Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG) Given New $247.00 Price Target at Scotiabank

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG - Free Report) had its price objective boosted by Scotiabank from $242.00 to $247.00 in a report released on Tuesday morning,Benzinga reports. They currently have a sector outperform rating on the energy company's stock.

A number of other analysts have also issued reports on LNG. Bank of America initiated coverage on shares of Cheniere Energy in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. They set a "buy" rating and a $215.00 target price for the company. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Cheniere Energy from $202.00 to $253.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 16th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Cheniere Energy from $213.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 18th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on Cheniere Energy from $204.00 to $237.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, December 4th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on Cheniere Energy from $234.00 to $261.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, December 19th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Cheniere Energy currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $231.64.

Cheniere Energy Trading Down 1.2 %

Shares of LNG stock traded down $3.05 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $249.71. 3,400,411 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,102,872. The company has a current ratio of 1.07, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.41. Cheniere Energy has a 12-month low of $152.31 and a 12-month high of $257.65. The firm has a market capitalization of $56.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.95 and a beta of 0.99. The company's 50-day moving average price is $220.52 and its 200-day moving average price is $196.18.

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The energy company reported $3.93 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.87 by $2.06. Cheniere Energy had a return on equity of 41.44% and a net margin of 22.70%. The firm had revenue of $3.76 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.76 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.37 earnings per share. The company's quarterly revenue was down 9.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Cheniere Energy will post 12.66 earnings per share for the current year.

Cheniere Energy Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 18th. Investors of record on Friday, November 8th were paid a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 8th. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.80%. Cheniere Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 12.77%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Cheniere Energy

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in LNG. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB increased its position in shares of Cheniere Energy by 170.5% in the 4th 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 during the period. Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo LLC acquired a new position in shares of Cheniere Energy in the third quarter valued at about $27,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new position in shares of Cheniere Energy in the third quarter worth about $28,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL acquired a new stake in shares of Cheniere Energy during the second quarter worth about $30,000. Finally, Adirondack Trust Co. purchased a new stake in Cheniere Energy in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $43,000. 87.26% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.