Highland Capital Management LLC Decreases Stake in Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG)

Highland Capital Management LLC cut its holdings in shares of Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG) by 1.9% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 27,710 shares of the energy company’s stock after selling 535 shares during the period. Highland Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Cheniere Energy were worth $5,954,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB increased its holdings in 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 purchasing an additional 75 shares during the last quarter. Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo LLC bought a new stake in shares of Cheniere Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new stake in shares of Cheniere Energy during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL bought a new stake in Cheniere Energy during the second quarter valued at $30,000. Finally, Adirondack Trust Co. acquired a new stake in shares of Cheniere Energy during the fourth quarter worth $43,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.26% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have issued reports on LNG. TD Cowen boosted their price target on Cheniere Energy from $242.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday. Scotiabank lifted their price objective on shares of Cheniere Energy from $242.00 to $247.00 and gave the stock a “sector outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on Cheniere Energy from $201.00 to $217.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on shares of Cheniere Energy from $204.00 to $237.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on Cheniere Energy from $234.00 to $261.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, December 19th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $232.36.

Cheniere Energy Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:LNG opened at $228.14 on Thursday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $222.87 and a 200-day moving average of $198.62. The stock has a market capitalization of $51.19 billion, a PE ratio of 14.57 and a beta of 0.99. Cheniere Energy, Inc. has a 12 month low of $152.31 and a 12 month high of $257.65. The company has a current ratio of 1.07, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.41.

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. Cheniere Energy had a net margin of 22.70% and a return on equity of 41.44%. The company had revenue of $3.76 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.76 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.37 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was down 9.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts predict that Cheniere Energy, Inc. will post 12.67 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Cheniere Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 7th will be issued a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 7th. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.88%. Cheniere Energy’s payout ratio is 12.77%.

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.