Liberty Energy (NYSE:LBRT) Trading Up 6.6% – Still a Buy?

Liberty Energy Inc. (NYSE:LBRT) shares rose 6.6% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $20.54 and last traded at $20.50. Approximately 1,624,447 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 54% from the average daily volume of 3,517,266 shares. The stock had previously closed at $19.23.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently weighed in on LBRT. Wall Street Zen cut Liberty Energy from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Sunday, October 19th. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Liberty Energy from $14.00 to $17.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Liberty Energy from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, December 15th. UBS Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Liberty Energy in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. Finally, Cowen reissued a “hold” rating on shares of Liberty Energy in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $19.00.

Liberty Energy Stock Performance

The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $18.08 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $14.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a current ratio of 1.32 and a quick ratio of 1.05. The company has a market capitalization of $3.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.12 and a beta of 0.45.

Liberty Energy (NYSE:LBRT) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 16th. The company reported ($0.06) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.01) by ($0.05). The company had revenue of $947.40 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $967.05 million. Liberty Energy had a return on equity of 1.69% and a net margin of 4.76%.The firm’s quarterly revenue was down 16.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.45 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Liberty Energy Inc. will post 0.58 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Wellington Shields Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Liberty Energy in the 2nd quarter valued at $29,000. Kelleher Financial Advisors bought a new stake in Liberty Energy during the 3rd quarter worth about $29,000. Advisory Services Network LLC acquired a new position in Liberty Energy during the 3rd quarter valued at about $35,000. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Liberty Energy by 213.7% in the 2nd quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 3,607 shares of the company’s stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 2,457 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd bought a new position in shares of Liberty Energy in the 2nd quarter valued at about $48,000. Institutional investors own 98.22% of the company’s stock.

Liberty Energy Company Profile

Liberty Energy Inc provides hydraulic services and related technologies to onshore oil and natural gas exploration, and production companies in North America. The company offers hydraulic fracturing services, including complementary services, such as wireline services, proppant delivery solutions, field gas processing and treating, compressed natural gas (CNG) delivery, data analytics, related goods comprising sand mine operations, and technologies; and well site fueling and logistics. As of as of December 31, 2023, the company owned and operated a fleet of approximately 40 active hydraulic fracturing; and two sand mines in the Permian Basin.