SM Energy (NYSE:SM) Given New $47.00 Price Target at Truist Financial

SM Energy (NYSE:SM) had its price objective cut by Truist Financial from $48.00 to $47.00 in a research note released on Thursday morning,Benzinga reports. They currently have a buy rating on the energy company’s stock.

Several other research analysts have also weighed in on the company. Wall Street Zen raised SM Energy from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, September 19th. KeyCorp boosted their price objective on shares of SM Energy from $39.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, September 15th. Raymond James Financial reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $50.00 price target on shares of SM Energy in a research report on Wednesday, October 21st. Scotiabank assumed coverage on SM Energy in a report on Wednesday, October 14th. They issued a “sector perform” rating and a $39.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Weiss Ratings raised shares of SM Energy from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a report on Friday, October 16th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, SM Energy presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $39.82.

SM Energy Stock Down 4.4%

Shares of NYSE:SM opened at $29.68 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85. The company has a market capitalization of $7.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.20 and a beta of 0.80. SM Energy has a 52-week low of $17.45 and a 52-week high of $41.56. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $36.95 and its 200-day simple moving average is $30.52.

SM Energy (NYSE:SM) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, November 3rd. The energy company reported $1.95 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.01 by ($0.06). The firm had revenue of $2.16 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.04 billion. SM Energy had a return on equity of 20.48% and a net margin of 13.69%. The firm’s revenue was up 167.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.33 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that SM Energy will post 8.15 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

SM Energy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 21st. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 7th were paid a dividend of $0.22 per share. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, September 4th. SM Energy’s payout ratio is presently 21.36%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP James Barker Lebeck sold 17,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $37.02, for a total value of $647,850.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 14,705 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $544,379.10. This represents a 54.34% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Ashwin Venkatraman sold 3,650 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $38.28, for a total value of $139,722.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 12,525 shares in the company, valued at approximately $479,457. This represents a 22.57% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Corporate insiders own 0.45% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On SM Energy

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of SM. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System raised its stake in shares of SM Energy by 59.9% in the 3rd quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System now owns 52,985 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $1,790,000 after buying an additional 19,858 shares in the last quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund lifted its holdings in shares of SM Energy by 2.4% in the third quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund now owns 114,383 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $3,864,000 after buying an additional 2,665 shares during the period. Lido Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of SM Energy by 25.5% in the third quarter. Lido Advisors LLC now owns 24,347 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $822,000 after buying an additional 4,946 shares during the period. Gryphon Financial Partners LLC boosted its stake in SM Energy by 2.6% during the third quarter. Gryphon Financial Partners LLC now owns 13,409 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $453,000 after buying an additional 342 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC boosted its stake in SM Energy by 3.9% during the third quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 49,243 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $1,726,000 after buying an additional 1,860 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 94.56% of the company’s stock.

More SM Energy News

Here are the key news stories impacting SM Energy this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Revenue rose about 167% year over year to $2.16 billion, beating the $2.04 billion consensus. The company also reported that quarterly cash flow more than doubled and merger synergies reached $400 million. SM Energy Q3 cash flow more than doubles as merger synergies hit $400 million
• Positive Sentiment: SM Energy expects fourth-quarter oil production of 229,000–239,000 barrels per day and is targeting leverage in the low 1x range by year-end 2026, signaling a focus on production and balance-sheet improvement. SM Energy outlines Q4 oil production and leverage targets
• Positive Sentiment: A Zacks article notes that the stock is technically oversold and that analyst earnings-estimate revisions have been favorable, factors that could support a rebound if selling pressure eases. Zacks analysis of SM Energy
• Neutral Sentiment: Truist lowered its price target to $47 from $48 but kept a Buy rating; Wells Fargo cut its target to $46 from $47 and maintained Overweight. The continued positive ratings are tempered by the small target reductions. Truist rating update
• Negative Sentiment: Third-quarter EPS of $1.95 fell short of the $2.01 consensus. The earnings miss contributed to selling pressure and the stock crossing below its 50-day moving average. SM Energy share price crosses below 50-day moving average
• Negative Sentiment: The company may temporarily shift drilling away from the Uinta Basin in early 2027 amid operating constraints, adding uncertainty to its drilling plans and future production mix. Reuters report on Uinta Basin drilling plans

About SM Energy

SM Energy Company is an independent energy company engaged in the exploration, development and production of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids. Its activities include acquiring prospective acreage, drilling and completing wells, and managing producing properties in U.S. onshore oil and gas basins.

The company’s operations are primarily concentrated in Texas, including the Midland Basin in West Texas and the Eagle Ford shale region in South Texas. SM Energy focuses on development of unconventional resources and uses horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technologies to produce hydrocarbons from shale and other tight-rock formations.

Founded in 1908 as St.