Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG) Sets New 1-Year High Following Analyst Upgrade

Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG)’s share price hit a new 52-week high on Monday after JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on the stock from $279.00 to $338.00. JPMorgan Chase & Co. currently has an overweight rating on the stock. Cheniere Energy traded as high as $300.89 and last traded at $297.77, with a volume of 654081 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $296.91.

Other research analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Cheniere Energy from $259.00 to $271.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, February 27th. Wolfe Research set a $220.00 price objective on Cheniere Energy and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on Cheniere Energy from $276.00 to $312.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 24th. TD Cowen increased their target price on Cheniere Energy from $250.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, February 27th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada cut their target price on Cheniere Energy from $282.00 to $271.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Cheniere Energy presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $282.00.

Institutional Trading of Cheniere Energy

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC grew its position in shares of Cheniere Energy by 1.5% in the 3rd quarter. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC now owns 3,268 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $768,000 after buying an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. Childress Capital Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Cheniere Energy by 0.9% during the third quarter. Childress Capital Advisors LLC now owns 5,385 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $1,265,000 after buying an additional 47 shares during the period. Ameriflex Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Cheniere Energy by 7.3% during the third quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. now owns 688 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $162,000 after acquiring an additional 47 shares in the last quarter. Howard Capital Management Inc. lifted its stake in Cheniere Energy by 3.3% in the third quarter. Howard Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,488 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $350,000 after acquiring an additional 48 shares during the period. Finally, Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. lifted its stake in Cheniere Energy by 47.6% in the third quarter. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. now owns 155 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 50 shares during the period. 87.26% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Cheniere Energy Trading Down 1.2%

The firm has a market cap of $61.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.07 and a beta of 0.25. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $236.86 and its two-hundred day moving average is $220.47. The company has a quick ratio of 0.81, a current ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.74.

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 25th. The energy company reported $10.68 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.90 by $6.78. Cheniere Energy had a net margin of 26.68% and a return on equity of 32.04%. The business had revenue of $5.45 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.48 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $4.33 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 22.9% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts predict that Cheniere Energy, Inc. will post 11.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Cheniere Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 6th were issued a $0.555 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 6th. This represents a $2.22 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.8%. Cheniere Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 9.14%.

Cheniere Energy declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock repurchase program on Thursday, February 26th that permits the company to repurchase $10.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the energy company to buy up to 21.1% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are generally a sign that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.

About Cheniere Energy

Cheniere Energy, Inc is a U.S.-based energy company that develops, owns and operates liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure and markets LNG to global customers. The company’s core activities include natural gas liquefaction, long‑term and short‑term LNG sales and marketing, and the associated midstream services required to move gas from production basins to international markets. Cheniere focuses on converting domestic natural gas into LNG for export, providing a bridge between North American supply and overseas demand.

Cheniere’s principal operating assets are large-scale LNG export terminals located on the U.S.