Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank Boosts Stake in Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG)

Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank raised its holdings in shares of Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG - Free Report) by 35.3% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 132,731 shares of the energy company's stock after purchasing an additional 34,616 shares during the period. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank owned 0.06% of Cheniere Energy worth $22,649,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of LNG. Capital World Investors bought a new position in Cheniere Energy during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $391,652,000. Norges Bank bought a new position in Cheniere Energy during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $261,515,000. State Street Corp raised its position in Cheniere Energy by 13.6% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 6,934,156 shares of the energy company's stock valued at $961,421,000 after purchasing an additional 830,898 shares during the last quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board raised its position in Cheniere Energy by 73.0% during the 3rd quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 1,496,100 shares of the energy company's stock valued at $248,293,000 after purchasing an additional 631,100 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised its position in Cheniere Energy by 19.4% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 3,542,925 shares of the energy company's stock valued at $531,297,000 after purchasing an additional 576,067 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 87.26% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. StockNews.com lowered Cheniere Energy from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, April 8th. Redburn Atlantic started coverage on Cheniere Energy in a research report on Tuesday. They set a "neutral" rating and a $162.00 price objective for the company. Barclays increased their target price on Cheniere Energy from $192.00 to $194.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 17th. Finally, TD Cowen cut their target price on Cheniere Energy from $185.00 to $178.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 27th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Cheniere Energy has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $193.30.

Cheniere Energy Stock Performance

Shares of LNG stock traded up $3.66 on Thursday, reaching $160.47. The stock had a trading volume of 2,172,324 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,898,529. The firm has a market cap of $37.01 billion, a PE ratio of 3.87 and a beta of 0.94. Cheniere Energy, Inc. has a 1 year low of $135.30 and a 1 year high of $183.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.59, a quick ratio of 1.51 and a current ratio of 1.63. The stock's 50 day simple moving average is $158.25.

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 22nd. The energy company reported $5.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.70 by $3.06. The firm had revenue of $4.82 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.37 billion. Cheniere Energy had a return on equity of 69.52% and a net margin of 48.45%. The company's revenue for the quarter was down 46.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $15.78 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Cheniere Energy, Inc. will post 8.39 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Cheniere Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 23rd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 6th were paid a $0.435 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 5th. This represents a $1.74 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.08%. Cheniere Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 4.30%.

About Cheniere Energy

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.