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KMI vs. LNG: Kinder Morgan vs. Cheniere Energy Stock Comparison

How do Kinder Morgan (KMI) and Cheniere Energy (LNG) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Kinder Morgan (KMI) and Cheniere Energy (LNG) are both classified in the Oil & Gas Storage & Transportation sub-industry within the broader Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Kinder Morgan (KMI) and Cheniere Energy (LNG)
Profile ItemKMILNG
NameKinder Morgan Inc.Cheniere Energy Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorEnergyEnergy
GICS Industry GroupEnergyEnergy
GICS IndustryOil, Gas & Consumable FuelsOil, Gas & Consumable Fuels
GICS Sub-IndustryOil & Gas Storage & TransportationOil & Gas Storage & Transportation
Market Capitalization66.74 billion USD56.76 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 11, 2011April 4, 1994
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

KMI
LNG
GSPC
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Kinder Morgan (KMI) vs. Cheniere Energy (LNG), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Kinder Morgan (KMI) and Cheniere Energy (LNG). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Kinder Morgan (KMI) and Cheniere Energy (LNG). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Kinder Morgan (KMI) and Cheniere Energy (LNG)
MetricKMILNG
Total Return (1Y)19.50%36.89%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)29.33%19.36%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)18.80%22.59%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

KMI
LNG
GSPC
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Kinder Morgan (KMI) vs. Cheniere Energy (LNG), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Kinder Morgan (KMI) and Cheniere Energy (LNG). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Kinder Morgan (KMI) and Cheniere Energy (LNG)
MetricKMILNG
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)22.00%31.41%
Beta (5Y)0.600.06
Max Drawdown (5Y)-20.31%-24.87%
Avg. Volume (3M)12.88M2.00M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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KMI and LNG are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Kinder Morgan (KMI) and Cheniere Energy (LNG)
MetricKMILNG
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.691.04
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.011.54

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Cheniere Energy (LNG) at 39.68% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Kinder Morgan (KMI) at 11.43% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for LNG.

KMI

Energy industry group

11.43%

Max
53.85%
Q3
24.79%
Median
12.85%
KMI
11.43%
Q1
2.03%
Min
-29.09%

LNG

Energy industry group

39.68%

Max
53.85%
LNG
39.68%
Q3
24.79%
Median
12.85%
Q1
2.03%
Min
-29.09%
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Kinder Morgan (KMI) vs. Cheniere Energy (LNG): A comparison of their ROE against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Kinder Morgan (KMI) at 19.64% and Cheniere Energy (LNG) at 13.40% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

KMI

Energy industry group

19.64%

Max
56.92%
Q3
22.92%
KMI
19.64%
Median
10.10%
Q1
0.07%
Min
-27.38%

LNG

Energy industry group

13.40%

Max
56.92%
Q3
22.92%
LNG
13.40%
Median
10.10%
Q1
0.07%
Min
-27.38%
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Kinder Morgan (KMI) vs. Cheniere Energy (LNG): A comparison of their net margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Kinder Morgan (KMI) at 24.03% and Cheniere Energy (LNG) at 30.82% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

KMI

Energy industry group

24.03%

Max
71.31%
Q3
33.75%
KMI
24.03%
Median
18.73%
Q1
6.94%
Min
-24.52%

LNG

Energy industry group

30.82%

Max
71.31%
Q3
33.75%
LNG
30.82%
Median
18.73%
Q1
6.94%
Min
-24.52%
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Kinder Morgan (KMI) vs. Cheniere Energy (LNG): A comparison of their operating margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Kinder Morgan (KMI) and Cheniere Energy (LNG)
MetricKMILNG
ROE (TTM)11.43%39.68%
ROA (TTM)4.44%8.61%
Net Margin (TTM)19.64%13.40%
Operating Margin (TTM)24.03%30.82%
Gross Margin (TTM)48.65%34.89%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Cheniere Energy (LNG) at 27.21% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Kinder Morgan (KMI) at 12.17% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for LNG.

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Kinder Morgan (KMI) vs. Cheniere Energy (LNG): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Cheniere Energy (LNG) at 69.93% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Kinder Morgan (KMI) at 17.09% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for LNG.

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Kinder Morgan (KMI) vs. Cheniere Energy (LNG): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Kinder Morgan (KMI) and Cheniere Energy (LNG)
MetricKMILNG
Revenue Growth (YoY)12.17%27.21%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-4.09%-15.77%
EPS Growth (YoY)17.09%69.93%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)6.95%62.34%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Cheniere Energy (LNG) at 0.90 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Kinder Morgan (KMI) at 0.67 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for KMI.

KMI

Energy industry group

0.67

Max
3.64
Q3
2.21
Median
1.41
Q1
0.88
KMI
0.67
Min
0.24

LNG

Energy industry group

0.90

Max
3.64
Q3
2.21
Median
1.41
LNG
0.90
Q1
0.88
Min
0.24
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Kinder Morgan (KMI) vs. Cheniere Energy (LNG): A comparison of their current ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both balance sheets lean debt-heavy versus peers, but LNG is more stretched: Kinder Morgan (KMI) at 1.02 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and Cheniere Energy (LNG) at 2.31 is above its industry benchmark range.

KMI

Energy industry group

1.02

Max
1.75
KMI
1.02
Q3
0.93
Median
0.54
Q1
0.30
Min
0.00

LNG

Energy industry group

2.31

LNG
2.31
Max
1.75
Q3
0.93
Median
0.54
Q1
0.30
Min
0.00
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Kinder Morgan (KMI) vs. Cheniere Energy (LNG): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Kinder Morgan (KMI) and Cheniere Energy (LNG)
MetricKMILNG
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.670.90
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.022.31
Net Debt / EBITDA4.233.26

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Kinder Morgan (KMI) at 3.93% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Cheniere Energy (LNG) at 0.82% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, KMI the richer one.

KMI

Energy industry group

3.93%

Max
8.57%
KMI
3.93%
Q3
3.58%
Median
1.71%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

LNG

Energy industry group

0.82%

Max
8.57%
Q3
3.58%
Median
1.71%
LNG
0.82%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Kinder Morgan (KMI) vs. Cheniere Energy (LNG): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Cheniere Energy (LNG) at 15.80% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Kinder Morgan (KMI) at 72.84% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

KMI

Energy industry group

72.84%

Max
133.24%
KMI
72.84%
Q3
53.31%
Median
25.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

LNG

Energy industry group

15.80%

Max
133.24%
Q3
53.31%
Median
25.24%
LNG
15.80%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Kinder Morgan (KMI) vs. Cheniere Energy (LNG): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Kinder Morgan (KMI) and Cheniere Energy (LNG)
MetricKMILNG
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.93%0.82%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)72.84%15.80%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Kinder Morgan (KMI) at 18.49 and Cheniere Energy (LNG) at 19.78 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

KMI

Energy industry group

18.49

Max
39.54
Q3
21.72
KMI
18.49
Median
12.19
Q1
7.71
Min
2.99

LNG

Energy industry group

19.78

Max
39.54
Q3
21.72
LNG
19.78
Median
12.19
Q1
7.71
Min
2.99
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Kinder Morgan (KMI) vs. Cheniere Energy (LNG): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Cheniere Energy (LNG) at 2.50 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Kinder Morgan (KMI) at 3.64 sits in the pricier quartile — KMI costs more per dollar of sales.

KMI

Energy industry group

3.64

Max
5.40
KMI
3.64
Q3
2.85
Median
1.69
Q1
0.88
Min
0.00

LNG

Energy industry group

2.50

Max
5.40
Q3
2.85
LNG
2.50
Median
1.69
Q1
0.88
Min
0.00
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Kinder Morgan (KMI) vs. Cheniere Energy (LNG): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Kinder Morgan (KMI) at 2.11 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Cheniere Energy (LNG) at 8.70 prices above its benchmark range — LNG looks rich relative to book.

KMI

Energy industry group

2.11

Max
4.21
Q3
2.38
KMI
2.11
Median
1.51
Q1
1.08
Min
0.01

LNG

Energy industry group

8.70

LNG
8.70
Max
4.21
Q3
2.38
Median
1.51
Q1
1.08
Min
0.01
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Kinder Morgan (KMI) vs. Cheniere Energy (LNG): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Kinder Morgan (KMI) and Cheniere Energy (LNG)
MetricKMILNG
P/E Ratio (TTM)18.4919.78
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.642.50
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.118.70
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.61%3.17%