NextDecade Receives Buy Rating from Citi
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 13 2026
0mins
Source: seekingalpha
- Rating Upgrade: Citi initiated coverage on NextDecade (NEXT) with a Buy rating and an $11 price target, indicating that the stock provides exposure to one of the last large-scale greenfield LNG export facilities in the U.S. Gulf Coast, with U.S. LNG expected to become an increasingly sought-after commodity.
- Demand Premium Outlook: Analyst Spiro Dounis noted that extended outages in the Middle East are likely to create a demand premium for U.S. LNG in the near to medium term, suggesting significant growth potential for the industry, particularly for NextDecade's Rio Grande LNG project.
- Future Growth Potential: The current backlog at Rio Grande LNG positions NextDecade to potentially become a top four U.S. LNG exporter by the early 2030s, with the analyst believing that expansion could significantly enhance the company's market valuation.
- Profitability Enhancement: Dounis estimates that if NextDecade proceeds with Rio Grande's Train 6, the net present value could be worth $3 per share, representing over 30% accretion from current levels, while the project could drive more than 50% EBITDA upside for NextDecade.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy NEXT?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on NEXT
Wall Street analysts forecast NEXT stock price to fall
1 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 8.450
Low
7.00
Averages
7.00
High
7.00
Current: 8.450
Low
7.00
Averages
7.00
High
7.00
About NEXT
NextDecade Corporation is an energy company. The Company is engaged in construction and development activities related to the liquefaction and sale of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and the capture and storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The Company is constructing and developing a natural gas liquefaction and export facility located in the Rio Grande Valley in Brownsville, Texas (the Rio Grande LNG Facility), which has three liquefaction trains and related infrastructure under construction. Through its subsidiary, Rio Grande LNG, LLC (Rio Grande), the Company is constructing the Rio Grande LNG Facility on the north shore of the Brownsville Ship Channel. The site is located on 984 acres of land which has been leased long-term and includes 15 thousand feet of frontage on the Brownsville Ship Channel. It is also developing a planned carbon capture and storage (CCS) project at the Rio Grande LNG Facility and other potential CCS projects.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
NextDecade Receives Buy Rating from Citi
- Rating Upgrade: Citi initiated coverage on NextDecade (NEXT) with a Buy rating and an $11 price target, indicating that the stock provides exposure to one of the last large-scale greenfield LNG export facilities in the U.S. Gulf Coast, with U.S. LNG expected to become an increasingly sought-after commodity.
- Demand Premium Outlook: Analyst Spiro Dounis noted that extended outages in the Middle East are likely to create a demand premium for U.S. LNG in the near to medium term, suggesting significant growth potential for the industry, particularly for NextDecade's Rio Grande LNG project.
- Future Growth Potential: The current backlog at Rio Grande LNG positions NextDecade to potentially become a top four U.S. LNG exporter by the early 2030s, with the analyst believing that expansion could significantly enhance the company's market valuation.
- Profitability Enhancement: Dounis estimates that if NextDecade proceeds with Rio Grande's Train 6, the net present value could be worth $3 per share, representing over 30% accretion from current levels, while the project could drive more than 50% EBITDA upside for NextDecade.
See More
Wall Street's Latest Ratings Overview
- Nvidia's Positive Outlook: Oppenheimer reiterates Nvidia as an outperform, projecting CY26 free cash flow to approach $200 billion, and if half is allocated for dividends, the yield could reach nearly 2.5%, which would bolster investor confidence and drive stock price appreciation.
- Apple's Strong Ecosystem: Daiwa raises Apple's price target from $310 to $325, emphasizing its vast ecosystem as a core strength, while acknowledging potential memory management challenges in 2H CY26, the long-term outlook remains favorable for this core holding.
- Positive Outlook for Housing Platform: UBS upgrades KE Holdings to buy from neutral, citing significant upside due to its agency business in tier 1 cities, particularly as the market recovery is led by the secondary market, positioning the company for strong performance.
- Wendy's Potential Privatization: Argus upgrades Wendy's to buy from neutral, driven by news of a potential move to take the restaurant chain private, with Trian Fund Management owning about 40% of the stock, indicating strong market confidence in this strategic shift.
See More
Investor Perspectives on Multiple Companies
- Scotts Performance Risk: Scotts Miracle-Gro Company highlighted that poor weather conditions could adversely affect its performance, indicating a high sensitivity of its business to climate factors, which necessitates cautious risk assessment by investors.
- Santander Acquisition Praise: Banco Santander's acquisition of Webster Bank received positive feedback, with a former hedge fund manager praising it as a quality asset, reflecting confidence in the bank's future growth potential.
- Altria Stock Recommendation: Altria Group is advised to reduce holdings as analysts note its stock has surged too quickly, suggesting investors consider locking in some profits to mitigate risk.
- NextDecade's Outlook: NextDecade is viewed as having potential in LNG demand, although analysts maintain a cautious stance on its future performance, recommending investors to remain on the sidelines for now.
See More
NextDecade Provides Update on Rio Grande LNG Project Progress
- Construction Progress: As of March 2026, the overall project completion percentage for Trains 1 and 2 at the Rio Grande LNG Facility stands at 67.8%, with engineering at 98.4% and procurement at 94.3%, indicating that the project is progressing ahead of schedule and within budget, enhancing the company's competitive edge in the global LNG market.
- Electrical Commissioning Ongoing: Early electrical commissioning of Train 1 is underway, with expectations to introduce first gas into the facility in the second half of 2026 and achieve first LNG production in the first half of 2027, which will generate significant revenue streams for the company.
- Marketing Initiated: In early 2026, NextDecade began marketing early cargoes expected to be produced in 2027 and 2028, having signed LNG sales agreements for over 175 TBtu, with fixed liquefaction fees projected to achieve cargo margins exceeding $3.00 per MMBtu, further solidifying the company's market position.
- Expansion Plans Advancing: The company is advancing the development of Trains 6 through 8, expected to add approximately 18 MTPA of liquefaction capacity, and plans to file a complete application for Train 6 with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission before the end of Q2 2026, demonstrating strong confidence in future growth.
See More
U.S. LNG Firms Decline Following Iran's Announcement of Open Strait of Hormuz for Commercial Shipping During Lebanon Ceasefire
U.S. Companies' Response: U.S. companies have reduced their operations following Iran's announcement regarding the Strait of Hormuz.
Strait of Hormuz Accessibility: Iran has declared that the Strait of Hormuz is open to all commercial shipping during the duration of the Lebanon ceasefire.
See More
NextDecade to Host Q1 2026 Conference Call
- Conference Call Details: NextDecade will host a conference call on May 1, 2026, at 11:00 AM ET to discuss Q1 2026 developments, with a press release and presentation expected before market open, aimed at enhancing investor transparency regarding company operations.
- Liquefaction Capacity Development: The company is constructing the Rio Grande LNG facility near Brownsville, Texas, with approximately 48 MTPA of liquefaction capacity under development and plans for up to 10 liquefaction trains, indicating significant expansion potential in the energy market.
- Commitment to Sustainability: NextDecade emphasizes its commitment to providing reliable and cleaner energy through the safe and efficient development of natural gas liquefaction capacity, aligning with the global demand for sustainable energy solutions.
- Forward-Looking Statements: The press release includes forward-looking statements reflecting the company's expectations for future developments, acknowledging that actual results may differ due to various factors, highlighting the company's awareness of risk management in an uncertain environment.
See More
NextDecade Receives Buy Rating from Citi
- Rating Upgrade: Citi initiated coverage on NextDecade (NEXT) with a Buy rating and an $11 price target, indicating that the stock provides exposure to one of the last large-scale greenfield LNG export facilities in the U.S. Gulf Coast, with U.S. LNG expected to become an increasingly sought-after commodity.
- Demand Premium Outlook: Analyst Spiro Dounis noted that extended outages in the Middle East are likely to create a demand premium for U.S. LNG in the near to medium term, suggesting significant growth potential for the industry, particularly for NextDecade's Rio Grande LNG project.
- Future Growth Potential: The current backlog at Rio Grande LNG positions NextDecade to potentially become a top four U.S. LNG exporter by the early 2030s, with the analyst believing that expansion could significantly enhance the company's market valuation.
- Profitability Enhancement: Dounis estimates that if NextDecade proceeds with Rio Grande's Train 6, the net present value could be worth $3 per share, representing over 30% accretion from current levels, while the project could drive more than 50% EBITDA upside for NextDecade.
See More
Wall Street's Latest Ratings Overview
- Nvidia's Positive Outlook: Oppenheimer reiterates Nvidia as an outperform, projecting CY26 free cash flow to approach $200 billion, and if half is allocated for dividends, the yield could reach nearly 2.5%, which would bolster investor confidence and drive stock price appreciation.
- Apple's Strong Ecosystem: Daiwa raises Apple's price target from $310 to $325, emphasizing its vast ecosystem as a core strength, while acknowledging potential memory management challenges in 2H CY26, the long-term outlook remains favorable for this core holding.
- Positive Outlook for Housing Platform: UBS upgrades KE Holdings to buy from neutral, citing significant upside due to its agency business in tier 1 cities, particularly as the market recovery is led by the secondary market, positioning the company for strong performance.
- Wendy's Potential Privatization: Argus upgrades Wendy's to buy from neutral, driven by news of a potential move to take the restaurant chain private, with Trian Fund Management owning about 40% of the stock, indicating strong market confidence in this strategic shift.
See More
Investor Perspectives on Multiple Companies
- Scotts Performance Risk: Scotts Miracle-Gro Company highlighted that poor weather conditions could adversely affect its performance, indicating a high sensitivity of its business to climate factors, which necessitates cautious risk assessment by investors.
- Santander Acquisition Praise: Banco Santander's acquisition of Webster Bank received positive feedback, with a former hedge fund manager praising it as a quality asset, reflecting confidence in the bank's future growth potential.
- Altria Stock Recommendation: Altria Group is advised to reduce holdings as analysts note its stock has surged too quickly, suggesting investors consider locking in some profits to mitigate risk.
- NextDecade's Outlook: NextDecade is viewed as having potential in LNG demand, although analysts maintain a cautious stance on its future performance, recommending investors to remain on the sidelines for now.
See More
NextDecade Provides Update on Rio Grande LNG Project Progress
- Construction Progress: As of March 2026, the overall project completion percentage for Trains 1 and 2 at the Rio Grande LNG Facility stands at 67.8%, with engineering at 98.4% and procurement at 94.3%, indicating that the project is progressing ahead of schedule and within budget, enhancing the company's competitive edge in the global LNG market.
- Electrical Commissioning Ongoing: Early electrical commissioning of Train 1 is underway, with expectations to introduce first gas into the facility in the second half of 2026 and achieve first LNG production in the first half of 2027, which will generate significant revenue streams for the company.
- Marketing Initiated: In early 2026, NextDecade began marketing early cargoes expected to be produced in 2027 and 2028, having signed LNG sales agreements for over 175 TBtu, with fixed liquefaction fees projected to achieve cargo margins exceeding $3.00 per MMBtu, further solidifying the company's market position.
- Expansion Plans Advancing: The company is advancing the development of Trains 6 through 8, expected to add approximately 18 MTPA of liquefaction capacity, and plans to file a complete application for Train 6 with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission before the end of Q2 2026, demonstrating strong confidence in future growth.
See More
U.S. LNG Firms Decline Following Iran's Announcement of Open Strait of Hormuz for Commercial Shipping During Lebanon Ceasefire
U.S. Companies' Response: U.S. companies have reduced their operations following Iran's announcement regarding the Strait of Hormuz.
Strait of Hormuz Accessibility: Iran has declared that the Strait of Hormuz is open to all commercial shipping during the duration of the Lebanon ceasefire.
See More
NextDecade to Host Q1 2026 Conference Call
- Conference Call Details: NextDecade will host a conference call on May 1, 2026, at 11:00 AM ET to discuss Q1 2026 developments, with a press release and presentation expected before market open, aimed at enhancing investor transparency regarding company operations.
- Liquefaction Capacity Development: The company is constructing the Rio Grande LNG facility near Brownsville, Texas, with approximately 48 MTPA of liquefaction capacity under development and plans for up to 10 liquefaction trains, indicating significant expansion potential in the energy market.
- Commitment to Sustainability: NextDecade emphasizes its commitment to providing reliable and cleaner energy through the safe and efficient development of natural gas liquefaction capacity, aligning with the global demand for sustainable energy solutions.
- Forward-Looking Statements: The press release includes forward-looking statements reflecting the company's expectations for future developments, acknowledging that actual results may differ due to various factors, highlighting the company's awareness of risk management in an uncertain environment.
See More
