Argus Initiates Coverage on Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG)

Equities research analysts at Argus initiated coverage on shares of Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG) in a report issued on Tuesday,Briefing.com Automated Import reports. The brokerage set a “buy” rating and a $255.00 price target on the energy company’s stock. Argus’ price objective points to a potential upside of 14.55% from the stock’s current price.

Several other analysts have also issued reports on the company. StockNews.com raised Cheniere Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. Scotiabank reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of Cheniere Energy in a report on Thursday, March 6th. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of Cheniere Energy from $195.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. Barclays increased their price target on Cheniere Energy from $202.00 to $253.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 16th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Cheniere Energy from $213.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 18th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $237.77.

Cheniere Energy Price Performance

Shares of LNG opened at $222.62 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $49.79 billion, a PE ratio of 15.64 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.41, a current ratio of 1.07 and a quick ratio of 0.98. The company’s 50-day moving average is $224.83 and its 200-day moving average is $207.90. Cheniere Energy has a fifty-two week low of $152.88 and a fifty-two week high of $257.65.

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 20th. The energy company reported $4.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.74 by $1.59. Cheniere Energy had a net margin of 20.71% and a return on equity of 37.19%. The company had revenue of $4.44 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.44 billion. Equities analysts forecast that Cheniere Energy will post 11.69 EPS for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director G Andrea Botta sold 9,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 completion of the sale, the director now owns 33,934 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $7,448,852.34. This trade represents a 20.96 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Company insiders own 0.29% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Cheniere Energy

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company increased its position in Cheniere Energy by 4.5% in the 4th quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 5,681,846 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $1,220,858,000 after buying an additional 243,418 shares in the last quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company increased its holdings in shares of Cheniere Energy by 3.2% during the third quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 5,438,428 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $978,047,000 after acquiring an additional 167,575 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its position in shares of Cheniere Energy by 195.1% during the third quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 4,200,456 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $755,410,000 after purchasing an additional 2,776,920 shares during the period. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its holdings in shares of Cheniere Energy by 10.1% in the 4th quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 4,126,512 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $886,664,000 after purchasing an additional 379,142 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. increased its stake in Cheniere Energy by 16.1% during the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 3,237,303 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $695,599,000 after purchasing an additional 450,031 shares in the last quarter. 87.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.