M&G PLC Raises Stock Position in Cheniere Energy, Inc. $LNG

M&G PLC increased its position in Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG) by 81.0% during the second quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 371,765 shares of the energy company’s stock after acquiring an additional 166,399 shares during the quarter. M&G PLC’s holdings in Cheniere Energy were worth $90,711,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its stake in Cheniere Energy by 27.6% in the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,304,253 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $301,804,000 after buying an additional 282,050 shares in the last quarter. Thompson Davis & CO. Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Cheniere Energy during the first quarter worth about $529,000. Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors LP raised its position in shares of Cheniere Energy by 7.6% in the first quarter. Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors LP now owns 1,494,901 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $345,920,000 after buying an additional 105,875 shares during the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Cheniere Energy by 718.1% during the second quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 1,669 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $406,000 after buying an additional 1,465 shares during the period. Finally, Fractal Investments LLC boosted its position in Cheniere Energy by 27.7% during the first quarter. Fractal Investments LLC now owns 75,585 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $17,490,000 after acquiring an additional 16,385 shares during the last quarter. 87.26% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Cheniere Energy Price Performance

Shares of LNG stock opened at $212.02 on Wednesday. Cheniere Energy, Inc. has a twelve month low of $188.70 and a twelve month high of $257.65. The company has a market capitalization of $45.63 billion, a PE ratio of 12.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 6.08 and a beta of 0.36. The company has a current ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.96. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $226.50 and a 200-day simple moving average of $232.18.

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The energy company reported $4.75 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.75 by $2.00. Cheniere Energy had a return on equity of 37.83% and a net margin of 21.05%.The business had revenue of $4.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.87 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $3.93 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 18.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that Cheniere Energy, Inc. will post 11.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Cheniere Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, November 18th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 7th will be issued a dividend of $0.555 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 7th. This represents a $2.22 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.0%. This is an increase from Cheniere Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. Cheniere Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 12.37%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Cowen restated a “buy” rating on shares of Cheniere Energy in a report on Friday, August 8th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Cheniere Energy in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $275.00 price objective on shares of Cheniere Energy in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. Barclays restated an “overweight” rating and issued a $262.00 target price (up from $253.00) on shares of Cheniere Energy in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage on shares of Cheniere Energy in a research note on Friday, September 19th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $268.00 price target on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have assigned a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $268.73.

Insider Buying and Selling at Cheniere Energy

In related news, Director W Benjamin Moreland bought 5,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 4th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $208.22 per share, for a total transaction of $1,041,100.00. Following the purchase, the director owned 9,856 shares in the company, valued at $2,052,216.32. This trade represents a 102.97% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.

Cheniere Energy 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.