Antero Resources (NYSE:AR) Stock Rating Lowered by Zacks Research

Antero Resources (NYSE:AR) was downgraded by equities research analysts at Zacks Research from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report issued on Tuesday,Zacks.com reports.

A number of other equities research analysts have also weighed in on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group restated a “buy” rating and issued a $57.00 price objective on shares of Antero Resources in a report on Friday, May 1st. Benchmark upgraded shares of Antero Resources from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $44.00 price target for the company in a report on Thursday, March 5th. UBS Group upped their price target on shares of Antero Resources from $54.00 to $56.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, May 1st. Bank of America upped their price target on shares of Antero Resources from $39.00 to $44.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 21st. Finally, Citigroup upped their price target on shares of Antero Resources from $39.00 to $53.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, March 31st. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Antero Resources has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $50.06.

Antero Resources Trading Down 2.0%

Shares of AR opened at $35.10 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $10.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.40 and a beta of 0.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 0.40 and a current ratio of 0.40. Antero Resources has a fifty-two week low of $29.10 and a fifty-two week high of $45.75. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $39.02 and a 200-day moving average price of $36.35.

Insider Activity at Antero Resources

In related news, Director Benjamin A. Hardesty sold 12,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $44.00, for a total transaction of $528,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 150,242 shares in the company, valued at $6,610,648. This represents a 7.40% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, insider Yvette K. Schultz sold 39,490 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, May 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $39.27, for a total transaction of $1,550,772.30. Following the sale, the insider owned 277,665 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $10,903,904.55. This represents a 12.45% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 252,316 shares of company stock worth $9,977,259 in the last three months. 6.30% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Root Financial Partners LLC bought a new position in Antero Resources in the 3rd quarter worth $26,000. Sunbelt Securities Inc. bought a new position in Antero Resources in the 3rd quarter worth $30,000. IFP Advisors Inc raised its holdings in Antero Resources by 59.2% in the 3rd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 928 shares of the oil and natural gas company’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 345 shares in the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC bought a new position in Antero Resources in the 4th quarter worth $41,000. Finally, McIlrath & Eck LLC bought a new position in Antero Resources in the 1st quarter worth $53,000. 83.04% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Antero Resources

Antero Resources Corporation is an independent exploration and production company focused on the development of natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs) and oil properties in the Appalachian Basin of the United States. The company’s operations target the Marcellus and Utica shales, where it applies advanced drilling and completion techniques to optimize recovery from its large acreage position. Antero’s portfolio encompasses significant reserves of ethane, propane and other NGLs, alongside dry gas volumes that are positioned to serve both domestic and export markets.

Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Antero Resources holds approximately 1.8 million net acres of leasehold interests across parts of West Virginia and Ohio.