Viper Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:VNOM) Shares Sold by Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA

Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lessened its stake in shares of Viper Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:VNOM - Free Report) by 3.2% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,533,589 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock after selling 50,778 shares during the quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA owned about 0.72% of Viper Energy worth $69,242,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of VNOM. Swiss National Bank raised its stake in shares of Viper Energy by 2.3% during the fourth quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 202,477 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock worth $9,936,000 after purchasing an additional 4,500 shares during the last quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC raised its stake in shares of Viper Energy by 8.2% during the fourth quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 28,607 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock worth $1,404,000 after purchasing an additional 2,179 shares during the last quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Viper Energy during the fourth quarter worth approximately $833,000. Corient Private Wealth LLC raised its stake in shares of Viper Energy by 74.7% during the fourth quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 22,761 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock worth $1,117,000 after purchasing an additional 9,731 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans raised its stake in shares of Viper Energy by 1.7% during the fourth quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 24,230 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock worth $1,189,000 after purchasing an additional 397 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.72% of the company's stock.

Viper Energy Price Performance

Shares of VNOM traded up $0.65 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $38.71. 1,442,924 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,419,553. The company has a quick ratio of 8.70, a current ratio of 8.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.17 billion, a PE ratio of 10.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 17.73 and a beta of 0.97. Viper Energy Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $34.71 and a fifty-two week high of $56.76. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $39.83 and a 200 day simple moving average of $43.26.

Viper Energy (NASDAQ:VNOM - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 5th. The oil and gas producer reported $0.54 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.45 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $245.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $233.99 million. Viper Energy had a return on equity of 5.41% and a net margin of 43.43%. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.49 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Viper Energy Inc. will post 2.02 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Viper Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 22nd. Investors of record on Thursday, May 15th were paid a dividend of $0.30 per share. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.10%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 15th. Viper Energy's payout ratio is currently 31.58%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Bank of America dropped their price objective on Viper Energy from $53.00 to $50.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, May 23rd. Raymond James Financial reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $60.00 price objective (up previously from $54.00) on shares of Viper Energy in a report on Thursday, June 5th. Barclays upped their price objective on Viper Energy from $57.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, June 4th. Wall Street Zen raised Viper Energy from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Sunday, June 29th. Finally, Evercore ISI upped their price objective on Viper Energy from $49.00 to $51.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, June 4th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $57.46.

Viper Energy Profile

Viper Energy, Inc engages in the acquisition of oil and natural gas properties. It owns, acquires, and exploits oil and natural gas properties in North America. The company was founded on February 27, 2014 and is headquartered in Midland, TX.