SM Energy (NYSE:SM – Get Rating) – Equities researchers at KeyCorp issued their Q3 2022 EPS estimates for SM Energy in a research note issued on Monday, September 19th. KeyCorp analyst T. Rezvan anticipates that the energy company will earn $2.06 per share for the quarter. KeyCorp currently has a "Overweight" rating and a $64.00 target price on the stock. The consensus estimate for SM Energy's current full-year earnings is $8.51 per share. KeyCorp also issued estimates for SM Energy's Q4 2022 earnings at $2.06 EPS, FY2022 earnings at $8.29 EPS, Q1 2023 earnings at $3.06 EPS, Q2 2023 earnings at $2.43 EPS, Q3 2023 earnings at $2.47 EPS, Q4 2023 earnings at $2.71 EPS and FY2023 earnings at $10.68 EPS.

Several other equities analysts have also weighed in on SM. Barclays increased their price target on shares of SM Energy from $40.00 to $55.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 14th. MKM Partners restated a "buy" rating and set a $54.00 price target on shares of SM Energy in a research report on Wednesday, July 20th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $52.22.

SM Energy Price Performance

SM Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a Semi-Annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 7th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, October 25th will be given a dividend of $0.15 per share. This represents a yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, October 24th. This is a positive change from SM Energy's previous Semi-Annual dividend of $0.01. SM Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 0.28%.

Insider Transactions at SM Energy

In other news, EVP David W. Copeland sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $46.23, for a total value of $462,300.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 228,543 shares of the company's stock, valued at $10,565,542.89. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other news, EVP David W. Copeland sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $46.23, for a total value of $462,300.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 228,543 shares of the company's stock, valued at $10,565,542.89. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CAO Patrick A. Lytle sold 8,658 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $45.61, for a total transaction of $394,891.38. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 12,463 shares in the company, valued at $568,437.43. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 1.60% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On SM Energy

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System raised its stake in shares of SM Energy by 0.6% during the first quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System now owns 48,711 shares of the energy company's stock worth $1,897,000 after acquiring an additional 284 shares in the last quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. MA raised its stake in shares of SM Energy by 0.3% during the second quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. MA now owns 90,195 shares of the energy company's stock worth $3,084,000 after acquiring an additional 296 shares in the last quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System raised its stake in shares of SM Energy by 0.5% during the first quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 59,100 shares of the energy company's stock worth $2,382,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. Eaton Vance Management grew its holdings in shares of SM Energy by 3.8% in the first quarter. Eaton Vance Management now owns 8,361 shares of the energy company's stock worth $326,000 after purchasing an additional 309 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Advisor Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of SM Energy by 4.7% in the first quarter. Advisor Partners LLC now owns 8,341 shares of the energy company's stock worth $325,000 after purchasing an additional 372 shares during the last quarter. 90.53% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About SM Energy

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SM Energy Company, an independent energy company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in the state of Texas. As of February 24, 2022, it had 492.0 million barrels of oil equivalent of estimated proved reserves. It also has working interests in 825 gross productive oil wells and 483 gross productive gas wells in the Midland Basin and South Texas.

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