Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG) Coverage Initiated by Analysts at Sanford C. Bernstein

Sanford C. Bernstein assumed coverage on shares of Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG) in a research note issued to investors on Monday, MarketBeat reports. The brokerage issued an outperform rating on the energy company’s stock.

Several other research firms have also recently commented on LNG. UBS Group lowered their target price on Cheniere Energy from $223.00 to $206.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 24th. Redburn Atlantic began coverage on shares of Cheniere Energy in a research note on Tuesday, April 16th. They set a neutral rating and a $162.00 target price on the stock. TD Cowen lifted their price target on shares of Cheniere Energy from $178.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, June 17th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on shares of Cheniere Energy from $204.00 to $208.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, May 6th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Cheniere Energy from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, April 8th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Cheniere Energy currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $198.64.

Cheniere Energy Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:LNG opened at $172.36 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $39.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.40 and a beta of 0.95. Cheniere Energy has a 1 year low of $148.45 and a 1 year high of $183.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.58, a current ratio of 0.98 and a quick ratio of 0.92. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $159.22.

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG) last announced its earnings results on Friday, May 3rd. The energy company reported $2.13 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.30 by ($0.17). Cheniere Energy had a return on equity of 48.19% and a net margin of 28.55%. The business had revenue of $4.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.97 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $6.89 earnings per share. Cheniere Energy’s quarterly revenue was down 41.8% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts expect that Cheniere Energy will post 8.33 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Cheniere Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 9th will be paid a $0.435 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 9th. This represents a $1.74 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.01%. Cheniere Energy’s dividend payout ratio is presently 8.48%.

Institutional Trading of Cheniere Energy

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Mutual Advisors LLC increased its position in Cheniere Energy by 1.0% during the third quarter. Mutual Advisors LLC now owns 6,224 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $1,033,000 after buying an additional 64 shares during the period. Xcel Wealth Management LLC raised its position in Cheniere Energy by 3.4% in the 4th quarter. Xcel Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,961 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $335,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. Keene & Associates Inc. raised its position in Cheniere Energy by 3.8% in the 1st quarter. Keene & Associates Inc. now owns 1,798 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $290,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. Simon Quick Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Cheniere Energy by 3.1% during the 4th quarter. Simon Quick Advisors LLC now owns 2,182 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $373,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares during the period. Finally, E&G Advisors LP grew its position in Cheniere Energy by 5.2% during the 1st quarter. E&G Advisors LP now owns 1,420 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $229,000 after purchasing an additional 70 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.26% of the company’s stock.

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.