Recent News
November 18–21, 2025: Piper Sandler trimmed its price target for Vital Energy to $25 and maintained its coverage while several other research firms adjusted their views and targets during the month; market commentary aggregated by analyst trackers shows a consensus skew toward reduced ratings and lower average target levels following the company’s recent updates.
Technical Analysis
Directional indicators show a clear bias: ADX at 27.42 signals a strong trend environment while DI+ at 28.72 trending higher provides a bullish directional reading; DI- at 13.75 registered a peak-and-reversal, a bullish signal under the directional rules, supporting short-term upward pressure tied to improving cash-flow signals.
MACD reads 0.58 and climbs above its 0.43 signal line, which constitutes a bullish momentum crossover and aligns with the near-term price bias implied by directional indicators.
MRO sits at -0.45, a negative value that indicates price below target and potential for upward correction; the magnitude suggests modest upside potential rather than an outsized reversion.
RSI at 54.85 and rising reflects mild bullish momentum without overbought conditions, leaving room for additional upward movement before momentum exhaustion becomes likely.
Price sits at $18.79 above the 12-day EMA ($18.17) and above the 200-day average ($17.40); the 20-day average ($17.86) and the super-trend lower support at $17.17 provide nearby technical floors. Price trades near the 1x Bollinger upper band ($18.77), indicating recent constructive pressure inside a modest volatility regime (42‑day volatility ~4%).
Fundamental Analysis
Revenue shows a decline year-over-year: revenue growth YoY reads -43.04% while trailing revenue growth registers -2.05%. Quarter-to-quarter revenue dropped sharply (QoQ -87.29%), signaling short-term top-line compression that contrasts with positive operating cash generation.
Operating performance presents a bifurcated profile. Operating margin stands at 13.52% supported by operating income of $56,899,000 and operating cash flow of $286,552,000; by contrast EBIT sits at -$305,303,000 and net income at -$353,522,000, reflecting large non-operating charges and one-time items. The company reported positive free cash flow of $15,696,000 while reducing net debt modestly during the period.
Profitability ratios and earnings detail: EPS actual reached $1.52 versus an estimate of $1.63, producing an EPS surprise of -6.75%. Return on assets and return on equity remain negative at -7.20% and -20.13% respectively, while operating cash generation offers counterbalancing support for ongoing operations.
Valuation multiples show discounted market expectations relative to peers where peer comparators exist: P/E at 10.80 and forward P/E at 8.55 remain well below the industry peer mean levels; P/B at 0.36 sits below the industry peer mean, while P/S at 1.51 falls under the industry peer mean. Free cash flow yield registers at 2.47%, modestly above the industry peer mean of 1.83%, which provides a valuation anchor given persistent leverage. Present capital structure displays elevated leverage: total debt stands at $2.34B with net debt around $2.27B against a market capitalization near $635.26M; debt-to-equity reads 133.22% and debt-to-assets at 49.60%, and interest coverage remains negative, indicating that non-operating costs and financing expense challenge earnings coverage.
Operational metrics: production and capital activity continue — capital expenditures totaled $270,856,000 while the company maintained asset turnover near 0.0857. Cash balance sits at $14,697,000 and current ratio at 0.78, reflecting tight near-term liquidity against short-term liabilities of $541,479,000.
Valuation conclusion: WMDST values the stock as under-valued based on current free cash flow generation relative to market capitalization and depressed multiples, though the valuation carries risk adjustment for heavy leverage and negative net income that could pressure equity value if non-operating charges persist.
MOST-RECENT QUARTERLY REPORT
| REPORT PERIOD ENDING: | 2025-09-30 |
| REPORT DATE: | 2025-11-03 |
| NEXT REPORT DATE: | 2026-02-02 |
| CASH FLOW | Begin Period Cash Flow | $ 30.2 M |
| Operating Cash Flow | $ 286.6 M | |
| Capital Expenditures | $ -270.86 M | |
| Change In Working Capital | $ 30.4 M | |
| Dividends Paid | — | |
| Cash Flow Delta | $ -15.50 M | |
| End Period Cash Flow | $ 14.7 M | |
| INCOME STATEMENT | REVENUE | |
| Total Revenue | $ 420.8 M | |
| Forward Revenue | $ -22.91 M | |
| COSTS | ||
| Cost Of Revenue | $ 322.1 M | |
| Depreciation | — | |
| Depreciation and Amortization | — | |
| Research and Development | — | |
| Total Operating Expenses | $ 363.9 M | |
| PROFITABILITY | ||
| Gross Profit | $ 98.8 M | |
| EBITDA | $ -124.79 M | |
| EBIT | $ -305.30 M | |
| Operating Income | $ 56.9 M | |
| Interest Income | — | |
| Interest Expense | $ 50.0 M | |
| Net Interest Income | $ -49.99 M | |
| Income Before Tax | $ -355.30 M | |
| Tax Provision | $ -1.77 M | |
| Tax Rate | 0.5 % | |
| Net Income | $ -353.52 M | |
| Net Income From Continuing Operations | $ -353.52 M | |
| EARNINGS | ||
| EPS Estimate | $ 1.63 | |
| EPS Actual | $ 1.52 | |
| EPS Difference | $ -0.11 | |
| EPS Surprise | -6.748 % | |
| Forward EPS | $ 1.99 | |
| BALANCE SHEET | ASSETS | |
| Total Assets | $ 4.7 B | |
| Intangible Assets | — | |
| Net Tangible Assets | $ 1.8 B | |
| Total Current Assets | $ 421.1 M | |
| Cash and Short-Term Investments | $ 14.7 M | |
| Cash | $ 14.7 M | |
| Net Receivables | $ 227.7 M | |
| Inventory | — | |
| Long-Term Investments | $ 29.9 M | |
| LIABILITIES | ||
| Accounts Payable | $ 195.6 M | |
| Short-Term Debt | — | |
| Total Current Liabilities | $ 541.5 M | |
| Net Debt | $ 2.3 B | |
| Total Debt | $ 2.3 B | |
| Total Liabilities | $ 3.0 B | |
| EQUITY | ||
| Total Equity | $ 1.8 B | |
| Retained Earnings | $ -2.08 B | |
| VALUATION & PER-SHARE METRICS | EQUITY & PER-SHARE METRICS | |
| Book Value Per-Share | $ 45.39 | |
| Shares Outstanding | 38.690 M | |
| Revenue Per-Share | $ 10.88 | |
| VALUATION | Market Capitalization | $ 635.3 M |
| Enterprise Value | $ 3.0 B | |
| Enterprise Multiple | -23.722 | |
| Enterprise Multiple QoQ | -16.802 % | |
| Enterprise Multiple YoY | -1053.235 % | |
| Enterprise Multiple IPRWA | high: 99.417 mean: 23.996 median: 21.281 low: -8.15 VTLE: -23.722 |
|
| EV/R | 7.034 | |
| CAPITAL STRUCTURE | ||
| Asset To Equity | 2.686 | |
| Asset To Liability | 1.593 | |
| Debt To Capital | 0.571 | |
| Debt To Assets | 0.496 | |
| Debt To Assets QoQ | 5.624 % | |
| Debt To Assets YoY | 3473.343 % | |
| Debt To Assets IPRWA | VTLE: 0.496 high: 0.469 mean: 0.194 median: 0.156 low: 0.003 |
|
| Debt To Equity | 1.332 | |
| Debt To Equity QoQ | 17.121 % | |
| Debt To Equity YoY | 4590.845 % | |
| Debt To Equity IPRWA | high: 1.358 VTLE: 1.332 mean: 0.382 median: 0.268 low: -0.668 |
|
| PRICE-BASED VALUATION | ||
| Price To Book (P/B) | 0.362 | |
| Price To Book QoQ | 10.449 % | |
| Price To Book YoY | -6.852 % | |
| Price To Book IPRWA | high: 42.844 median: 2.001 mean: 1.941 VTLE: 0.362 low: -0.073 |
|
| Price To Earnings (P/E) | 10.802 | |
| Price To Earnings QoQ | 20.767 % | |
| Price To Earnings YoY | -44.061 % | |
| Price To Earnings IPRWA | high: 234.317 mean: 67.333 median: 41.127 VTLE: 10.802 low: -49.015 |
|
| PE/G Ratio | -0.436 | |
| Price To Sales (P/S) | 1.51 | |
| Price To Sales QoQ | -5.949 % | |
| Price To Sales YoY | -41.581 % | |
| Price To Sales IPRWA | high: 92.108 median: 10.573 mean: 10.503 low: 3.864 VTLE: 1.51 |
|
| FORWARD MULTIPLES | ||
| Forward P/E | 8.549 | |
| Forward PE/G | -0.345 | |
| Forward P/S | -27.725 | |
| EFFICIENCY | OPERATIONAL | |
| Operating Leverage | -1.955 | |
| ASSET & SALES | ||
| Asset Turnover Ratio | 0.086 | |
| Asset Turnover Ratio QoQ | 7.877 % | |
| Asset Turnover Ratio YoY | 7.471 % | |
| Asset Turnover Ratio IPRWA | high: 0.238 median: 0.116 mean: 0.107 VTLE: 0.086 low: 0.002 |
|
| Receivables Turnover | 1.788 | |
| Receivables Turnover Ratio QoQ | 3.486 % | |
| Receivables Turnover Ratio YoY | -12.381 % | |
| Receivables Turnover Ratio IPRWA | high: 3.021 median: 2.211 mean: 2.135 VTLE: 1.788 low: 1.126 |
|
| Inventory Turnover | — | |
| Inventory Turnover Ratio QoQ | — | |
| Inventory Turnover Ratio YoY | — | |
| Inventory Turnover Ratio IPRWA | — | |
| Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) | 51.033 | |
| CASH CYCLE | ||
| Cash Conversion Cycle Days (CCC) | 1.518 | |
| Cash Conversion Cycle Days QoQ | — | |
| Cash Conversion Cycle Days YoY | — | |
| Cash Conversion Cycle Days IPRWA | high: 71.4 VTLE: 1.518 mean: -22.152 median: -38.557 low: -78.186 |
|
| CAPITAL DEPLOYMENT | ||
| Cash Conversion Ratio | -3.494 | |
| CapEx To Revenue | -0.644 | |
| CapEx To Depreciation | — | |
| CAPITAL, LIQUIDITY & COVERAGE | CAPITAL STRUCTURE | |
| Total Capital | $ 4.0 B | |
| Net Invested Capital | $ 4.0 B | |
| Invested Capital | $ 4.0 B | |
| Net Tangible Assets | $ 1.8 B | |
| Net Working Capital | $ -120.43 M | |
| LIQUIDITY | ||
| Cash Ratio | 0.027 | |
| Current Ratio | 0.778 | |
| Current Ratio QoQ | -1.451 % | |
| Current Ratio YoY | 16.165 % | |
| Current Ratio IPRWA | high: 10.048 median: 1.624 mean: 1.492 VTLE: 0.778 low: 0.106 |
|
| Quick Ratio | — | |
| Quick Ratio QoQ | — | |
| Quick Ratio YoY | — | |
| Quick Ratio IPRWA | — | |
| COVERAGE & LEVERAGE | ||
| Debt To EBITDA | -18.749 | |
| Cost Of Debt | 2.101 % | |
| Interest Coverage Ratio | -6.107 | |
| Interest Coverage Ratio QoQ | 3.713 % | |
| Interest Coverage Ratio YoY | -177.594 % | |
| Interest Coverage Ratio IPRWA | high: 247.055 median: 26.69 mean: 21.42 VTLE: -6.107 low: -23.782 |
|
| Operating Cash Flow Ratio | 0.529 | |
| TIMING / LIQUIDITY | ||
| Days Payables Outstanding (DPO) | 49.514 | |
| DIVIDENDS | ||
| Dividend Coverage Ratio | — | |
| Dividend Payout Ratio | — | |
| Dividend Rate | — | |
| Dividend Yield | — | |
| PERFORMANCE | GROWTH | |
| Asset Growth Rate | -7.515 % | |
| Revenue Growth | -2.049 % | |
| Revenue Growth QoQ | -87.288 % | |
| Revenue Growth YoY | -43.036 % | |
| Revenue Growth IPRWA | high: 53.778 % median: 7.04 % mean: 4.107 % VTLE: -2.049 % low: -41.594 % |
|
| Earnings Growth | -24.752 % | |
| Earnings Growth QoQ | 67.606 % | |
| Earnings Growth YoY | -340.919 % | |
| Earnings Growth IPRWA | high: 31.285 % median: 16.81 % mean: -1.919 % VTLE: -24.752 % low: -178.947 % |
|
| MARGINS | ||
| Gross Margin | 23.466 % | |
| Gross Margin QoQ | -2.796 % | |
| Gross Margin YoY | -12.607 % | |
| Gross Margin IPRWA | high: 77.574 % median: 61.846 % mean: 49.517 % VTLE: 23.466 % low: 10.522 % |
|
| EBIT Margin | -72.549 % | |
| EBIT Margin QoQ | 6.181 % | |
| EBIT Margin YoY | -205.52 % | |
| EBIT Margin IPRWA | high: 90.161 % median: 33.06 % mean: 32.0 % low: 2.813 % VTLE: -72.549 % |
|
| Return On Sales (ROS) | 13.521 % | |
| Return On Sales QoQ | -13.316 % | |
| Return On Sales YoY | -80.334 % | |
| Return On Sales IPRWA | high: 90.161 % median: 31.56 % mean: 27.309 % VTLE: 13.521 % low: -0.399 % |
|
| CASH FLOW | ||
| Free Cash Flow (FCF) | $ 15.7 M | |
| Free Cash Flow Yield | 2.471 % | |
| Free Cash Flow Yield QoQ | -280.497 % | |
| Free Cash Flow Yield YoY | -103.65 % | |
| Free Cash Flow Yield IPRWA | high: 6.143 % VTLE: 2.471 % median: 2.389 % mean: 1.834 % low: -7.968 % |
|
| Free Cash Growth | -266.306 % | |
| Free Cash Growth QoQ | 146.57 % | |
| Free Cash Growth YoY | -67.5 % | |
| Free Cash Growth IPRWA | high: 798.028 % median: 505.858 % mean: 389.945 % VTLE: -266.306 % low: -769.808 % |
|
| Free Cash To Net Income | -0.044 | |
| Cash Flow Margin | -71.496 % | |
| Cash Flow To Earnings | -0.811 | |
| VALUE & RETURNS | ||
| Economic Value Added | $ 0.03 | |
| Return On Assets (ROA) | -7.202 % | |
| Return On Assets QoQ | -33.166 % | |
| Return On Assets YoY | -292.567 % | |
| Return On Assets IPRWA | high: 14.237 % median: 2.987 % mean: 2.521 % VTLE: -7.202 % low: -10.348 % |
|
| Return On Capital Employed (ROCE) | -7.312 % | |
| Return On Equity (ROE) | -0.201 | |
| Return On Equity QoQ | -27.244 % | |
| Return On Equity YoY | -385.694 % | |
| Return On Equity IPRWA | high: 0.203 median: 0.049 mean: 0.041 low: -0.121 VTLE: -0.201 |
|
| DuPont ROE | -18.309 % | |
| Return On Invested Capital (ROIC) | -7.522 % | |
| Return On Invested Capital QoQ | 43.577 % | |
| Return On Invested Capital YoY | -101.97 % | |
| Return On Invested Capital IPRWA | high: 6.096 % median: 4.042 % mean: 3.441 % VTLE: -7.522 % low: -10.86 % |
|