Vital Energy, Inc. (NYSE:VTLE) Receives $32.36 Consensus PT from Brokerages

Shares of Vital Energy, Inc. (NYSE:VTLE) have been given an average rating of “Reduce” by the twelve brokerages that are covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12 month price target among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $32.36.

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on VTLE shares. Wolfe Research raised Vital Energy from an “underperform” rating to a “peer perform” rating in a research note on Friday, January 3rd. Citigroup lowered Vital Energy to a “reduce” rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 5th. Piper Sandler cut their price objective on Vital Energy from $24.00 to $23.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of Vital Energy from $36.00 to $24.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, March 25th. Finally, Mizuho upped their price target on shares of Vital Energy from $37.00 to $38.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th.

Vital Energy Price Performance

Shares of Vital Energy stock opened at $15.60 on Wednesday. Vital Energy has a 52 week low of $12.30 and a 52 week high of $55.52. 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 stock has a market cap of $603.75 million, a PE ratio of -3.28 and a beta of 2.82. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $19.48 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $27.20.

Vital Energy (NYSE:VTLE) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 19th. The company reported $2.30 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.03 by $0.27. The business had revenue of $534.37 million during 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, sell-side analysts anticipate that Vital Energy will post 8.49 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Vital Energy news, major shareholder Richard D. Campbell bought 5,000 shares of Vital Energy stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 3rd. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $17.75 per share, for a total transaction of $88,750.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the insider now directly owns 43,072 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $764,528. The trade was a 13.13 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CFO Bryan Lemmerman sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $20.73, for a total transaction of $207,300.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 97,556 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,022,335.88. This trade represents a 9.30 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 21,647 shares of company stock worth $448,742. Corporate insiders own 1.20% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vital Energy

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Sterling Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Vital Energy by 805.9% in the fourth quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 915 shares of the company’s stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 814 shares during the period. R Squared Ltd bought a new position in Vital Energy in the 4th quarter worth $34,000. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC lifted its position 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 acquiring an additional 803 shares during the last quarter. Quarry LP bought a new stake in Vital Energy during the fourth quarter valued at about $37,000. Finally, MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB grew its position in shares of Vital Energy by 247.4% in the fourth quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 1,553 shares of the company’s stock valued at $48,000 after purchasing an additional 1,106 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.54% of the company’s stock.

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.