Stifel Nicolaus Boosts Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG) Price Target to $255.00

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG) had its price target boosted by Stifel Nicolaus from $237.00 to $255.00 in a research note released on Friday,Benzinga reports. Stifel Nicolaus currently has a buy rating on the energy company’s stock.

Other analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on shares of Cheniere Energy from $234.00 to $261.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of Cheniere Energy from $232.00 to $265.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 15th. Morgan Stanley lifted 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. Scotiabank lifted their target price on shares of Cheniere Energy from $242.00 to $247.00 and gave the company a “sector outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 21st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of Cheniere Energy from $213.00 to $235.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 18th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $235.75.

Cheniere Energy Stock Down 2.7 %

LNG stock opened at $220.90 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $49.56 billion, a PE ratio of 14.11 and a beta of 0.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.41, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a current ratio of 1.07. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $222.92 and its 200 day moving average is $203.27. Cheniere Energy has a one year low of $152.31 and a one year high of $257.65.

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 20th. The energy company reported $4.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.74 by $1.59. Cheniere Energy had a net margin of 22.70% and a return on equity of 41.44%. The business had revenue of $4.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.44 billion. On average, research analysts forecast that Cheniere Energy will post 12.77 EPS for the current year.

Cheniere Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 7th were paid a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.91%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 7th. Cheniere Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 14.05%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Cheniere Energy

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB raised its stake in Cheniere Energy by 170.5% during the fourth 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 period. WR Wealth Planners LLC raised its stake in Cheniere Energy by 373.1% during the fourth quarter. WR Wealth Planners LLC now owns 123 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 97 shares during the period. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new position in Cheniere Energy during the third quarter worth about $28,000. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC purchased a new position in Cheniere Energy during the fourth quarter worth about $29,000. Finally, Banque Transatlantique SA purchased a new position in Cheniere Energy during the fourth quarter worth about $32,000. 87.26% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.