On Wednesday, KeyBanc Capital Markets adjusted its stance on Sitio Royalties Corp (NYSE:STR), downgrading the stock from Overweight to Sector Weight. The firm has also decided to remove its previous $27 price target for the company's shares. The move comes after an assessment of Sitio Royalties' current financial position and market performance.
The analyst from KeyBanc noted that Sitio Royalties now appears to be a less attractive investment option compared to its peers. The company's leverage ratio stands at 1.7 times, and it is offering a next twelve months (NTM) distribution yield of 4.7%. This yield assumes that 30% of the company's cash returns will come in the form of share repurchases.
Sitio Royalties' leverage and its performance in the stock market thus far this year were highlighted as concerns by KeyBanc. Despite a month-to-date (MTD) outperformance, the overall year-to-date (YTD) results have been lackluster. According to the analyst, these factors diminish the company's ability to compete effectively for large asset packages, especially against growth-oriented peers in the industry.
The downgrade reflects a revised outlook on the company's potential to deliver shareholder value under current market conditions. The removal of the price target suggests a reevaluation of the company's future earnings and growth prospects. Sitio Royalties' stock performance and financial metrics will likely continue to be monitored by investors following these changes.
In other recent news, Sitio Royalties Corp reported strong growth in its Q2 2024 results, with record oil production and an adjusted EBITDA of $151.6 million. The company also marked a significant 45% increase in return of capital per share from the previous quarter. Additionally, Sitio Royalties successfully closed six acquisitions totaling $38.5 million, which added over 2,100 net royalty acres to their portfolio.
However, KeyBanc has revised its outlook on Sitio Royalties, reducing its price target to $27 from the previous $29, while maintaining an Overweight rating. This decision came after a detailed review of Sitio's second-quarter earnings report and updates.
KeyBanc pointed out concerns such as the interest expense, which stood at $6.36 per barrel of oil equivalent in the second quarter, negatively impacting unit margins and free cash flow generation.
In terms of future expectations, Sitio Royalties raised its full-year production guidance to 36,000 to 38,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day and lowered its cash tax guidance to $9 to $15 million. The company also repurchased 3.1 million shares, committing to return at least 65% of discretionary cash flow to shareholders.
These recent developments indicate Sitio Royalties' continuous growth trajectory and commitment to strategic acquisitions in a competitive market.
InvestingPro Insights
To complement KeyBanc's analysis, recent data from InvestingPro offers additional context on Sitio Royalties Corp's financial position. The company's market capitalization stands at $3.56 billion, with a revenue of $626 million for the last twelve months as of Q2 2024. Notably, Sitio has demonstrated strong revenue growth, with a 24.52% increase over the same period.
InvestingPro Tips highlight that Sitio Royalties operates with a moderate level of debt and its liquid assets exceed short-term obligations, which could provide some financial flexibility despite KeyBanc's concerns about leverage. Additionally, the stock generally trades with low price volatility, which may appeal to certain investors seeking stability.
However, aligning with KeyBanc's cautious stance, InvestingPro data shows that Sitio was not profitable over the last twelve months, with a negative P/E ratio of -104.42. This is balanced by analysts' predictions that the company will be profitable this year, as indicated by another InvestingPro Tip.
The current dividend yield of 5.19% is higher than the NTM distribution yield mentioned by KeyBanc, potentially making it an attractive option for income-focused investors. However, it's worth noting that dividend growth has declined by 40% in the last twelve months.
For investors seeking a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers 5 additional tips that could provide further insights into Sitio Royalties' investment potential.
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