AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc Decreases Stock Holdings in Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG)

AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc lowered its stake in Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG) by 24.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 54,634 shares of the energy company’s stock after selling 17,656 shares during the quarter. AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc’s holdings in Cheniere Energy were worth $11,742,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company boosted its stake in shares of Cheniere Energy by 3.2% during the 3rd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 5,438,428 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $978,047,000 after acquiring an additional 167,575 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its holdings in Cheniere Energy by 195.1% in the 3rd 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 position in Cheniere Energy by 91.4% during the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 3,747,370 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $673,927,000 after purchasing an additional 1,789,919 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC grew its holdings in Cheniere Energy by 11.0% during the third quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 1,793,989 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $322,631,000 after purchasing an additional 178,318 shares during the period. Finally, Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors LP increased its position in Cheniere Energy by 5.5% in the third quarter. Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors LP now owns 1,326,658 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $238,586,000 after buying an additional 68,766 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 87.26% of the company’s stock.

Cheniere Energy Price Performance

Cheniere Energy stock 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’s fifty day moving average is $222.57 and its 200 day moving average is $197.62. The company has a market cap of $51.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.80 and a beta of 0.99.

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG) last announced its quarterly 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. The firm had revenue of $3.76 billion during 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 for the quarter was down 9.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.37 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Cheniere Energy, Inc. will post 12.67 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Cheniere Energy Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently declared 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. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.86%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 8th. Cheniere Energy’s dividend payout ratio is currently 12.77%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on LNG shares. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Cheniere Energy from $213.00 to $235.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 18th. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Cheniere Energy from $202.00 to $253.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 16th. UBS Group upped their target price on shares of Cheniere Energy from $232.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on Cheniere Energy from $201.00 to $217.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, Bank of America started coverage on Cheniere Energy in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $215.00 price objective for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $231.64.

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.