Vital Energy, Inc. (NYSE:VTLE) Given Average Recommendation of “Reduce” by Brokerages

Shares of Vital Energy, Inc. (NYSE:VTLE) have received a consensus rating of “Reduce” from the twelve brokerages that are covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price target among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $27.00.

Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of Vital Energy from $22.00 to $16.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 17th. Piper Sandler decreased their price target on Vital Energy from $30.00 to $25.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, November 18th. Citigroup restated a “neutral” rating on shares of Vital Energy in a research report on Monday, November 17th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Vital Energy from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Saturday, August 9th. Finally, Mizuho increased their price target on shares of Vital Energy from $19.00 to $21.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 12th.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vital Energy

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Westwood Holdings Group Inc. raised its holdings in Vital Energy by 48.3% in the 1st quarter. Westwood Holdings Group Inc. now owns 3,284,584 shares of the company’s stock worth $69,699,000 after purchasing an additional 1,070,289 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Vital Energy by 6.3% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 2,267,671 shares of the company’s stock valued at $38,301,000 after buying an additional 133,755 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. raised its stake in shares of Vital Energy by 9.5% during the 3rd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 911,934 shares of the company’s stock worth $15,403,000 after buying an additional 79,316 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Vital Energy by 2.8% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 673,154 shares of the company’s stock worth $10,833,000 after buying an additional 18,602 shares during the period. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Vital Energy by 16.6% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 588,673 shares of the company’s stock valued at $12,492,000 after buying an additional 83,788 shares in the last quarter. 86.54% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Vital Energy Stock Performance

VTLE opened at $18.55 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30. Vital Energy has a 12-month low of $12.30 and a 12-month high of $36.72. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $16.60 and a two-hundred day moving average of $16.90. The firm has a market capitalization of $717.62 million, a PE ratio of -0.53 and a beta of 1.12.

Vital Energy (NYSE:VTLE) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, November 3rd. The company reported $1.52 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.59 by ($0.07). Vital Energy had a negative net margin of 69.28% and a positive return on equity of 13.40%. The business had revenue of $420.83 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $458.87 million. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.61 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was down 8.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts anticipate that Vital Energy will post 8.49 EPS 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.