APA (NASDAQ:APA) Shares Up 3.6% - Here's What Happened

Key Points

• APA shares rose 3.6% to about $46.63, although trading volume was 84% below the stock’s average daily volume.
• Zacks raised several 2026–2027 EPS estimates and highlighted APA as a value stock, but cut 2028 forecasts and maintained a Hold rating, signaling mixed longer-term expectations.
• Wall Street’s overall view remains cautious: APA has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $42.97, below its latest trading price.

APA Corporation (NASDAQ:APA - Get Free Report) shares rose 3.6% on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $46.89 and last traded at $46.6290. 1,081,047 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 84% from the average daily volume of 6,752,409 shares. The stock had previously closed at $45.03.

Key Stories Impacting APA

Here are the key news stories impacting APA this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks raised its Q4 2026 EPS estimate to $0.53 from $0.50, Q2 2027 EPS to $0.93 from $0.77, and FY2027 EPS to $3.59 from $3.16. The upgrades suggest improved expectations for APA’s near- to medium-term earnings performance. Zacks Research Analysts Raise Earnings Estimates for APA
• Positive Sentiment: A Zacks article characterized APA as a strong value stock, which may be attracting investor interest given its relatively low valuation and exposure to energy markets. Here's Why APA is a Strong Value Stock
• Neutral Sentiment: The consensus estimate for APA’s current full-year EPS remains $5.71, while Zacks continues to rate the shares Hold. This indicates that the estimate increases have not yet translated into a broader change in analyst conviction.
• Neutral Sentiment: APA was included in a Zacks industry outlook alongside W&T Offshore and Diamondback, keeping the stock in focus within the energy sector, although the available report details do not identify a company-specific operational catalyst. Zacks Industry Outlook W&T Offshore, APA and Diamondback
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks lowered its Q1 2028 EPS estimate to $0.79 from $0.99 and Q2 2028 EPS to $0.75 from $0.82. These cuts point to softer longer-term earnings expectations and partially offset the 2027 upgrades.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Zacks Research downgraded APA from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, May 26th. Argus raised APA from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $48.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, August 19th. Mizuho upgraded APA to a "strong sell" rating in a report on Friday, July 31st. Stephens upped their price objective on shares of APA from $43.00 to $47.00 in a research note on Wednesday, June 10th. Finally, Truist Financial raised their target price on shares of APA from $38.00 to $39.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, August 10th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seventeen have assigned a Hold rating and four have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $42.97.

APA Stock Up 5.2%

The stock has a market capitalization of $16.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 0.37. The company has a quick ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $39.24 and a two-hundred day moving average of $37.62.

APA (NASDAQ:APA - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 5th. The company reported $1.89 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.90 by ($0.01). APA had a return on equity of 24.84% and a net margin of 19.48%.The business had revenue of $2.37 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.46 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.87 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that APA Corporation will post 5.71 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Trading of APA

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. BlackRock Inc. acquired a new position in APA during the 2nd quarter valued at $1,173,231,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its position in APA by 6.9% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 16,376,952 shares of the company's stock worth $695,099,000 after purchasing an additional 1,055,016 shares during the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of APA by 76.9% during the 4th quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 7,171,963 shares of the company's stock worth $175,426,000 after purchasing an additional 3,117,032 shares during the period. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership increased its holdings in shares of APA by 1,726.2% during the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 4,834,502 shares of the company's stock worth $205,176,000 after purchasing an additional 4,569,779 shares during the period. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP raised its position in shares of APA by 55.0% during the first quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 4,154,301 shares of the company's stock valued at $176,309,000 after buying an additional 1,473,626 shares during the last quarter. 83.01% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About APA

APA Corporation NASDAQ: APA is an independent energy company engaged in the exploration, development and production of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids. The company operates through subsidiaries and manages upstream assets spanning exploration, drilling, production and related field-development activities.

APA's principal producing operations are in the Permian Basin of the United States and in Egypt. The company has also pursued offshore exploration opportunities in Suriname, where it has participated in drilling and appraisal activities in the country's offshore blocks.

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