Diversified Energy (NYSE:DEC) Trading Down 4.2% – Here’s Why

Diversified Energy Company PLC (NYSE:DEC) shares were down 4.2% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $17.47 and last traded at $17.53. Approximately 1,156,419 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 16% from the average daily volume of 997,484 shares. The stock had previously closed at $18.30.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

DEC has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Diversified Energy from $15.00 to $17.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, March 17th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Diversified Energy from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, February 14th. Truist Financial initiated coverage on shares of Diversified Energy in a research report on Tuesday, March 24th. They set a “buy” rating and a $22.00 target price for the company. Mizuho lifted their price target on shares of Diversified Energy from $26.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, December 12th. Finally, Weiss Ratings raised Diversified Energy from a “sell (d+)” rating to a “hold (c-)” rating in a research report on Monday, March 2nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $21.80.

Diversified Energy Stock Performance

The firm has a market cap of $1.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.40 and a beta of 0.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.73, a current ratio of 0.60 and a quick ratio of 0.60. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $14.33 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $14.08.

Diversified Energy (NYSE:DEC) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 6th. The company reported $2.28 EPS for the quarter. On average, analysts expect that Diversified Energy Company PLC will post 0.18 EPS for the current year.

Diversified Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 29th will be issued a $0.29 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 29th. This represents a $1.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.9%. Diversified Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 78.91%.

Insider Activity at Diversified Energy

In other news, Director Randall S. Wade sold 2,100,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, January 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $13.28, for a total transaction of $27,888,000.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 7,501,585 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $99,621,048.80. The trade was a 21.87% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink.

Institutional Trading of Diversified Energy

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in DEC. Quarry LP increased its holdings in shares of Diversified Energy by 1,595.2% in the third quarter. Quarry LP now owns 2,119 shares of the company’s stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 1,994 shares during the period. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Diversified Energy during the fourth quarter worth about $32,000. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc acquired a new stake in shares of Diversified Energy during the fourth quarter worth about $35,000. State of Alaska Department of Revenue purchased a new stake in Diversified Energy in the third quarter valued at approximately $47,000. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its holdings in Diversified Energy by 261.3% in the 2nd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 5,069 shares of the company’s stock worth $74,000 after buying an additional 3,666 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 26.51% of the company’s stock.

Diversified Energy Company Profile

Diversified Energy Company PLC (NYSE: DEC) is an independent oil and natural gas producer focused on the acquisition and optimization of legacy onshore assets in the United States. The company’s portfolio spans thousands of producing wells and extensive leasehold positions across core regions such as Appalachia, the Permian Basin and the Mid-Continent. By targeting mature properties, Diversified Energy seeks to enhance long-term recovery through operational efficiencies and capital discipline.

The company’s business model centers on fee-based infrastructure and midstream services that provide stable and predictable cash flows.