Freedom Investment Management Inc. Takes Position in Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG)

Freedom Investment Management Inc. bought a new stake in Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 3,317 shares of the energy company’s stock, valued at approximately $713,000.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co boosted its stake in shares of Cheniere Energy by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 88,390 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $19,117,000 after acquiring an additional 736 shares during the period. Marshall Wace LLP increased its holdings in shares of Cheniere Energy by 2,027.1% in the fourth quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 62,814 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $13,497,000 after purchasing an additional 59,861 shares during the last quarter. Zacks Investment Management raised its position in shares of Cheniere Energy by 19.1% in the fourth quarter. Zacks Investment Management now owns 29,782 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $6,399,000 after purchasing an additional 4,784 shares during the period. Main Street Financial Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Cheniere Energy during the 4th quarter worth about $221,000. Finally, Evergreen Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Cheniere Energy during the 4th quarter worth about $3,594,000. 87.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Cheniere Energy Stock Up 1.8 %

NYSE LNG opened at $231.52 on Friday. Cheniere Energy, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $153.03 and a fifty-two week high of $257.65. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $220.22 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $215.12. 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 stock has a market capitalization of $51.59 billion, a PE ratio of 16.27 and a beta of 0.67.

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 20th. The energy company reported $4.33 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.74 by $1.59. The business had revenue of $4.44 billion for 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%. Equities analysts expect that Cheniere Energy, Inc. will post 11.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Cheniere Energy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 21st. Investors of record on Friday, February 7th were issued a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.86%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 7th. Cheniere Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 14.05%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Cheniere Energy news, Director G Andrea Botta sold 9,000 shares of the company’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 value of $1,975,590.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 33,934 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,448,852.34. This represents a 20.96 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 0.29% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Cheniere Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, February 21st. UBS Group reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $277.00 price objective on shares of Cheniere Energy in a research report on Tuesday, March 18th. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on shares of Cheniere Energy from $195.00 to $255.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on shares of Cheniere Energy from $237.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, February 21st. Finally, Scotiabank restated an “outperform” rating on shares of Cheniere Energy in a research report on Thursday, March 6th. Fifteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $245.77.

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.