Vital Energy (NYSE:VTLE) Shares Gap Down - Here's What Happened

Vital Energy, Inc. (NYSE:VTLE - Get Free Report)'s share price gapped down before the market opened on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $16.13, but opened at $15.66. Vital Energy shares last traded at $15.47, with a volume of 90,193 shares.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently commented on the company. Mizuho lifted their price objective on Vital Energy from $37.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. Bank of America dropped their price target on Vital Energy from $33.00 to $27.00 and set an "underperform" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Vital Energy from $34.00 to $23.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 13th. Piper Sandler cut their price target on shares of Vital Energy from $24.00 to $23.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Finally, Citigroup downgraded shares of Vital Energy to a "reduce" rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 5th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $32.36.

Vital Energy Trading Down 1.5 %

The business has a 50-day moving average of $19.79 and a 200-day moving average of $27.28. The stock has a market cap of $614.59 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -3.34 and a beta of 2.82. The company has a quick ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 0.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91.

Vital Energy (NYSE:VTLE - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 19th. The company reported $2.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.03 by $0.27. Vital Energy had a negative net margin of 8.89% and a positive return on equity of 9.48%. The firm had revenue of $534.37 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $550.90 million. As a group, research analysts forecast that Vital Energy, Inc. will post 8.49 earnings per share for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, EVP Mark David Denny sold 5,974 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $20.73, for a total transaction of $123,841.02. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 42,494 shares in the company, valued at $880,900.62. The trade was a 12.33 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, major shareholder Richard D. Campbell bought 5,000 shares of Vital Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, April 3rd. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $17.75 per share, with a total value of $88,750.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 43,072 shares of the company's stock, valued at $764,528. This trade represents a 13.13 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders sold 21,647 shares of company stock valued at $448,742 over the last 90 days. 1.20% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Woodline Partners LP bought a new stake in Vital Energy during the 4th quarter worth about $39,392,000. Condire Management LP bought a new position in Vital Energy in the 4th quarter worth approximately $19,066,000. Freestone Grove Partners LP acquired a new position in Vital Energy during the 4th quarter worth $15,995,000. Barclays PLC lifted its stake in shares of Vital Energy by 124.0% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 338,675 shares of the company's stock valued at $9,110,000 after acquiring an additional 187,503 shares during the period. Finally, Tributary Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Vital Energy by 45.0% during the 4th quarter. Tributary Capital Management LLC now owns 428,295 shares of the company's stock valued at $13,243,000 after purchasing an additional 132,924 shares during the period. 86.54% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Vital Energy Company Profile

Vital Energy, Inc, an independent energy company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of oil and natural gas properties in the Permian Basin of West Texas, the United States. The company was formerly known as Laredo Petroleum, Inc and changed its name to Vital Energy, Inc in January 2023.

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