Versor Investments LP Sells 5,600 Shares of Vital Energy, Inc. (NYSE:VTLE)

Versor Investments LP lessened its stake in shares of Vital Energy, Inc. (NYSE:VTLE) by 37.6% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 9,300 shares of the company’s stock after selling 5,600 shares during the quarter. Versor Investments LP’s holdings in Vital Energy were worth $288,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Proficio Capital Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Vital Energy during the fourth quarter worth about $788,000. Wolverine Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Vital Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,292,000. Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Vital Energy by 2.8% in the fourth quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 130,842 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,046,000 after buying an additional 3,571 shares during the period. Empowered Funds LLC increased its position in shares of Vital Energy by 5.1% in the fourth quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 192,921 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,965,000 after acquiring an additional 9,320 shares during the period. Finally, Jennison Associates LLC bought a new position in Vital Energy during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $750,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.54% of the company’s stock.

Vital Energy Stock Down 10.8 %

Shares of VTLE stock opened at $23.82 on Tuesday. Vital Energy, Inc. has a one year low of $23.48 and a one year high of $58.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 0.78 and a quick ratio of 0.67. The company has a market capitalization of $908.04 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -5.01 and a beta of 3.12. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $32.35 and its 200-day moving average price is $31.03.

Vital Energy (NYSE:VTLE) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 19th. The company reported $2.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.03 by $0.27. The firm had revenue of $534.37 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $550.90 million. Vital Energy had a negative net margin of 8.89% and a positive return on equity of 9.48%. Sell-side analysts expect that Vital Energy, Inc. will post 8.49 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. Truist Financial decreased their price objective on shares of Vital Energy from $49.00 to $47.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 21st. Mizuho increased their target price on Vital Energy from $37.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on shares of Vital Energy from $29.00 to $30.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 5th. Wolfe Research raised Vital Energy from an “underperform” rating to a “peer perform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 3rd. Finally, Piper Sandler increased their price target on Vital Energy from $27.00 to $32.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 29th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $45.70.

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.