Viking Fund Management LLC Decreases Holdings in Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG)

Viking Fund Management LLC decreased its position in Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG) by 6.3% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 59,000 shares of the energy company’s stock after selling 4,000 shares during the period. Cheniere Energy comprises approximately 1.7% of Viking Fund Management LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 19th biggest holding. Viking Fund Management LLC’s holdings in Cheniere Energy were worth $9,516,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Cooksen Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Cheniere Energy during the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Riverview Trust Co purchased a new stake in shares of Cheniere Energy during the 1st quarter worth approximately $29,000. Scarborough Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Cheniere Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $45,000. Quarry LP raised its holdings in Cheniere Energy by 156.3% during the 4th quarter. Quarry LP now owns 305 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $52,000 after buying an additional 186 shares during the period. Finally, AJOVista LLC purchased a new stake in Cheniere Energy during the 4th quarter valued at $60,000. Institutional investors own 87.26% of the company’s stock.

Cheniere Energy Price Performance

Shares of LNG stock traded up $1.13 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $172.20. The company had a trading volume of 2,275,182 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,910,910. The firm has a market capitalization of $39.42 billion, a PE ratio of 8.39 and a beta of 0.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.58, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a current ratio of 0.98. Cheniere Energy, Inc. has a 52-week low of $148.45 and a 52-week high of $183.46. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $159.22.

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, May 3rd. The energy company reported $2.13 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.30 by ($0.17). The firm had revenue of $4.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.97 billion. Cheniere Energy had a net margin of 28.55% and a return on equity of 48.19%. Cheniere Energy’s revenue was down 41.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $6.89 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Cheniere Energy, Inc. will post 8.33 EPS for the current year.

Cheniere Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 16th. Investors of record on Friday, August 9th will be paid a $0.435 dividend. This represents a $1.74 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.01%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 9th. Cheniere Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 8.48%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have weighed in on LNG shares. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on Cheniere Energy from $204.00 to $208.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, May 6th. TD Cowen upped their target price on Cheniere Energy from $178.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, June 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Cheniere Energy from $213.00 to $214.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, May 17th. StockNews.com cut Cheniere Energy from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, April 8th. Finally, Redburn Atlantic started coverage on Cheniere Energy in a report on Tuesday, April 16th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $162.00 target price for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Cheniere Energy presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $198.64.

About Cheniere Energy

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.