Stocks

Southwestern Energy Holds Steady Amid Varied Analyst Ratings

Published January 18, 2024

In a recent gathering of opinions from seventeen different brokerage firms, Southwestern Energy (NYSE:SWN), a notable entity in the energy sector, received an overall consensus rating of 'Hold'. The company was subjected to a range of ratings that include two analysts recommending a 'Sell', nine suggesting a 'Hold', and six advocating a 'Buy' position for Southwestern Energy's stock. The composite image emerging from MarketBeat's report showcases the measured confidence of the investing analyst community in the company's stock performance.

Analytical Insights on Southwestern Energy

The one-year average price target for Southwestern Energy stands at $7.74, demonstrating the analysts' expectations for the stock moving forward. Recent analytical notes reveal varying perspectives on the company's potential. Notably, Wells Fargo & Company adjusted their stance from 'Underweight' to 'Equal Weight', with an increased price target set at $6.90. Conversely, Citigroup took a more positive stance on the energy firm, raising their price objective to $8.24 and maintaining a 'Buy' rating.

While some analysts presented a bullish outlook on Southwestern Energy, such as Bank of America's increase of their target price to $15.00, others like Mizuho expressed contrarian views. Mizuho downgraded the company from 'Neutral' to 'Underperform', lowering their target price on the stock significantly.

Financial Performance and Trading Snapshot

Opening at $6.48, Southwestern Energy's shares have experienced fluctuations, marking a 12-month range from $4.57 to $7.69. The current financial ratios denote a runnable operation with a current and quick ratio of 0.59 and a manageable debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63. Traders also observe the market capitalization which stands at $7.13 billion and includes metrics like a price-to-earnings ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 1.18.

In its latest quarterly financial report, Southwestern Energy exceeded earnings expectations by reporting an EPS of $0.10 against the predicted $0.08. Its revenues also surpassed forecasts, hitting $1.44 billion against an expected $1.42 billion. These results contribute to a positive outlook, as the company manifests solid returns on equity and profit margins.

Institutional Involvement in Southwestern Energy

Hedge funds and institutional investors have been actively engaging with Southwestern Energy's stock. Significant movements include Barclays PLC's elevated stake by 880.7%, Mackenzie Financial Corp's acquisition of shares resulting in 11,994.8% growth, and acquisitions by Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC. These activities underscore the strategic position that Southwestern Energy holds among savvy investors and indicate that a substantial 88.00% of the company's stock is held institutionally.

Company Profile

Southwestern Energy operates as an independent energy company, mainly exploring and producing natural gas, oil, and NGLs across several major states in the U.S. Their business strategy encompasses both the Exploration and Production segment and the Marketing segment, with a keen focus on unconventional reservoirs.

Southwestern, Energy, Hold