Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG) Given New $247.00 Price Target at Scotiabank

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG) had its price objective lifted by Scotiabank from $242.00 to $247.00 in a report released on Tuesday morning,Benzinga reports. They currently have a sector outperform rating on the energy company’s stock.

A number of other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on shares of Cheniere Energy from $201.00 to $217.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Cheniere Energy from $213.00 to $235.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 18th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on Cheniere Energy from $204.00 to $237.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. Bank of America started 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. Finally, Barclays increased their price target on shares of Cheniere Energy from $202.00 to $253.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, January 16th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $231.64.

Cheniere Energy Price Performance

Cheniere Energy stock opened at $249.71 on Tuesday. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $220.52 and its 200 day simple moving average is $196.18. Cheniere Energy has a 12 month low of $152.31 and a 12 month high of $257.65. The company has a market cap of $56.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.95 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a current ratio of 1.07, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.41.

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG) last issued 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. Cheniere Energy had a return on equity of 41.44% and a net margin of 22.70%. The firm had revenue of $3.76 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.76 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.37 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down 9.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts forecast that Cheniere Energy will post 12.66 EPS for the current year.

Cheniere Energy Cuts Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 18th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 8th were paid a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.80%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 8th. Cheniere Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 12.77%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Cheniere Energy

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB lifted its position in shares of Cheniere Energy by 170.5% in the 4th quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 119 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares during the period. Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo LLC bought a new position in Cheniere Energy in the third quarter worth about $27,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new stake in Cheniere Energy in the third quarter worth about $28,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL bought a new stake in Cheniere Energy during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Finally, Adirondack Trust Co. purchased a new position in shares of Cheniere Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $43,000. 87.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.