Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG) Stock Price Breaks Above Fifty Day Moving Average - Time to Sell?

Key Points

• Cheniere Energy shares moved above their 50-day moving average of $283.54, reaching $286.18 before last trading at $285.24.
• Analyst sentiment is broadly positive: the stock has a consensus “Buy” rating and an average price target of $324.41, with recent target increases from Wells Fargo and Morgan Stanley.
• The company raised its quarterly dividend to $0.625 per share from $0.555, equivalent to $2.50 annually and a 0.9% yield.

Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG - Get Free Report) passed above its 50 day moving average during trading on Monday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $283.54 and traded as high as $286.18. Cheniere Energy shares last traded at $285.2380, with a volume of 2,320,800 shares traded.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently issued reports on the company. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $336.00 price target on shares of Cheniere Energy in a report on Saturday, October 10th. Zacks Research upgraded Cheniere Energy from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, November 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of Cheniere Energy from $335.00 to $374.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, October 30th. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on Cheniere Energy from $310.00 to $322.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, October 30th. Finally, Argus set a $330.00 price target on Cheniere Energy in a research note on Tuesday, August 18th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have issued a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Cheniere Energy has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $324.41.

Cheniere Energy Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.89, a current ratio of 0.90 and a quick ratio of 0.76. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $283.54 and a 200-day simple moving average of $258.41. The company has a market capitalization of $58.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.90, a P/E/G ratio of 0.90 and a beta of 0.01.

Cheniere Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, November 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 9th will be issued a $0.6250 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 9th. This is a positive change from Cheniere Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $0.5550. This represents a $2.50 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.9%. Cheniere Energy's dividend payout ratio is presently 15.49%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. West Family Investments Inc. raised its stake in shares of Cheniere Energy by 37.7% during the 3rd quarter. West Family Investments Inc. now owns 1,355 shares of the energy company's stock worth $365,000 after buying an additional 371 shares during the period. Bessemer Group Inc. lifted its stake in Cheniere Energy by 256.4% during the 3rd quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 15,541 shares of the energy company's stock worth $4,181,000 after acquiring an additional 11,180 shares in the last quarter. Vectors Research Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Cheniere Energy by 4.1% in the third quarter. Vectors Research Management LLC now owns 15,249 shares of the energy company's stock valued at $4,102,000 after purchasing an additional 594 shares in the last quarter. Pensioenfonds Rail & OV acquired a new stake in Cheniere Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at about $2,927,000. Finally, Phoenix Financial Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Cheniere Energy by 36.4% during the 3rd quarter. Phoenix Financial Ltd. now owns 4,226 shares of the energy company's stock worth $1,138,000 after purchasing an additional 1,128 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.26% of the company's stock.

About Cheniere Energy

Cheniere Energy, Inc is a U.S. energy company focused on producing and exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG). Its operations include the Sabine Pass LNG facility in Louisiana and the Corpus Christi LNG facility in Texas, where natural gas is processed and liquefied for shipment.

The company supplies LNG to customers in international markets, including countries in Asia, Europe and Latin America. Its activities also include sourcing natural gas and marketing LNG under long-term and other sales agreements.

Founded in 1996, Cheniere initially developed LNG import infrastructure before shifting its focus to U.S.

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