Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG) Shares Sold by New Century Financial Group LLC

New Century Financial Group LLC decreased its stake in shares of Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG) by 3.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 1,543 shares of the energy company’s stock after selling 61 shares during the period. New Century Financial Group LLC’s holdings in Cheniere Energy were worth $343,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB increased its holdings in shares of Cheniere Energy by 170.5% during the 4th quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 119 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 75 shares during the last quarter. Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo LLC acquired a new position in Cheniere Energy in the third quarter valued at $27,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new stake in Cheniere Energy during the third quarter valued at about $28,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL acquired a new stake in Cheniere Energy during the second quarter worth about $30,000. Finally, Adirondack Trust Co. purchased a new position in shares of Cheniere Energy in the 4th quarter worth about $43,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.26% of the company’s stock.

Cheniere Energy Stock Performance

Shares of LNG opened at $231.73 on Friday. Cheniere Energy, Inc. has a 52-week low of $152.31 and a 52-week high of $257.65. The company has a quick ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.41. The firm has a market cap of $51.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.80 and a beta of 0.99. The business’s 50 day moving average is $222.18 and its two-hundred day moving average is $197.23.

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 31st. The energy company reported $3.93 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.87 by $2.06. The firm had revenue of $3.76 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.76 billion. Cheniere Energy had a net margin of 22.70% and a return on equity of 41.44%. The firm’s revenue was down 9.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.37 EPS. Analysts forecast that Cheniere Energy, Inc. will post 12.67 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Cheniere Energy Cuts Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 18th. Investors of record on Friday, November 8th were issued a $0.50 dividend. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.86%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 8th. Cheniere Energy’s dividend payout ratio is currently 12.77%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on LNG. UBS Group boosted their target price on Cheniere Energy from $232.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on shares of Cheniere Energy from $204.00 to $237.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 4th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on Cheniere Energy from $234.00 to $261.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, December 19th. Scotiabank raised their price objective on Cheniere Energy from $242.00 to $247.00 and gave the company a “sector outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, Bank of America assumed coverage on Cheniere Energy in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $215.00 target price for the company. 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, Cheniere Energy has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $231.64.

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.