Vital Energy (NYSE:VTLE) Reaches New 12-Month Low - Should You Sell?

Vital Energy, Inc. (NYSE:VTLE - Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week low on Monday . The stock traded as low as $25.85 and last traded at $26.27, with a volume of 196944 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $27.71.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

VTLE has been the subject of several research reports. Piper Sandler reduced their target price on Vital Energy from $38.00 to $37.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 15th. Mizuho reduced their price target on shares of Vital Energy from $42.00 to $39.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 10th. KeyCorp lowered shares of Vital Energy from an "overweight" rating to a "sector weight" rating in a research note on Friday, August 16th. Wolfe Research began coverage on shares of Vital Energy in a research report on Thursday, July 18th. They set an "underperform" rating and a $50.00 target price for the company. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on Vital Energy from $41.00 to $29.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 1st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $47.83.

Vital Energy Stock Down 3.6 %

The company has a market capitalization of $979.19 million, a PE ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 3.16. The stock's fifty day moving average is $30.24 and its two-hundred day moving average is $40.70. The company has a current ratio of 0.51, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59.

Vital Energy (NYSE:VTLE - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The company reported $1.46 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.88 by ($0.42). Vital Energy had a net margin of 13.97% and a return on equity of 11.58%. The business had revenue of $476.37 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $468.76 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $4.35 earnings per share. The business's quarterly revenue was up 42.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts predict that Vital Energy, Inc. will post 7.16 EPS for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Vital Energy

In related news, CFO Bryan Lemmerman sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $28.54, for a total transaction of $285,400.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 77,516 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,212,306.64. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, COO Kathryn Anne Hill sold 2,023 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $30.22, for a total value of $61,135.06. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 29,091 shares in the company, valued at approximately $879,130.02. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CFO Bryan Lemmerman sold 10,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $28.54, for a total value of $285,400.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 77,516 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,212,306.64. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 17,168 shares of company stock valued at $502,017 over the last three months. Company insiders own 1.20% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Vital Energy

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. CWM LLC grew its position in Vital Energy by 400.9% in the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 581 shares of the company's stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 465 shares in the last quarter. nVerses Capital LLC raised its holdings in shares of Vital Energy by 100.0% during the 2nd quarter. nVerses Capital LLC now owns 1,800 shares of the company's stock valued at $81,000 after buying an additional 900 shares in the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC lifted its position in Vital Energy by 2,590.7% in the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 2,018 shares of the company's stock worth $54,000 after buying an additional 1,943 shares during the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC boosted its stake in Vital Energy by 234.2% in the third quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 2,326 shares of the company's stock worth $63,000 after buying an additional 1,630 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Innealta Capital LLC bought a new position in Vital Energy during the second quarter valued at approximately $147,000. Institutional investors own 86.54% of the company's stock.

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.