Argus Begins Coverage on Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG)

Argus began coverage on shares of Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG - Free Report) in a research note released on Tuesday, MarketBeat.com reports. The brokerage issued a buy rating and a $255.00 price objective on the energy company's stock.

A number of other equities analysts have also weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Cheniere Energy from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, February 21st. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective 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. Scotiabank reiterated an "outperform" rating on shares of Cheniere Energy in a research note on Thursday, March 6th. TD Cowen increased their target price on Cheniere Energy from $242.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, January 27th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on Cheniere Energy from $234.00 to $261.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Cheniere Energy presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $239.79.

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Cheniere Energy Stock Down 1.3 %

LNG stock traded down $2.99 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $227.24. The stock had a trading volume of 2,394,650 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,746,337. The company has a quick ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.41. The company has a market capitalization of $50.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.97 and a beta of 0.94. Cheniere Energy has a one year low of $152.88 and a one year high of $257.65. The company's 50 day moving average is $225.03 and its two-hundred day moving average is $208.75.

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 20th. The energy company reported $4.33 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.74 by $1.59. Cheniere Energy had a return on equity of 37.19% and a net margin of 20.71%. The business had revenue of $4.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.44 billion. Equities research analysts forecast that Cheniere Energy will post 11.69 EPS for the current year.

Cheniere Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 7th were given a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.88%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 7th. Cheniere Energy's dividend payout ratio is currently 14.05%.

Insider Transactions at Cheniere Energy

In other news, Director G Andrea Botta sold 9,000 shares of Cheniere Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $219.51, for a total transaction of $1,975,590.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 33,934 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,448,852.34. This trade represents a 20.96 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.29% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB increased its holdings in shares of Cheniere Energy by 170.5% during the fourth quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 119 shares of the energy company's stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. WR Wealth Planners LLC grew its position in Cheniere Energy by 373.1% during the 4th quarter. WR Wealth Planners LLC now owns 123 shares of the energy company's stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 97 shares during the last quarter. REAP Financial Group LLC increased its stake in Cheniere Energy by 150.0% during the 4th quarter. REAP Financial Group LLC now owns 125 shares of the energy company's stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC purchased a new position in Cheniere Energy in the fourth quarter worth about $29,000. Finally, Banque Transatlantique SA bought a new position in shares of Cheniere Energy in the fourth quarter worth approximately $32,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors 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.