Vital Energy (NYSE:VTLE) Reaches New 1-Year Low – Time to Sell?

Vital Energy, Inc. (NYSE:VTLE)’s share price reached a new 52-week low during trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as $25.76 and last traded at $25.01, with a volume of 388702 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $26.71.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages recently weighed in on VTLE. Truist Financial decreased their target price on Vital Energy from $49.00 to $47.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on Vital Energy from $29.00 to $30.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. Wolfe Research upgraded Vital Energy from an “underperform” rating to a “peer perform” rating in a research note on Friday, January 3rd. Piper Sandler lifted their target price on shares of Vital Energy from $27.00 to $32.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 29th. Finally, Mizuho upped their target price on shares of Vital Energy from $37.00 to $38.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $45.70.

Vital Energy Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 0.78. The company has a fifty day moving average of $32.44 and a two-hundred day moving average of $31.12. The company has a market cap of $908.04 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -5.01 and a beta of 3.12.

Vital Energy (NYSE:VTLE) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 19th. The company reported $2.30 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.03 by $0.27. The firm had revenue of $534.37 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $550.90 million. Vital Energy had a positive return on equity of 9.48% and a negative net margin of 8.89%. Equities research analysts anticipate that Vital Energy, Inc. will post 8.49 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vital Energy

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in VTLE. First Horizon Advisors Inc. bought a new position in Vital Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Sterling Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Vital Energy by 805.9% in the 4th quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 915 shares of the company’s stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 814 shares during the last quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC lifted its position in Vital Energy by 276.9% in the fourth quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,093 shares of the company’s stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 803 shares during the last quarter. R Squared Ltd purchased a new position in Vital Energy during the fourth quarter worth $34,000. Finally, Quarry LP purchased a new stake in Vital Energy in the 4th quarter worth about $37,000. 86.54% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Vital Energy Company Profile

Vital Energy, Inc, an independent energy company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of oil and natural gas properties in the Permian Basin of West Texas, the United States. The company was formerly known as Laredo Petroleum, Inc and changed its name to Vital Energy, Inc in January 2023.