Erste Asset Management GmbH Raises Stock Position in Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG)

Erste Asset Management GmbH lifted its stake in Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG - Free Report) by 21.9% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 113,503 shares of the energy company's stock after purchasing an additional 20,380 shares during the period. Erste Asset Management GmbH owned 0.05% of Cheniere Energy worth $24,388,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of LNG. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company increased its stake in shares of Cheniere Energy by 3.2% in the 3rd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 5,438,428 shares of the energy company's stock worth $978,047,000 after acquiring an additional 167,575 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its stake in shares of Cheniere Energy by 195.1% during the third quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 4,200,456 shares of the energy company's stock valued at $755,410,000 after purchasing an additional 2,776,920 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increased its stake in shares of Cheniere Energy by 91.4% during the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 3,747,370 shares of the energy company's stock valued at $673,927,000 after purchasing an additional 1,789,919 shares in the last quarter. Amundi lifted its holdings in shares of Cheniere Energy by 19.9% during the fourth quarter. Amundi now owns 2,696,002 shares of the energy company's stock valued at $606,907,000 after purchasing an additional 448,189 shares during the last quarter. Finally, UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC boosted its position in shares of Cheniere Energy by 11.0% in the 3rd quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 1,793,989 shares of the energy company's stock worth $322,631,000 after purchasing an additional 178,318 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 87.26% of the company's stock.

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Insider Activity

In other news, Director G Andrea Botta sold 9,000 shares of Cheniere Energy stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $219.51, for a total transaction of $1,975,590.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 33,934 shares of the company's stock, valued at $7,448,852.34. The trade was a 20.96 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.29% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the company. Scotiabank reiterated an "outperform" rating on shares of Cheniere Energy in a research note on Thursday, March 6th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Cheniere Energy from $213.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 18th. StockNews.com raised shares of Cheniere Energy from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, February 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on shares of Cheniere Energy from $234.00 to $261.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, December 19th. Finally, Barclays increased their price target on shares of Cheniere Energy from $202.00 to $253.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, January 16th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Cheniere Energy currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $236.33.

Cheniere Energy Stock Performance

Cheniere Energy stock traded up $7.06 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $218.61. 1,585,717 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,747,623. The stock has a market capitalization of $48.90 billion, a PE ratio of 15.36 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.41, a current ratio of 1.07 and a quick ratio of 0.98. The business's 50-day moving average is $224.85 and its 200-day moving average is $207.45. Cheniere Energy, Inc. has a 12-month low of $152.88 and a 12-month high of $257.65.

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 20th. The energy company reported $4.33 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.74 by $1.59. The firm had revenue of $4.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.44 billion. Cheniere Energy had a net margin of 20.71% and a return on equity of 37.19%. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Cheniere Energy, Inc. will post 11.69 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Cheniere Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 21st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 7th were given a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.91%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 7th. Cheniere Energy's payout ratio is 14.05%.

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.