Vital Energy (NYSE:VTLE) Reaches New 1-Year Low – What’s Next?

Vital Energy, Inc. (NYSE:VTLE) hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $12.64 and last traded at $14.15, with a volume of 2837523 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $13.95.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

VTLE has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Truist Financial lowered their price target 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. Wolfe Research raised shares of Vital Energy from an “underperform” rating to a “peer perform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 3rd. Raymond James dropped their price objective on shares of Vital Energy from $44.00 to $30.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Monday, March 10th. Bank of America dropped their price target on shares of Vital Energy from $33.00 to $27.00 and set an “underperform” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 1st. Finally, Siebert Williams Shank lowered Vital Energy from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and decreased their target price for the company from $62.00 to $27.00 in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Vital Energy currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $38.08.

Vital Energy Price Performance

The company has a market cap of $554.36 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -3.06 and a beta of 2.82. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $26.11 and a 200-day simple moving average of $28.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 0.78.

Vital Energy (NYSE:VTLE) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 19th. The company reported $2.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.03 by $0.27. The firm had revenue of $534.37 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $550.90 million. Vital Energy had a positive return on equity of 9.48% and a negative net margin of 8.89%. As a group, research analysts predict that Vital Energy, Inc. will post 8.49 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, COO Kathryn Anne Hill sold 5,673 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $20.73, for a total value of $117,601.29. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 46,413 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $962,141.49. This represents a 10.89 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CFO Bryan Lemmerman sold 10,000 shares of Vital Energy stock in a transaction dated 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 of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,022,335.88. The trade was a 9.30 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 21,647 shares of company stock valued at $448,742. Corporate insiders own 1.20% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Vital Energy

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company raised its stake in Vital Energy by 3.6% during the third quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 14,490 shares of the company’s stock worth $390,000 after purchasing an additional 503 shares during the period. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of Vital Energy by 3.4% in the 4th quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 16,278 shares of the company’s stock worth $503,000 after purchasing an additional 535 shares during the period. US Bancorp DE lifted its stake in shares of Vital Energy by 9.1% in the 4th quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 6,971 shares of the company’s stock valued at $216,000 after purchasing an additional 581 shares in the last quarter. Comerica Bank grew its holdings in shares of Vital Energy by 6.1% during the 4th quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 12,796 shares of the company’s stock worth $396,000 after purchasing an additional 730 shares during the period. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. increased its position in Vital Energy by 6.4% during the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 12,662 shares of the company’s stock worth $363,000 after purchasing an additional 758 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other 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.