Vital Energy (NYSE:VTLE) Sets New 1-Year Low on Analyst Downgrade

Shares of Vital Energy, Inc. (NYSE:VTLE) hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading 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 traded. The stock had previously closed at $20.94.

A number of other equities analysts have also weighed in on the company. Wolfe Research upgraded Vital Energy from an “underperform” rating to a “peer perform” rating in a research note on Friday, January 3rd. Mizuho boosted their target price on Vital Energy from $37.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Piper Sandler lowered their target price on Vital Energy from $32.00 to $24.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 6th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Vital Energy from $34.00 to $36.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 15th. Finally, Truist Financial dropped their price target on shares of Vital Energy from $49.00 to $47.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 21st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $41.00.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Vital Energy

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Sterling Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Vital Energy by 805.9% during the fourth quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 915 shares of the company’s stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 814 shares during the period. First Horizon Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in Vital Energy during the 3rd quarter worth $26,000. R Squared Ltd purchased a new stake in Vital Energy during the 4th quarter worth $34,000. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in Vital Energy by 276.9% during the 4th 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 period. Finally, Quarry LP purchased a new stake in Vital Energy during the 4th quarter worth $37,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.54% of the company’s stock.

Vital Energy Price Performance

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

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

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.