Global sentiment is increasingly shifting toward cleaner-burning fuels, strengthening the long-term role of natural gas and liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) in the global energy market. Per the U.S. Energy Information Administration (“EIA”), U.S. LNG exports are expected to rise from 15.1 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2025 to 17.4 Bcf/d in 2026 and 18.6 Bcf/d in 2027, reflecting sustained overseas demand for domestic LNG. Global LNG demand remains firm, supported by resilient consumption across major Asian markets and low European gas inventories ahead of winter. Against this favorable backdrop, Venture Global VG is well-positioned to benefit from rising LNG demand as its production base expands.
VG noted that LNG imports into China, Japan and India have recovered despite elevated prices, while tighter European inventories are expected to support seasonal demand. The company expects to export 500 to 518 cargoes in 2026, with 91% of expected volumes already contracted. Plaquemines Phase I is targeted to reach commercial operation date (“COD”) in the fourth quarter, while CP2 is on schedule for first LNG in the second half of 2027, adding another major source of future supply. As these projects ramp up, Venture Globalis likely to gain from stronger export volumes and broader participation in the growing global LNG market.
Venture Global’s contracting strategy adds another layer of support to the growth story. Its mix of long-, medium- and shorter-term contracts provides cash-flow visibility while retaining exposure to periods of stronger LNG pricing. Management believes this balanced portfolio is likely to enhance returns and cash generation when global supply tightens and demand strengthens. With U.S. LNG exports expected to keep rising and additional VG capacity coming online, the company is well-positioned to capture higher volumes, stronger cash flows and further upside from the global LNG demand trend.
Rising LNG Demand Supports SHEL & TTE Growth Prospects
Other than Venture Global, Shell plc SHEL and TotalEnergies SE TTE are well-positioned to benefit from strong global LNG demand.
Shell has one of the industry’s largest and most geographically diversified LNG portfolios, with supply from more than 10 countries and sales across more than 30 markets. SHEL expects global LNG demand to rise about 65% by 2050, while projects in Qatar, Nigeria, Australia and other regions are set to expand its supply base and strengthen its ability to serve growing demand in Asia and Europe.
TotalEnergies has exposure to the expanding LNG market through a broad portfolio of production, liquefaction, trading and offtake assets. The company expects LNG sales to exceed 44 million tons in 2026, supported by new volumes from projects such as Qatar’s North Field East and Energia Costa Azul in Mexico. TTE targets LNG sales of roughly 60 million tons by 2030, supported by growth projects in Qatar, Nigeria, Oman, Mozambique and other markets.
VG’s Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates
Venture Global shares have declined 5.9% over the past year against the industry’s 13.3% growth.
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From a valuation standpoint, VG trades at a trailing 12-month enterprise-value-to-EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) of 9.98X. This is above the broader industry average of 10.65X.
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The Zacks Consensus Estimate for VG's 2026 earnings has remained constant over the past seven days.
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VG currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).