Epoch Investment Partners Inc. Boosts Stock Position in Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG)

Epoch Investment Partners Inc. raised its position in shares of Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG) by 10.2% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 53,295 shares of the energy company’s stock after purchasing an additional 4,938 shares during the quarter. Epoch Investment Partners Inc.’s holdings in Cheniere Energy were worth $8,595,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. grew its stake in Cheniere Energy by 27.1% during the 1st quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 29,235 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $4,715,000 after purchasing an additional 6,235 shares during the last quarter. Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd purchased a new stake in Cheniere Energy during the 4th quarter valued at about $852,000. Sapient Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Cheniere Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,283,000. Mackenzie Financial Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Cheniere Energy by 28.9% in the 4th quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 198,555 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $33,895,000 after buying an additional 44,508 shares during the period. Finally, Oak Thistle LLC acquired a new position in shares of Cheniere Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,144,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.26% of the company’s stock.

Cheniere Energy Price Performance

Shares of Cheniere Energy stock opened at $176.72 on Monday. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $167.23. Cheniere Energy, Inc. has a 12 month low of $152.31 and a 12 month high of $184.62. The firm has a market capitalization of $40.45 billion, a PE ratio of 8.61 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a quick ratio of 0.92, a current ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.58.

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG) last announced its earnings results on Friday, May 3rd. The energy company reported $2.13 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.30 by ($0.17). Cheniere Energy had a net margin of 28.55% and a return on equity of 48.19%. The firm had revenue of $4.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.97 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $6.89 EPS. Cheniere Energy’s revenue was down 41.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Cheniere Energy, Inc. will post 8.29 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Cheniere Energy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 9th will be issued a dividend of $0.435 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 9th. This represents a $1.74 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.98%. Cheniere Energy’s payout ratio is currently 8.48%.

Cheniere Energy announced that its board has initiated a share repurchase plan on Monday, June 17th that authorizes the company to repurchase $4.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the energy company to purchase up to 9.6% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are typically a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on LNG shares. Barclays boosted their price objective on Cheniere Energy from $194.00 to $199.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 17th. Redburn Atlantic started coverage on Cheniere Energy in a report on Tuesday, April 16th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $162.00 price objective for the company. TD Cowen boosted their price objective on Cheniere Energy from $178.00 to $185.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, June 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Cheniere Energy from $213.00 to $214.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, May 17th. Finally, UBS Group decreased their price objective on Cheniere Energy from $223.00 to $206.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 24th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $199.09.

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.