Vital Energy (NYSE:VTLE) Shares Gap Down - Here's Why

Vital Energy, Inc. (NYSE:VTLE - Get Free Report) shares gapped down prior to trading on Wednesday . The stock had previously closed at $23.05, but opened at $22.21. Vital Energy shares last traded at $21.44, with a volume of 285,342 shares trading hands.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have weighed in on VTLE. Siebert Williams Shank cut shares of Vital Energy from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $62.00 to $27.00 in a report on Wednesday. Piper Sandler lifted their target price on Vital Energy from $27.00 to $32.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 29th. 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 report on Friday, February 21st. Mizuho lifted their price target on Vital Energy from $37.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. Finally, Wolfe Research raised Vital Energy from an "underperform" rating to a "peer perform" rating in a report on Friday, January 3rd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Vital Energy presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $44.00.

Vital Energy Trading Down 8.0 %

The stock has a market cap of $808.39 million, a PE ratio of -4.47 and a beta of 3.12. 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 fifty day moving average is $32.23 and its 200 day moving average is $30.93.

Vital Energy (NYSE:VTLE - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 19th. The company reported $2.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.03 by $0.27. The company had revenue of $534.37 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates 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, analysts predict that Vital Energy, Inc. will post 8.49 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Vital Energy

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

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