in Golar LNG by 256.7% in the 1st quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 9,050 shares of the shipping company's stock valued at $344,000 after acquiring an additional 6,513 shares during the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC grew its stake in Golar LNG by 8,554.0% in 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 during the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its stake in Golar LNG by 20.2% in 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 during the last quarter. Finally, Russell Investments Group Ltd. grew its stake in Golar LNG by 4.1% in the 1st quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 61,990 shares of the shipping company's stock valued at $2,355,000 after acquiring an additional 2,435 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.21% of the company's stock.

Golar LNG Company Profile

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.