Gradient Investments LLC Trims Position in Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG)

Gradient Investments LLC trimmed its position in Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG) by 9.8% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 2,760 shares of the energy company’s stock after selling 300 shares during the period. Gradient Investments LLC’s holdings in Cheniere Energy were worth $593,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of LNG. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB grew its position in shares of Cheniere Energy by 170.5% during the 4th quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 119 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Cheniere Energy in the third quarter worth $27,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new stake in shares of Cheniere Energy in the third quarter worth $28,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new position in Cheniere Energy during the second quarter worth about $30,000. Finally, Adirondack Trust Co. bought a new position in Cheniere Energy in the 4th quarter worth about $43,000. 87.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on LNG. TD Cowen lifted their price target on Cheniere Energy from $202.00 to $242.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 26th. UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of Cheniere Energy from $232.00 to $265.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 15th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of Cheniere Energy from $213.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 18th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on shares of Cheniere Energy from $204.00 to $237.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 4th. Finally, Bank of America began coverage on Cheniere Energy in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. They set a “buy” rating and a $215.00 price target on the stock. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Cheniere Energy presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $231.64.

Cheniere Energy Price Performance

LNG opened at $231.73 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.41, a current ratio of 1.07 and a quick ratio of 0.98. Cheniere Energy, Inc. has a 1 year low of $152.31 and a 1 year high of $257.65. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $222.57 and its 200 day simple moving average is $197.62. The firm has a market cap of $51.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.80 and a beta of 0.99.

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The energy company reported $3.93 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.87 by $2.06. The company had revenue of $3.76 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.76 billion. Cheniere Energy had a net margin of 22.70% and a return on equity of 41.44%. The firm’s revenue was down 9.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.37 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Cheniere Energy, Inc. will post 12.67 earnings per share for the current year.

Cheniere Energy Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 18th. Investors of record on Friday, November 8th were paid a $0.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 8th. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.86%. Cheniere Energy’s payout ratio is presently 12.77%.

Cheniere Energy Company Profile

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.