Barclays Forecasts Strong Price Appreciation for Antero Resources (NYSE:AR) Stock

Key Points

• Barclays raised its price target on Antero Resources from $41 to $43 and maintained an "equal weight" rating, while the consensus price target across analysts is $46 with an average rating of "Moderate Buy".
• Antero reported a quarterly beat—$0.62 EPS vs. $0.49 expected and $1.41B revenue vs. $1.33B expected—with revenue up 20.8% year-over-year and sell-side estimates of 2.74 EPS for the fiscal year.
• The stock traded at $41.71 mid-day (market cap ~$12.87B, P/E 20.65), sits well above its 50-day and 200-day moving averages (~$34), and has a 12-month range of $29.10–$44.01, indicating recent strength.

Antero Resources (NYSE:AR - Get Free Report) had its price target hoisted by equities researchers at Barclays from $41.00 to $43.00 in a research note issued to investors on Monday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an "equal weight" rating on the oil and natural gas company's stock. Barclays's price objective suggests a potential upside of 3.10% from the company's previous close.

Other analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. Mizuho set a $47.00 price objective on Antero Resources in a report on Friday, December 12th. UBS Group lifted their target price on Antero Resources from $45.00 to $48.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, March 5th. Bank of America upped their price target on Antero Resources from $44.00 to $47.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. Tudor Pickering raised shares of Antero Resources from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, December 2nd. Finally, Roth Mkm restated a "neutral" rating and issued a $36.00 price objective on shares of Antero Resources in a research report on Monday, December 8th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have issued a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $46.00.

Antero Resources Stock Performance

Antero Resources stock traded up $0.72 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $41.71. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,185,543 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,256,409. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $34.84 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $34.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a current ratio of 0.55. Antero Resources has a 12-month low of $29.10 and a 12-month high of $44.01. The company has a market capitalization of $12.87 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.65 and a beta of 0.52.

Antero Resources (NYSE:AR - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The oil and natural gas company reported $0.62 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.49 by $0.13. Antero Resources had a return on equity of 6.71% and a net margin of 12.02%.The firm had revenue of $1.41 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.33 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.48 earnings per share. The business's quarterly revenue was up 20.8% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts predict that Antero Resources will post 2.74 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Antero Resources

In related news, insider Yvette K. Schultz sold 15,000 shares of Antero Resources stock in a transaction on Monday, March 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $39.33, for a total transaction of $589,950.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 319,122 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $12,551,068.26. This trade represents a 4.49% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 6.30% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Antero Resources

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Root Financial Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Antero Resources during the third quarter worth about $26,000. Sunbelt Securities Inc. purchased a new stake in Antero Resources in the third quarter valued at approximately $30,000. IFP Advisors Inc lifted its position in Antero Resources by 59.2% during the third 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. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its position in Antero Resources by 114.2% during the second quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 938 shares of the oil and natural gas company's stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Los Angeles Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Antero Resources in the 4th quarter worth approximately $41,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.04% of the company's stock.

Antero Resources Company Profile

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.

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