Expand Energy Corporation (NASDAQ:EXE) Receives Average Rating of "Buy" from Brokerages

Shares of Expand Energy Corporation (NASDAQ:EXE - Get Free Report) have earned an average rating of "Buy" from the twenty-one brokerages that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have given a buy rating and three have issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 1-year price objective among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $129.25.

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. UBS Group raised their target price on shares of Expand Energy from $144.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 1st. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Expand Energy from $112.00 to $114.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Monday, June 16th. Sanford C. Bernstein raised shares of Expand Energy to a "strong-buy" rating and set a $150.00 target price for the company in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. Barclays raised their target price on shares of Expand Energy from $122.00 to $139.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group set a $135.00 price target on Expand Energy and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Saturday, June 14th.

Expand Energy Stock Down 1.2%

Expand Energy stock traded down $1.23 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $103.97. 1,039,557 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,362,272. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $114.24 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $107.33. The company has a current ratio of 0.59, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30. The company has a market cap of $24.74 billion, a PE ratio of -19.40 and a beta of 0.48. Expand Energy has a one year low of $81.66 and a one year high of $123.35.

Expand Energy (NASDAQ:EXE - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 29th. The company reported $2.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.85 by $0.17. Expand Energy had a negative net margin of 18.49% and a positive return on equity of 4.64%. The company had revenue of $2.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.10 billion. On average, research analysts forecast that Expand Energy will post 1.33 EPS for the current year.

Expand Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 4th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 15th were paid a dividend of $0.575 per share. This represents a $2.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.21%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 15th. Expand Energy's payout ratio is currently -42.91%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Expand Energy

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of EXE. Harbour Investments Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Expand Energy during the first quarter worth $27,000. Transamerica Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Expand Energy during the first quarter worth $27,000. First Horizon Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Expand Energy in the first quarter worth $28,000. Quarry LP acquired a new stake in shares of Expand Energy in the first quarter worth $28,000. Finally, Cheviot Value Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Expand Energy in the first quarter worth $29,000. 97.93% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Expand Energy Company Profile

Expand Energy Corporation is an independent natural gas producer principally in the United States. Expand Energy Corporation, formerly known as Chesapeake Energy Corporation, is based in OKLAHOMA CITY.