Pictet Asset Management Holding SA Sells 14,319 Shares of Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG)

Pictet Asset Management Holding SA lowered its holdings in Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG) by 9.1% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 143,644 shares of the energy company’s stock after selling 14,319 shares during the period. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA owned approximately 0.06% of Cheniere Energy worth $30,865,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans grew its position in Cheniere Energy by 89.5% during the third quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 5,945 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $1,069,000 after buying an additional 2,808 shares in the last quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Cheniere Energy by 48.4% during the 3rd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 2,290 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $412,000 after purchasing an additional 747 shares in the last quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. increased its position in shares of Cheniere Energy by 1.9% in the third quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 9,345 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $1,681,000 after purchasing an additional 173 shares during the period. Townsquare Capital LLC raised its stake in Cheniere Energy by 27.9% in the third quarter. Townsquare Capital LLC now owns 3,805 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $684,000 after purchasing an additional 829 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund lifted its position in Cheniere Energy by 87.0% during the third quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund now owns 17,200 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $3,093,000 after purchasing an additional 8,000 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.26% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at Cheniere Energy

In related news, Director G Andrea Botta sold 9,000 shares of Cheniere Energy stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $219.51, for a total transaction of $1,975,590.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 33,934 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $7,448,852.34. This trade represents a 20.96 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.29% of the company’s stock.

Cheniere Energy Price Performance

LNG stock opened at $226.16 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $50.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.89 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $223.55 and a 200-day moving average price of $210.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.41, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a current ratio of 1.07. Cheniere Energy, Inc. has a 52-week low of $152.88 and a 52-week high of $257.65.

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 20th. The energy company reported $4.33 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.74 by $1.59. The firm had revenue of $4.44 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.44 billion. Cheniere Energy had a return on equity of 37.19% and a net margin of 20.71%. As a group, equities analysts expect that Cheniere Energy, Inc. will post 11.69 EPS for the current year.

Cheniere Energy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 7th were given a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.88%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 7th. Cheniere Energy’s dividend payout ratio is presently 14.05%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently commented on LNG shares. Wells Fargo & Company boosted 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. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Cheniere Energy from $195.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Mizuho lifted their price target on Cheniere Energy from $248.00 to $254.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 18th. Argus assumed coverage on Cheniere Energy in a report on Tuesday, March 18th. They set a “buy” rating and a $255.00 price target for the company. Finally, StockNews.com raised Cheniere Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, February 21st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $239.79.

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.