Stifel Financial Corp Grows Stock Position in Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG)

Stifel Financial Corp grew its position in shares of Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG - Free Report) by 38.8% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 371,955 shares of the energy company's stock after purchasing an additional 104,070 shares during the period. Stifel Financial Corp owned approximately 0.17% of Cheniere Energy worth $79,933,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in LNG. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Cheniere Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $629,197,000. Ninety One UK Ltd grew its position in shares of Cheniere Energy by 1,400.7% during the fourth quarter. Ninety One UK Ltd now owns 1,509,717 shares of the energy company's stock worth $324,393,000 after buying an additional 1,409,116 shares in the last quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. grew its position in shares of Cheniere Energy by 61.2% during the fourth quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 1,664,439 shares of the energy company's stock worth $357,638,000 after buying an additional 631,787 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Cheniere Energy in the fourth quarter worth $130,772,000. Finally, Proficio Capital Partners LLC raised its holdings in Cheniere Energy by 18,281.6% in the fourth quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC now owns 575,897 shares of the energy company's stock valued at $123,743,000 after acquiring an additional 572,764 shares in the last quarter. 87.26% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Cheniere Energy news, Director G Andrea Botta sold 9,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $219.51, for a total transaction of $1,975,590.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 33,934 shares in the company, valued at approximately $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 can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.29% of the company's stock.

Cheniere Energy Price Performance

NYSE LNG opened at $230.11 on Wednesday. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $220.91 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $215.66. Cheniere Energy, Inc. has a 52 week low of $153.03 and a 52 week high of $257.65. The stock has a market cap of $51.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.17 and a beta of 0.67. 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 (NYSE:LNG - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data 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 business had revenue of $4.44 billion during 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%. Analysts forecast that Cheniere Energy, Inc. will post 11.69 EPS for the current year.

Cheniere Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 21st. Investors of record on Friday, February 7th were paid a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.87%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 7th. Cheniere Energy's dividend payout ratio is currently 14.05%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

LNG has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Argus initiated coverage on shares of Cheniere Energy in a research report on Tuesday, March 18th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $255.00 target price for the company. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on Cheniere Energy from $195.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, January 31st. StockNews.com upgraded Cheniere Energy from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, February 21st. Scotiabank reiterated an "outperform" rating on shares of Cheniere Energy in a research report on Thursday, March 6th. Finally, TD Cowen upped their price target on Cheniere Energy from $242.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, January 27th. Fifteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $245.15.

Cheniere Energy 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.

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