Antero Resources Sees Unusually High Options Volume (NYSE:AR)

Antero Resources Corporation (NYSE:AR) saw unusually large options trading on Thursday. Stock traders acquired 33,844 put options on the company. This is an increase of approximately 155% compared to the average volume of 13,287 put options.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on AR shares. Bank of America upped their price objective on shares of Antero Resources from $44.00 to $47.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. Benchmark reaffirmed a “hold” rating on shares of Antero Resources in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. UBS Group increased their price objective on Antero Resources from $40.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Antero Resources from $39.00 to $49.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Finally, Barclays lowered their price target on Antero Resources from $46.00 to $41.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have assigned a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $45.60.

Antero Resources Stock Down 3.6%

Shares of AR stock traded down $1.27 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $33.85. The company had a trading volume of 4,612,702 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,246,533. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $34.18 and its 200 day simple moving average is $33.35. The company has a market capitalization of $10.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.00 and a beta of 0.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a quick ratio of 0.31 and a current ratio of 0.31. Antero Resources has a twelve month low of $29.10 and a twelve month high of $44.01.

Antero Resources (NYSE:AR) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The oil and natural gas company reported $0.62 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.49 by $0.13. Antero Resources had a net margin of 11.73% and a return on equity of 7.51%. The business had revenue of $1.41 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.33 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.48 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 20.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Antero Resources will post 2.74 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Key Headlines Impacting Antero Resources

Here are the key news stories impacting Antero Resources this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Bank of America maintained a Buy on AR citing strong free cash flow, a prudent capital plan and valuation upside — a bullish endorsement that can support the share price. Buy Rating on Antero Resources Driven by Strong Free Cash Flow, Prudent Capital Plan, and Attractive Valuation Upside
• Positive Sentiment: TD Cowen upgraded Antero, adding upward analyst pressure and helping offset some bearish sentiment. Antero Resources (NYSE:AR) Upgraded at TD Cowen
• Positive Sentiment: Antero released its Q4 2025 results and 2026 guidance (press release/slide deck available); several outlets highlighted revenue growth and company-provided guidance that investors often view as constructive. Antero Resources Announces Fourth Quarter 2025 Results and 2026 Guidance
• Neutral Sentiment: Antero Midstream posted its own Q4 results and 2026 guidance; midstream performance affects consolidated cash flows but may be viewed separately by some investors. Antero Midstream Announces Fourth Quarter 2025 Results and 2026 Guidance
• Neutral Sentiment: Various outlets published earnings snapshots and analyses that walk through key metrics versus estimates — useful context but not uniformly interpreted across the market. Antero Resources: Q4 Earnings Snapshot AR Q4 Earnings: Taking a Look at Key Metrics Versus Estimates
• Negative Sentiment: Options flow was notably bearish today: traders bought 33,844 put contracts (about a 155% jump vs typical daily put volume), signaling outsized downside hedging or directional bearish bets that can pressure the stock.
• Negative Sentiment: At least one outlet flagged an EPS miss on the quarter (Zacks reported $0.42 vs a $0.52 estimate), which feeds short-term selling pressure and may explain some of the negative reaction amid mixed headlines. Antero Resources (AR) Q4 Earnings Miss Estimates

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Antero Resources

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of AR. Huntington National Bank increased its stake in Antero Resources by 91.3% in the 2nd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 656 shares of the oil and natural gas company’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 313 shares in the last quarter. Root Financial Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Antero Resources during the third quarter valued at $26,000. Sunbelt Securities Inc. acquired a new position in Antero Resources in the third quarter worth approximately $30,000. IFP Advisors Inc lifted its stake in shares of Antero Resources by 59.2% in the 3rd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 928 shares of the oil and natural gas company’s stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 345 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Antero Resources by 114.2% during the 2nd quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 938 shares of the oil and natural gas company’s stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 500 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 83.04% of the company’s stock.

About Antero Resources

Antero Resources Corporation is an independent exploration and production company focused on the development of natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs) and oil properties in the Appalachian Basin of the United States. The company’s operations target the Marcellus and Utica shales, where it applies advanced drilling and completion techniques to optimize recovery from its large acreage position. Antero’s portfolio encompasses significant reserves of ethane, propane and other NGLs, alongside dry gas volumes that are positioned to serve both domestic and export markets.

Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Antero Resources holds approximately 1.8 million net acres of leasehold interests across parts of West Virginia and Ohio.