EQT (NYSE:EQT) Upgraded at Zacks Research

Zacks Research upgraded shares of EQT (NYSE:EQT) from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report sent to investors on Tuesday morning,Zacks.com reports.

A number of other equities analysts have also recently weighed in on EQT. Scotiabank reduced their price target on EQT from $67.00 to $63.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on EQT from $66.00 to $70.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, February 20th. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their target price on EQT from $70.00 to $66.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on EQT from $60.00 to $68.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 3rd. Finally, UBS Group dropped their price target on shares of EQT from $76.00 to $75.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 5th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have given a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $66.70.

EQT Stock Down 1.5%

EQT opened at $66.91 on Tuesday. EQT has a fifty-two week low of $43.57 and a fifty-two week high of $67.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a current ratio of 0.76. The company has a fifty day moving average of $59.31 and a two-hundred day moving average of $56.41. The stock has a market capitalization of $41.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.21, a PEG ratio of 1.28 and a beta of 0.72.

EQT (NYSE:EQT) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 17th. The oil and gas producer reported $0.90 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.76 by $0.14. EQT had a net margin of 23.59% and a return on equity of 7.25%. The business had revenue of $2.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.13 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.69 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 24.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that EQT will post 3.27 earnings per share for the current year.

EQT Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 2nd. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 17th were paid a $0.165 dividend. This represents a $0.66 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 17th. EQT’s dividend payout ratio is currently 19.94%.

Insider Buying and Selling at EQT

In other news, insider Lesley Evancho sold 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.69, for a total value of $1,213,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 184,607 shares in the company, valued at $11,203,798.83. This represents a 9.77% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Sarah Fenton sold 4,876 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.49, for a total transaction of $314,453.24. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 52,953 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,414,938.97. This represents a 8.43% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 61,158 shares of company stock worth $3,742,983. Corporate insiders own 0.72% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of EQT

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. lifted its stake in EQT by 8,000.9% in the 3rd quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. now owns 153,431 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $8,351,000 after purchasing an additional 151,537 shares in the last quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp grew its position in shares of EQT by 116.4% in the third quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp now owns 534,485 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $29,092,000 after purchasing an additional 287,538 shares in the last quarter. First American Bank purchased a new stake in shares of EQT in the third quarter valued at approximately $1,915,000. Adams Natural Resources Fund Inc. increased its holdings in shares of EQT by 97.1% in the third quarter. Adams Natural Resources Fund Inc. now owns 220,500 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $12,002,000 after purchasing an additional 108,600 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Canada Post Corp Registered Pension Plan increased its holdings in shares of EQT by 131.7% in the third quarter. Canada Post Corp Registered Pension Plan now owns 87,629 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $4,772,000 after purchasing an additional 49,803 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.81% of the company’s stock.

EQT News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting EQT this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks upgraded EQT to a Strong Buy (added to Zacks Rank #1 momentum and income lists), boosting buy-side sentiment and short-term momentum expectations. Zacks Upgrade
• Positive Sentiment: Truist initiated coverage with a buy/strong-buy stance, providing another institutional vote of confidence that can support demand for the shares. Truist Coverage
• Positive Sentiment: EQT upsized a cash tender offer for certain senior notes to $1.4 billion (from $1.15B), signaling active debt reduction and balance-sheet management that investors typically view favorably for credit metrics and long-term value. Debt Tender Offer
• Neutral Sentiment: Real estate/asset interest: Ares is reported to be circling a $650M EQT industrial portfolio — this could mean asset sales or portfolio monetization, but details and direct proceeds impact for EQT Corporation are unclear. Ares Interest
• Neutral Sentiment: Several articles reference “EQT” (private equity firm) bidding for Vitabiotics alongside Bain and TPG — that EQT is a different firm (EQT AB) and is not EQT Corporation (energy). This can create headline confusion but shouldn’t directly affect EQT (NYSE:EQT). Vitabiotics Bids (different EQT)
• Negative Sentiment: Market/headline pressure: intraday weakness appears linked to broader energy-futures movement and profit-taking after a recent run (analyst upgrades and momentum may have already been priced in). Lower-than-average volume today suggests a pullback rather than a fundamental reversal. Market Trends

About EQT

EQT Corporation (NYSE: EQT) is a U.S.-based energy company focused on the exploration, development and production of natural gas. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the company concentrates its upstream operations in the Appalachian Basin, producing from major shale formations including the Marcellus and Utica. EQT’s primary product is natural gas, with production activities supported by associated liquids and conventional gas assets where applicable.

In addition to drilling and well development, EQT operates and coordinates the infrastructure and commercial activities necessary to bring gas to market.