Liberty Energy (NYSE:LBRT) Rating Reiterated by Morgan Stanley

Morgan Stanley reissued their equal weight rating on shares of Liberty Energy (NYSE:LBRT - Free Report) in a research note issued to investors on Monday morning, Benzinga reports. They currently have a $24.00 price target on the stock.

Several other research firms also recently issued reports on LBRT. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on Liberty Energy from $24.00 to $26.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on Liberty Energy from $25.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday. TD Cowen raised their price target on Liberty Energy from $19.00 to $21.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Friday. Bank of America raised their price target on Liberty Energy from $20.00 to $23.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, April 15th. Finally, Barclays raised their price target on Liberty Energy from $25.00 to $27.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $24.30.

Liberty Energy Price Performance

Liberty Energy stock traded down $0.26 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $22.12. 2,906,677 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,978,000. Liberty Energy has a 12 month low of $11.62 and a 12 month high of $23.31. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.07, a P/E/G ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 1.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a quick ratio of 1.16 and a current ratio of 1.48. The business's 50-day moving average is $21.20 and its two-hundred day moving average is $19.71.

Liberty Energy (NYSE:LBRT - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 18th. The company reported $0.48 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.54 by ($0.06). Liberty Energy had a net margin of 10.43% and a return on equity of 26.46%. The company had revenue of $1.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.08 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.90 EPS. The firm's quarterly revenue was down 12.8% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts expect that Liberty Energy will post 2.58 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Liberty Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 20th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 6th will be given a dividend of $0.07 per share. This represents a $0.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.27%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, June 5th. Liberty Energy's dividend payout ratio is 10.22%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider R Sean Elliott sold 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $20.50, for a total value of $410,000.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 218,530 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,479,865. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Liberty Energy news, Director William F. Kimble sold 12,459 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Friday, March 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $21.55, for a total value of $268,491.45. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 69,963 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,507,702.65. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, insider R Sean Elliott sold 20,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $20.50, for a total transaction of $410,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 218,530 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,479,865. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 98,459 shares of company stock valued at $2,077,491 in the last ninety days. 3.70% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Liberty Energy

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. EdgeRock Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Liberty Energy in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Principal Securities Inc. acquired a new stake in Liberty Energy during the 4th quarter worth $39,000. Quadrant Capital Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of Liberty Energy by 70.8% in the 4th quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 2,909 shares of the company's stock worth $53,000 after acquiring an additional 1,206 shares during the period. CWM LLC lifted its stake in shares of Liberty Energy by 59.7% in the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 3,166 shares of the company's stock worth $59,000 after acquiring an additional 1,183 shares during the period. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Liberty Energy by 27.7% in the 4th quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 3,273 shares of the company's stock worth $59,000 after acquiring an additional 709 shares during the period. 98.22% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Liberty Energy Company Profile

Liberty Energy Inc provides hydraulic services and related technologies to onshore oil and natural gas exploration, and production companies in North America. The company offers hydraulic fracturing services, including complementary services, such as wireline services, proppant delivery solutions, field gas processing and treating, compressed natural gas (CNG) delivery, data analytics, related goods comprising sand mine operations, and technologies; and well site fueling and logistics.