Vital Energy (NYSE:VTLE) Reaches New 12-Month Low on Analyst Downgrade

Vital Energy, Inc. (NYSE:VTLE) hit a new 52-week low on Monday after Raymond James lowered their price target on the stock from $44.00 to $30.00. Raymond James currently has an outperform rating on the stock. Vital Energy traded as low as $20.55 and last traded at $21.02, with a volume of 151524 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $20.94.

Several other analysts have also recently weighed in on the stock. Wolfe Research upgraded shares of Vital Energy from an “underperform” rating to a “peer perform” rating in a research note on Friday, January 3rd. Citigroup downgraded Vital Energy to a “reduce” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. Mizuho lifted their price target on shares of Vital Energy from $37.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Truist Financial reduced their price objective on shares of Vital Energy from $49.00 to $47.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 21st. Finally, Piper Sandler dropped their target price on shares of Vital Energy from $32.00 to $24.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 6th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Vital Energy currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $41.00.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

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

Vital Energy Stock Up 2.4 %

The company has a quick ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 0.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91. The business’s 50-day moving average is $31.36 and its 200-day moving average is $30.41. The company has a market capitalization of $795.97 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -4.40 and a beta of 3.07.

Vital Energy (NYSE:VTLE) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 19th. The company reported $2.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.03 by $0.27. Vital Energy had a negative net margin of 8.89% and a positive return on equity of 9.48%. The business had revenue of $534.37 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $550.90 million. As a group, equities analysts predict that Vital Energy, Inc. will post 8.49 earnings per share for the current year.

About Vital Energy

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.