Golar LNG Limited (NASDAQ:GLNG) Receives $49.63 Average Target Price from Analysts

Golar LNG Limited (NASDAQ:GLNG - Get Free Report) has received an average rating of "Moderate Buy" from the five brokerages that are covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation and four have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12 month target price among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $49.63.

GLNG has been the subject of several research analyst reports. StockNews.com upgraded Golar LNG to a "sell" rating in a research note on Monday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price objective on shares of Golar LNG from $43.00 to $56.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, August 16th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their target price on shares of Golar LNG from $55.00 to $53.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, August 16th. Finally, Fearnley Fonds lowered shares of Golar LNG from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 13th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund grew its position in shares of Golar LNG by 467.9% during the 3rd quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund now owns 2,237,000 shares of the shipping company's stock valued at $82,232,000 after acquiring an additional 1,843,100 shares during the period. State Street Corp grew its stake in Golar LNG by 5.2% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,920,590 shares of the shipping company's stock valued at $70,601,000 after acquiring an additional 94,336 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. increased its holdings in Golar LNG by 53.7% in the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,732,655 shares of the shipping company's stock worth $54,319,000 after acquiring an additional 605,499 shares in the last quarter. Pinnacle Associates Ltd. raised its position in Golar LNG by 4.4% during the second quarter. Pinnacle Associates Ltd. now owns 1,500,628 shares of the shipping company's stock worth $47,045,000 after acquiring an additional 63,180 shares during the period. Finally, Clearline Capital LP purchased a new position in Golar LNG during the third quarter valued at $36,865,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.21% of the company's stock.

Golar LNG Stock Performance

GLNG stock traded up $0.55 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $42.68. The stock had a trading volume of 1,271,416 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,216,913. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $37.97 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $34.01. Golar LNG has a 52-week low of $19.94 and a 52-week high of $43.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.55. The stock has a market cap of $4.46 billion, a PE ratio of 305.09 and a beta of 0.60.

Golar LNG Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 2nd. Investors of record on Monday, November 25th were issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.34%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 25th. Golar LNG's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 714.34%.

About Golar LNG

Golar LNG Limited designs, converts, owns, and operates marine infrastructure for the liquefaction of natural gas. The company operates through three segments: FLNG, Corporate and Other, and Shipping. It engages in the regasification, storage, and offloading of liquefied natural gas (LNG); operation of floating liquefaction natural gas (FLNG) vessels or projects; transportation of LNG carriers; and vessel management activities.