Zacks Research Decreases Earnings Estimates for Viper Energy

Key Points

• Zacks Research cut Viper Energy’s Q1 2027 EPS forecast to $0.55 from $0.64, while estimating full-year 2027 EPS at $2.22. Despite the reduction, Zacks maintained a “Strong Buy” rating.
• Viper Energy’s latest quarterly results met expectations at $0.76 EPS, while revenue reached $677 million—above forecasts and up 127.9% year over year.
• Analyst sentiment remains broadly positive, with a consensus “Buy” rating and $56.93 price target, although the stock was recently trading below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages.

Viper Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:VNOM - Free Report) - Equities researchers at Zacks Research reduced their Q1 2027 earnings per share estimates for Viper Energy in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, October 6th. Zacks Research analyst Team now anticipates that the oil and gas producer will earn $0.55 per share for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $0.64. Zacks Research currently has a "Strong-Buy" rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Viper Energy's current full-year earnings is $2.72 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Viper Energy's Q2 2027 earnings at $0.57 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $0.54 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $0.55 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $2.22 EPS and Q1 2028 earnings at $0.56 EPS.

Viper Energy (NASDAQ:VNOM - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 3rd. The oil and gas producer reported $0.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.76. Viper Energy had a net margin of 2.89% and a return on equity of 3.43%. The company had revenue of $677.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $643.45 million. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.41 EPS. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 127.9% compared to the same quarter last year.

A number of other equities research analysts have also issued reports on the company. Barclays lowered their target price on Viper Energy from $60.00 to $58.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, August 17th. Weiss Ratings restated a "hold (c)" rating on shares of Viper Energy in a research note on Friday, July 17th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Viper Energy from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Saturday, October 3rd. Raymond James Financial set a $57.00 price objective on Viper Energy in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Finally, TD Cowen reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of Viper Energy in a research report on Tuesday, August 4th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have assigned a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $56.93.

Viper Energy Stock Down 1.3%

VNOM opened at $41.07 on Thursday. Viper Energy has a 12 month low of $35.10 and a 12 month high of $51.13. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 315.95 and a beta of 0.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16, a current ratio of 6.37 and a quick ratio of 6.37. The business has a 50-day moving average of $43.01 and a two-hundred day moving average of $44.59.

Institutional Trading of Viper Energy

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in VNOM. Stephens Inc. AR increased its position in Viper Energy by 1.8% during the first quarter. Stephens Inc. AR now owns 13,720 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock worth $645,000 after acquiring an additional 245 shares during the period. Kestra Advisory Services LLC grew its position in Viper Energy by 1.2% in the 1st quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC now owns 21,849 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock worth $1,027,000 after purchasing an additional 268 shares during the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System increased its holdings in shares of Viper Energy by 0.6% during the 2nd quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 52,276 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock worth $2,217,000 after purchasing an additional 312 shares during the period. Parallel Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Viper Energy by 31.2% during the first quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 1,354 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $64,000 after buying an additional 322 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Apollon Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Viper Energy by 1.8% during the first quarter. Apollon Wealth Management LLC now owns 21,036 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $988,000 after buying an additional 368 shares during the last quarter. 87.72% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Viper Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a special dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 20th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 13th were paid a $0.29 dividend. This represents a yield of 281.0%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 13th. Viper Energy's payout ratio is presently 1,169.23%.

Key Viper Energy News

Here are the key news stories impacting Viper Energy this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks upgrade supports the outlook. Zacks upgraded Viper Energy to a Rank #1 “Strong Buy,” citing growing optimism about the oil and gas producer’s earnings prospects. Viper Energy Upgraded to Strong Buy: Here's What You Should Know
• Positive Sentiment: Forecasts were raised modestly. Zacks increased its estimates for second-quarter 2028 EPS to $0.58 from $0.57, third-quarter 2028 EPS to $0.62 from $0.61, and full-year 2028 EPS to $2.38 from $2.34. These revisions indicate slightly improved longer-term earnings expectations. Zacks Research Forecasts Increased Earnings for Viper Energy
• Positive Sentiment: Barclays remains bullish. Barclays maintained its “Buy” rating on Viper Energy, providing additional analyst support. Barclays Remains a Buy on Viper Energy
• Neutral Sentiment: Investors are awaiting the next earnings report. Coverage says Viper Energy is heading toward its November 2 results, making the upcoming report and management commentary on production, commodity prices and distributions the next major catalysts. Viper Energy Stock Heads Toward November 2 Results
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst coverage is mixed. Some syndicated Zacks reports list a “Hold” rating while other updates identify a “Strong Buy,” creating ambiguity around the firm’s formal recommendation. A separate comparison with Marine Petroleum Trust offered limited company-specific news. Financial Review: Viper Energy and Marine Petroleum Trust
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation and technical trends remain concerns. Viper Energy trades below its 50-day and 200-day averages, while its reported price-to-earnings ratio is elevated. Those factors may be limiting the stock’s response to the positive analyst revisions until the company demonstrates stronger realized earnings.

Viper Energy Company Profile

Viper Energy, Inc NASDAQ: VNOM is an oil and gas company that owns and acquires mineral, royalty and overriding royalty interests in properties operated primarily by other exploration and production companies. Its interests provide exposure to production from wells without requiring Viper to fund most drilling and completion activities.

The company's assets are concentrated in the Permian Basin of West Texas and southeastern New Mexico, including the Midland and Delaware sub-basins. Viper's interests are associated mainly with oil and natural gas development and generate revenue from its share of production, while its broad and diversified ownership position spans numerous wells and acreage holdings.

Viper Energy was established as Viper Energy Partners and became a publicly traded master limited partnership in 2014.

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