SM Energy (NYSE:SM) Given Average Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

Shares of SM Energy (NYSE:SM) have been assigned a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the twelve analysts that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $51.90.

Several equities analysts have issued reports on SM shares. TD Cowen raised SM Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $64.00 to $60.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 15th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $53.00 price target (up previously from $51.00) on shares of SM Energy in a research report on Wednesday, December 4th. Susquehanna lowered their target price on shares of SM Energy from $48.00 to $46.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. KeyCorp reduced their price target on shares of SM Energy from $65.00 to $60.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of SM Energy from $47.00 to $45.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, December 17th.

SM Energy Trading Down 1.7 %

NYSE SM opened at $37.21 on Friday. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $40.44 and its 200 day moving average price is $42.24. SM Energy has a 12 month low of $36.11 and a 12 month high of $53.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 3.52 and a quick ratio of 3.52. The company has a market capitalization of $4.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.20 and a beta of 4.11.

SM Energy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, February 3rd. Investors of record on Friday, January 24th were issued a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.15%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 24th. SM Energy’s dividend payout ratio is currently 11.17%.

Institutional Trading of SM Energy

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in SM Energy in the 3rd quarter worth about $30,000. Blue Trust Inc. increased its position in SM Energy by 3,434.5% during the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,025 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $44,000 after purchasing an additional 996 shares during the last quarter. Millburn Ridgefield Corp acquired a new position in shares of SM Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at $55,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC grew its stake in shares of SM Energy by 3,897.2% during the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 1,439 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $58,000 after buying an additional 1,403 shares during the period. Finally, R Squared Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of SM Energy during the 4th quarter worth $61,000. 94.56% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About SM Energy

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.