New York, Jan 13, 2026, 14:03 EST — Regular session underway.
- Shares of Cheniere Energy held steady after CEO Jack Fusco outlined a natural gas processing goal set for 2026.
- U.S. LNG export feedgas flows have hit record levels, tightening the connection between gas prices and LNG exporters.
- Investors are focused on winter demand trends and eagerly awaiting Cheniere’s next earnings report.
Shares of Cheniere Energy ticked up roughly 0.3% to $194.05 Tuesday afternoon following CEO Jack Fusco’s announcement that the LNG exporter aims to handle 10 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas by the close of 2026. 1
The timing is crucial as U.S. gas traders focus heavily on one key factor: how much pipeline gas LNG export terminals can keep drawing amid fluctuating winter demand. In January, flows to the eight major U.S. LNG export plants have averaged 18.7 billion cubic feet per day, with a new daily record of 19.4 bcfd set to be reached Monday, LSEG data reported by Gas Processing & LNG shows. 2
Power demand is heading the other way. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported Tuesday that power consumption will hit record levels in 2026 and 2027. Meanwhile, natural gas’s share of generation is forecast to slip to 39% in 2026, down from 40% in 2025, as renewables grab a bigger slice.
Fusco’s 10-bcf/d figure measures volume, not price. Simply put, it represents how much natural gas flows through Cheniere’s system to be cooled into liquefied natural gas, or LNG, for export.
Cheniere and its subsidiaries control key assets at the Sabine Pass and Corpus Christi LNG terminals. The company reports ongoing efforts to debottleneck and optimize operations, aiming to boost liquefaction capacity. 3
Earlier Tuesday, a fresh demand signal came out of Europe. Engie announced a 15-year LNG supply deal for Thai power plants. The French utility also highlighted its long-term U.S. LNG contracts stretching beyond 2040 with suppliers like Cheniere, NextDecade, and Sempra Infrastructure. 4
On the sell-side, a few analysts adjusted their price targets but stayed optimistic overall. Citigroup cut its target for Cheniere slightly, from $283 down to $280, yet stuck with a “Buy” rating, according to a MarketBeat report. 5
Traders are shifting focus from speeches to flows and weather. Moves in U.S. gas benchmarks tend to hit LNG-linked stocks fast, as investors factor in feedgas demand, storage draws, and the ripple effects on export economics.
But the situation can shift quickly. A warmer late-winter period or a global surge in LNG supply could tighten margins and dampen enthusiasm for new capacity investments. In fact, Energy Transfer halted work on its Lake Charles LNG export project last December, pointing to cost challenges and concerns over global oversupply. 6
Investors will focus on Thursday’s weekly U.S. natural gas storage report for signals on winter demand before turning to Cheniere’s upcoming earnings release, scheduled by Nasdaq for Feb. 19. 7
