Vital Energy (VTLE) News Today

Vital Energy, Inc. (VTLE) — Shares are trading lower after fresh analyst updates that trim near‑term earnings expectations and cut the stock’s price target. Below are the most relevant items for investors, prioritized by likely market impact.

• Positive Sentiment: KeyCorp raised its Q4 2025 and FY2025 EPS views (notably boosting Q4 2025 to $2.53 and FY2025 to $8.33), which could support near‑term earnings optimism and partially offset other downgrades. KeyCorp Forecasts Vital Energy's Q3 Earnings
• Neutral Sentiment: KeyCorp published a comprehensive set of updated multi‑year estimates (quarterly and fiscal through FY2027). This provides new modeling inputs for analysts and investors but is informational until results confirm trends. MarketBeat VTLE coverage
• Negative Sentiment: Wells Fargo cut its price target on VTLE from $22 to $16 and moved to an "equal weight" rating — reducing implied upside and likely pressuring sentiment among momentum/target‑sensitive investors. Benzinga
• Negative Sentiment: KeyCorp lowered several near‑term and medium‑term EPS forecasts (including cuts to Q3 2025, Q3/Q4 2026 and FY2026, plus reduced Q1 2026/Q2 2026 estimates). These downgrades lower earnings expectations vs. prior forecasts and contribute to negative sentiment and valuation pressure. KeyCorp Forecasts Vital Energy's Q3 Earnings

Bottom line for investors: mixed analyst activity, but the price‑target cut and multiple KeyCorp EPS downgrades dominate the narrative — explaining the weaker stock action despite some upward revisions to FY2025 estimates. Keep an eye on upcoming quarterly results and guidance to see which forecast trajectory holds.