Trump to visit Fed on Thursday amid Powell feud, renovation probe
On Wednesday, Stephens research firm increased its price target for Range Resources (NYSE:RRC) shares to $44, up from the previous target of $43, while maintaining an Overweight rating on the stock. According to InvestingPro data, 11 analysts have recently revised their earnings estimates upward, with price targets ranging from $22.50 to $47. The company maintains a "GOOD" overall financial health score, supported by strong price momentum and profitability metrics. Stephens’ decision comes after evaluating the company’s fourth-quarter financial performance and its three-year outlook.
Range Resources reported fourth-quarter free cash flow (FCF), cash flow per share (CFPS), and capital expenditures (capex) that outperformed market expectations. The company’s FCF and CFPS were 16% and 9% higher than consensus estimates, respectively, while capex was 2% lower. With a market capitalization of $9.06 billion and trading at an EV/EBITDA multiple of 9.46x, Range Resources allocated 90% of its FCF from the fourth quarter to share repurchases and a fixed dividend, the latter of which was increased by 12.5%. Discover more detailed valuation metrics and financial insights with InvestingPro.
Looking ahead, the company’s three-year outlook anticipates 2027 production levels to be 18% higher than 2025 guidance, with only a 7% increase in maintenance capital expenditures. This production boost aligns with Range Resources’ efficient growth strategy. The initial guidance for 2025 showed a slight deviation from expectations, with capex and production figures 3% higher and 1% lower than consensus, respectively. However, the company has since improved its maintenance capex projections by $50 million, thanks to robust well performance and infrastructure optimization.
Stephens’ analyst cited Range Resources’ current leverage, which is within the target range of 1.0x to 1.5x, and highlighted the company’s extensive 30+ year drilling inventory. Operating with a moderate debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, the company has maintained strong financial discipline while delivering a robust return over the past five years. The analyst’s commentary suggests that with these assets, Range Resources is well-positioned to continue returning value to shareholders and to scale up production efficiently to meet rising demand for natural gas. For comprehensive analysis of Range Resources and similar energy stocks, access the full Pro Research Report on InvestingPro.
In other recent news, Range Resources Corporation has seen notable developments regarding its financial outlook and analyst ratings. The company is expected to report strong fourth-quarter 2024 financial results, with production forecasted at 2.20 billion cubic feet equivalent per day and capital expenditures around $157 million, aligning with market expectations. JPMorgan anticipates earnings per share of $0.62 and cash flow per share of $1.26, surpassing Street estimates, while also forecasting earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, and exploration expenses at $332 million.
Stephens has increased its price target for Range Resources to $43, driven by an optimistic view of natural gas liquids prices, which are expected to improve the company’s financial performance. Meanwhile, BofA Securities upgraded Range Resources from Neutral to Buy, raising the price target to $45, citing strong fundamentals and growth potential. This upgrade reflects confidence in the company’s operational opportunities and financial discipline, particularly as it navigates current market dynamics.
JPMorgan, however, maintains an Underweight rating, setting a price target of $40, while acknowledging the company’s strategic management and hedging strategies that preserve free cash flow. These recent developments highlight differing analyst perspectives on Range Resources, offering investors varied insights into the company’s future performance.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.