SM Energy (NYSE:SM) Releases Quarterly Earnings Results, Misses Expectations By $0.09 EPS

SM Energy (NYSE:SM) released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday. The energy company reported $1.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.00 by ($0.09), Zacks reports. SM Energy had a net margin of 33.89% and a return on equity of 19.62%.

SM Energy Stock Up 0.6 %

NYSE:SM traded up $0.22 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $38.84. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 2,486,276 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,498,940. SM Energy has a 1 year low of $36.13 and a 1 year high of $53.26. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $39.88 and a 200-day moving average of $41.86. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.44 billion, a PE ratio of 5.42 and a beta of 4.11. The company has a quick ratio of 3.52, a current ratio of 3.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67.

SM Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, February 3rd. Investors of record on Friday, January 24th were paid a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.06%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 24th. SM Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 11.17%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on SM shares. Stephens reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $57.00 price objective on shares of SM Energy in a research report on Thursday, January 2nd. Mizuho reduced their price objective on shares of SM Energy from $57.00 to $55.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, December 16th. Susquehanna reduced their price objective 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. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $53.00 price target (up previously from $51.00) on shares of SM Energy in a research report on Wednesday, December 4th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of SM Energy from $47.00 to $45.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, December 17th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $51.90.

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.