Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG) Hits New 12-Month High - Here's Why

Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG - Get Free Report) shares hit a new 52-week high on Thursday . The company traded as high as $248.61 and last traded at $245.88, with a volume of 2477909 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $243.09.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on LNG. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on Cheniere Energy from $234.00 to $261.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. Barclays raised their target price on Cheniere Energy from $202.00 to $253.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday. UBS Group upped their price target 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. Scotiabank initiated coverage on shares of Cheniere Energy in a research note on Friday, January 10th. They issued a "sector outperform" rating and a $242.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Cheniere Energy from $213.00 to $235.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 18th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Cheniere Energy has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $231.18.

Cheniere Energy Stock Performance

The company has a current ratio of 1.07, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.41. The company has a market cap of $56.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.20 and a beta of 0.99. The business's 50 day simple moving average is $217.79 and its 200 day simple moving average is $194.37.

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 31st. The energy company reported $3.93 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.87 by $2.06. Cheniere Energy had a net margin of 22.70% and a return on equity of 41.44%. The firm had revenue of $3.76 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.76 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.37 EPS. The company's revenue was down 9.5% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts predict that Cheniere Energy, Inc. will post 12.66 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Cheniere Energy Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 18th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 8th were given a $0.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 8th. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.79%. Cheniere Energy's payout ratio is 12.77%.

Institutional Trading of Cheniere Energy

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in LNG. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB boosted its stake in 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 purchased a new position in shares of Cheniere Energy in the third quarter worth $27,000. Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC boosted its position in shares of Cheniere Energy by 5,000.0% during the second quarter. Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC now owns 153 shares of the energy company's stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 150 shares during the last quarter. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new position in Cheniere Energy during the third quarter valued at $28,000. Finally, Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new position in Cheniere Energy during the second quarter valued at $30,000. 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.