Analyzing PrimeEnergy (NASDAQ:PNRG) & Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG)

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG) and PrimeEnergy (NASDAQ:PNRG) are both energy companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, profitability, earnings, dividends, valuation, risk and institutional ownership.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and target prices for Cheniere Energy and PrimeEnergy, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Cheniere Energy	0	3	15	2	2.95
PrimeEnergy	0	2	0	0	2.00

Cheniere Energy presently has a consensus target price of $305.65, suggesting a potential upside of 13.86%. Given Cheniere Energy’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, research analysts clearly believe Cheniere Energy is more favorable than PrimeEnergy.

Profitability

This table compares Cheniere Energy and PrimeEnergy’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Cheniere Energy	13.57%	29.80%	7.05%
PrimeEnergy	13.87%	11.47%	7.67%

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Cheniere Energy and PrimeEnergy”s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Cheniere Energy	$19.98 billion	2.78	$5.33 billion	$13.43	19.99
PrimeEnergy	$176.29 million	1.87	$26.31 million	$10.38	20.10

Cheniere Energy has higher revenue and earnings than PrimeEnergy. Cheniere Energy is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than PrimeEnergy, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

87.3% of Cheniere Energy shares are held by institutional investors. 0.6% of Cheniere Energy shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 65.3% of PrimeEnergy shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

Cheniere Energy beats PrimeEnergy on 10 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

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. It is also involved in the LNG and natural gas marketing business. The company was incorporated in 1983 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

About PrimeEnergy

PrimeEnergy Resources Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in acquisition, development, and production of oil and natural gas properties in the United States. The company owns leasehold, mineral, and royalty interests in producing and non-producing oil and gas properties; and operates approximately 534 active wells and owns non-operating interests and royalties in 952 additional wells. It also acquires producing oil and gas properties through joint ventures with industry partners; and provides contract services to third parties, including well-servicing support, site-preparation, and construction services for oil and gas drilling and reworking operations. The company was formerly known as PrimeEnergy Corporation and changed its name to PrimeEnergy Resources Corporation in December 2018. PrimeEnergy Resources Corporation was incorporated in 1973 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.