UBS initiates Comstock Resources stock with Neutral, $19 target

Published 22/04/2025, 06:46
UBS initiates Comstock Resources stock with Neutral, $19 target

On Tuesday, UBS analysts began coverage of Comstock Resources (NYSE:CRK), assigning the stock a Neutral rating and setting a price target of $19.00. The firm’s analysts pointed out that Comstock Resources is a pure-play natural gas exploration and production company with a growing presence in the Western Haynesville region. The stock has shown remarkable momentum, delivering a 91.57% return over the past year and a substantial 64.52% gain in the last six months.

The analysts elaborated on their rating, noting that Comstock Resources is currently trading at 5.8 times its projected 2026 enterprise value to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EV/EBITDA), compared to its peers, which trade at an average of 5.2 times. With a current market capitalization of $5.46 billion and EBITDA of $626.78 million, InvestingPro analysis suggests the stock is currently overvalued relative to its Fair Value. They acknowledged that the company’s valuation already reflects a positive long-term demand outlook, the potential for resource growth, and its advantageous location near liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities.

Despite these positive factors, UBS analysts expressed caution due to Comstock Resources’ high leverage ratio, which exceeds three times and is more than double the average of its peers. This concern is supported by the company’s current ratio of 0.46, indicating potential liquidity challenges. They suggested that this level of debt could hinder the company’s ability to deliver significant returns to shareholders until at least 2027.

The coverage initiation by UBS comes as Comstock Resources continues to develop its natural gas resources, with a focus on the Western Haynesville area. The company’s proximity to LNG export infrastructure is seen as a strategic advantage, particularly as global demand for natural gas remains robust.

In conclusion, while recognizing Comstock Resources’ strengths, UBS analysts remain neutral on the stock due to its high leverage and the resulting delay in potential shareholder returns. The set price target of $19.00 reflects a balanced view of the company’s current position and future prospects within the natural gas sector. For deeper insights into CRK’s financial health and growth potential, including additional ProTips and comprehensive valuation metrics, explore the detailed Pro Research Report available on InvestingPro.

In other recent news, Comstock Resources Inc . reported a significant earnings beat for the fourth quarter of 2024, with earnings per share reaching $0.16 against a forecast of $0.01. The company’s revenue also surpassed expectations, coming in at $366.5 million compared to the anticipated $362.17 million. Despite these positive results, Fitch Ratings downgraded Comstock’s Long-Term Issuer Default Rating to ’B’ from ’B+’, citing challenges in generating consistent positive free cash flow and managing high leverage. The downgrade reflects the company’s status as a major producer in the Haynesville shale basin, yet struggling with elevated leverage and consistent negative free cash flow. Bank of America analysts maintained a positive outlook on Comstock, highlighting the potential long-term benefits for gas-levered exploration and production companies amid a potential slowdown in oil production. Comstock’s strategic focus on the Western Haynesville play has contributed to its competitive positioning, with plans to drill 46 net wells in 2025. The company aims to reduce leverage to 1.5x by the end of 2026, as it continues to optimize its operational efficiency.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers
© 2007-2025 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.