Zacks Research Issues Optimistic Outlook for Hess Earnings

Hess Co. (NYSE:HES - Free Report) - Zacks Research upped their Q1 2025 EPS estimates for Hess in a research note issued on Tuesday, February 11th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now forecasts that the oil and gas producer will post earnings per share of $1.96 for the quarter, up from their previous estimate of $1.60. The consensus estimate for Hess' current full-year earnings is $7.69 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Hess' Q2 2025 earnings at $1.90 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $7.64 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $3.18 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $3.00 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $2.73 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $3.00 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $11.92 EPS.

A number of other analysts have also weighed in on the stock. UBS Group raised their price target on shares of Hess from $185.00 to $186.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, February 13th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Hess in a report on Friday. They issued a "hold" rating for the company. Pickering Energy Partners raised shares of Hess to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, January 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of Hess from an "equal weight" rating to an "overweight" rating and raised their price target for the company from $151.00 to $193.00 in a report on Monday, December 9th. Finally, Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Hess from $145.00 to $163.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, December 6th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $170.60.

Hess Price Performance

Shares of NYSE HES traded up $1.49 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $148.04. 1,873,372 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,981,472. The company has a market cap of $45.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.45 and a beta of 1.17. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $140.42 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $138.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a current ratio of 1.12. Hess has a twelve month low of $123.79 and a twelve month high of $163.98.

Hess (NYSE:HES - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.76 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.44 by $0.32. Hess had a net margin of 21.27% and a return on equity of 26.32%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Hess

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC lifted its position in Hess by 3.5% in the 4th quarter. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC now owns 2,154 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $287,000 after acquiring an additional 72 shares in the last quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. increased its stake in Hess by 1.9% in the 4th quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 3,971 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $528,000 after buying an additional 73 shares during the last quarter. Cassaday & Co Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in Hess by 2.4% in the 3rd quarter. Cassaday & Co Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,266 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $444,000 after buying an additional 78 shares during the last quarter. Moss Adams Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in Hess by 5.3% in the 4th quarter. Moss Adams Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,682 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $224,000 after buying an additional 85 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Howard Capital Management Inc. increased its stake in Hess by 5.2% in the 4th quarter. Howard Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,809 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $241,000 after buying an additional 90 shares during the last quarter. 88.51% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at Hess

In related news, CEO John B. Hess sold 125,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $147.08, for a total value of $18,385,000.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 217,894 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $32,047,849.52. The trade was a 36.45 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 9.76% of the company's stock.

Hess Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 16th were given a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 16th. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.35%. Hess's dividend payout ratio is 22.22%.

About Hess

Hess Corporation, an exploration and production company, explores, develops, produces, purchases, transports, and sells crude oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and natural gas. The company operates in two segments, Exploration and Production, and Midstream. It conducts production operations primarily in the United States, Guyana, the Malaysia/Thailand Joint Development Area, and Malaysia; and exploration activities principally offshore Guyana, the U.S.