Traders Purchase High Volume of Put Options on Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG)

Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG - Get Free Report) was the target of some unusual options trading activity on Monday. Stock traders bought 8,643 put options on the stock. This is an increase of 62% compared to the average daily volume of 5,346 put options.

Cheniere Energy Price Performance

LNG traded up $7.39 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $220.23. 2,731,654 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,881,872. Cheniere Energy has a 52-week low of $152.88 and a 52-week high of $257.65. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $219.56 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $213.47. 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 capitalization of $49.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.48 and a beta of 0.67.

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

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Cheniere Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 21st. Investors of record on Friday, February 7th were issued a $0.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 7th. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.91%. Cheniere Energy's dividend payout ratio is presently 14.05%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Cheniere Energy

In other Cheniere Energy news, Director G Andrea Botta sold 9,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $219.51, for a total value of $1,975,590.00. Following the completion of the sale, 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 filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.29% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Cheniere Energy

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in LNG. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB raised its stake in Cheniere Energy by 170.5% during the fourth 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. WR Wealth Planners LLC raised its position in shares of 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 buying an additional 97 shares during the period. REAP Financial Group LLC raised its position in shares of 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 buying an additional 75 shares during the period. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC acquired a new position in Cheniere Energy in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Finally, Banque Transatlantique SA purchased a new position in Cheniere Energy in the fourth quarter worth approximately $32,000. 87.26% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

LNG has been the topic of a number of research reports. StockNews.com raised Cheniere Energy from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. Argus began coverage on shares of Cheniere Energy in a report on Tuesday, March 18th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $255.00 price target on the stock. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on shares of Cheniere Energy from $195.00 to $255.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, January 31st. UBS Group reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $277.00 price objective on shares of Cheniere Energy in a research note on Tuesday, March 18th. Finally, TD Cowen boosted their target price on shares of Cheniere Energy from $242.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, January 27th. One 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, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $239.79.

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.