SM Energy (NYSE:SM) Upgraded by StockNews.com to Buy

StockNews.com upgraded shares of SM Energy (NYSE:SM) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note issued to investors on Monday.

Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and set a $45.00 price target on shares of SM Energy in a research report on Monday, February 5th. KeyCorp increased their price target on shares of SM Energy from $62.00 to $65.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday. Raymond James reduced their price objective on SM Energy from $53.00 to $45.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 8th. Seaport Res Ptn raised SM Energy from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 31st. Finally, Mizuho upped their price target on SM Energy from $51.00 to $57.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, April 5th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, SM Energy currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $52.57.

SM Energy Price Performance

NYSE:SM opened at $48.85 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.45, a current ratio of 1.45 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. The firm has a market cap of $5.65 billion, a PE ratio of 7.11 and a beta of 4.20. SM Energy has a 12 month low of $25.03 and a 12 month high of $53.26. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $46.42 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $41.04.

SM Energy (NYSE:SM) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 21st. The energy company reported $1.56 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.39 by $0.17. The business had revenue of $608.73 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $611.35 million. SM Energy had a return on equity of 20.74% and a net margin of 34.45%. SM Energy’s revenue for the quarter was down 9.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.29 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that SM Energy will post 6.15 EPS for the current fiscal year.

SM Energy Cuts Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 3rd. Investors of record on Friday, April 19th will be paid a dividend of $0.18 per share. This represents a $0.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.47%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 18th. SM Energy’s payout ratio is 10.48%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On SM Energy

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Register Financial Advisors LLC bought a new stake in SM Energy during the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC increased its position in shares of SM Energy by 509.7% during the first quarter. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC now owns 567 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 474 shares in the last quarter. BluePath Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of SM Energy during the third quarter worth $32,000. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. lifted its position in SM Energy by 59.7% in the 3rd quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 990 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $39,000 after acquiring an additional 370 shares in the last quarter. Finally, McGlone Suttner Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new position in SM Energy in the 4th quarter worth $41,000. 94.56% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

SM Energy Company Profile

SM Energy Company, an independent energy company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of oil, gas, and natural gas liquids in the state of Texas. It has working interests in oil and gas producing wells in the Midland Basin and South Texas. The company was formerly known as St.