Stephens Investment Management Group LLC Acquires Shares of 970,607 Expand Energy Corporation (NASDAQ:EXE)

Stephens Investment Management Group LLC acquired a new stake in Expand Energy Corporation (NASDAQ:EXE - Free Report) during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 970,607 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $108,048,000. Expand Energy accounts for 1.6% of Stephens Investment Management Group LLC's holdings, making the stock its 8th biggest holding. Stephens Investment Management Group LLC owned approximately 0.42% of Expand Energy at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of EXE. First Horizon Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Expand Energy during the 1st quarter worth $28,000. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Expand Energy during the 1st quarter worth $31,000. BankPlus Trust Department acquired a new position in Expand Energy during the 1st quarter worth $32,000. Peoples Bank KS acquired a new position in Expand Energy during the 1st quarter worth $33,000. Finally, Future Financial Wealth Managment LLC acquired a new position in Expand Energy during the 1st quarter worth $56,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 97.93% of the company's stock.

Expand Energy Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ EXE traded up $0.37 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $105.57. The stock had a trading volume of 2,659,736 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,366,736. The firm has a market cap of $25.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -19.70 and a beta of 0.48. The company has a current ratio of 0.59, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30. Expand Energy Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $81.66 and a fifty-two week high of $123.35. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $114.27 and a 200-day moving average of $107.51.

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

Expand Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed 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 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.18%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 15th. Expand Energy's dividend payout ratio is presently -42.91%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently commented on the company. UBS Group boosted their target price on Expand Energy from $144.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 1st. Sanford C. Bernstein raised Expand Energy to a "strong-buy" rating and set a $150.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Expand Energy from $112.00 to $114.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Monday, June 16th. Mizuho raised their target price on Expand Energy from $141.00 to $142.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 1st. Finally, Scotiabank raised their target price on Expand Energy from $120.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock a "sector outperform" rating in a research report on Friday. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have assigned a buy rating and three have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $129.50.

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.