Morgan Stanley Lowers Antero Resources (NYSE:AR) Price Target to $38.00

Antero Resources (NYSE:AR) had its price objective trimmed by Morgan Stanley from $39.00 to $38.00 in a research note released on Monday morning, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an overweight rating on the oil and natural gas company’s stock.

A number of other research analysts have also recently issued reports on the stock. Mizuho reduced their price objective on shares of Antero Resources from $37.00 to $35.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Monday. Roth Mkm assumed coverage on Antero Resources in a research note on Tuesday, August 27th. They set a buy rating and a $32.00 price target for the company. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price objective on Antero Resources from $40.00 to $41.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, July 11th. Scotiabank upgraded Antero Resources from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating and raised their target price for the company from $40.00 to $44.00 in a report on Tuesday, August 20th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price target on Antero Resources from $36.00 to $32.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 6th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $33.13.

Antero Resources Stock Performance

Shares of AR stock opened at $27.25 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 0.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22. Antero Resources has a 52 week low of $20.10 and a 52 week high of $36.28. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $27.77 and a 200-day moving average of $30.17. The company has a market cap of $8.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 136.25 and a beta of 3.33.

Antero Resources (NYSE:AR) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 31st. The oil and natural gas company reported ($0.24) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.20) by ($0.04). The firm had revenue of $978.65 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $980.20 million. Antero Resources had a return on equity of 0.45% and a net margin of 1.88%. On average, equities analysts forecast that Antero Resources will post 0.34 earnings per share for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Yvette K. Schultz sold 50,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $25.24, for a total value of $1,262,000.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 248,363 shares in the company, valued at $6,268,682.12. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 6.70% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Antero Resources

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in AR. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Antero Resources by 1,311.8% in the first quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 960 shares of the oil and natural gas company’s stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 892 shares during the period. Mather Group LLC. bought a new position in Antero Resources in the 1st quarter worth about $37,000. Lindbrook Capital LLC grew its holdings in Antero Resources by 35.1% during the 1st quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 1,998 shares of the oil and natural gas company’s stock valued at $58,000 after buying an additional 519 shares in the last quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC increased its position in shares of Antero Resources by 28.0% during the fourth quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 2,752 shares of the oil and natural gas company’s stock valued at $62,000 after buying an additional 602 shares during the period. Finally, Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Antero Resources by 11.3% in the first quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 3,384 shares of the oil and natural gas company’s stock worth $98,000 after buying an additional 343 shares in the last quarter. 83.04% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Antero Resources Company Profile

Antero Resources Corporation, an independent oil and natural gas company, engages in the development, production, exploration, and acquisition of natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and oil properties in the United States. It operates in three segments: Exploration and Development; Marketing; and Equity Method Investment in Antero Midstream.