Morgan Stanley Raises Range Resources Price Target to $48
Morgan Stanley analyst Devin McDermott raised the firm's price target on Range Resources to $48 from $40 and keeps an Equal Weight rating on the shares. Oil, LNG and refining margins have hit their highest levels since 2022 and even with de-escalation in Iran, it is becoming less likely that these markets can revert to their prior regime anytime soon, the analyst tells investors. The firm updated its price deck, increasing its 2026 WTI benchmark by 44%, NGLs by 40%, and cracks by 35%, while noting that its EBITDA estimates across its North America energy coverage are rising by about 40% for 2026 and 23% in 2027 on average.
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- Board Expansion: Flowco Holdings Inc. announced the appointment of Hardy Murchison as an independent director effective April 29, 2026, increasing the board size to eight members and independent directors from three to four, enhancing the board's independence and diversity.
- Rich Industry Experience: Murchison is the founder and CEO of Encino Energy, which under his leadership became Ohio's largest oil producer and second-largest natural gas producer, selling to EOG Resources for $5.6 billion in 2025, showcasing his success and influence in the energy sector.
- Strong Investment Background: Prior to Encino, Murchison co-managed $1.7 billion in oil and gas investments at First Reserve Corporation across the US, Angola, Canada, China, Colombia, and the UK, demonstrating his global perspective and investment acumen.
- Strategic Value Addition: Flowco CEO Joe Bob Edwards stated that Murchison's industry knowledge and operational perspective will play a key role in supporting the company's continued growth and long-term strategy, further driving value creation and operational excellence.
- Strong Performance: Range Resources reported a Q1 non-GAAP EPS of $1.52, beating expectations by $0.24, indicating robust market performance that is likely to positively impact stock prices.
- Significant Revenue Growth: The company achieved Q1 revenue of $1.03 billion, a 49.2% year-over-year increase, surpassing market expectations by $68.63 million, reflecting strong business expansion and market demand that further solidifies its market position.
- Capital Budget Planning: Range anticipates an all-in capital budget of $650 million to $700 million for 2026, with expected annual production of approximately 2.35 to 2.40 Bcfe per day, and liquids expected to exceed 30%, laying a foundation for future growth.
- Updated Expense Guidance: The company updated its 2026 expense guidance, including direct operating expenses of $0.12 to $0.13 per mcfe and transportation, gathering, processing, and compression expenses of $1.55 to $1.60 per mcfe, demonstrating a focus on cost control aimed at enhancing profitability.
- Earnings Release Preview: Major companies including Annaly Capital Management (NLY), Intuitive Surgical (ISRG), United Airlines Holdings (UAL), Capital One Financial Corporation (COF), and EQT Corporation (EQT) are set to report earnings after Tuesday's close, with high market attention that could influence stock price volatility.
- Market Reaction Expectations: Investors are eagerly anticipating the upcoming earnings reports, particularly from NLY and ISRG, as their performance in their respective industries could significantly impact market sentiment.
- Additional Earnings Reports: In addition to the major players, companies such as ADC, AMX, ASMIY, CALX, CB, CYH, ELS, EWBC, HWC, IBKR, MANH, OZK, PALAF, PEGA, RRC, SON, WAL, and WRB will also release earnings after Tuesday's close, further enriching market information.
- Earnings Season Calendar: Seeking Alpha provides a comprehensive earnings season calendar to assist investors in tracking market dynamics and formulating investment strategies, thereby enhancing decision-making efficiency.
- Earnings Announcement Date: Range Resources is set to release its Q1 earnings on April 21 after market close, with a consensus EPS estimate of $1.27, reflecting a 32.3% year-over-year increase, indicating ongoing improvements in profitability that could positively impact stock prices.
- Revenue Growth Expectations: The anticipated revenue for Q1 is $923.88 million, representing a 33.8% year-over-year increase, which highlights the company's competitive position and rising product demand, potentially boosting investor confidence.
- Historical Performance Review: Over the past two years, Range Resources has beaten EPS estimates 88% of the time and revenue estimates 50% of the time, suggesting a stable performance record that may attract more investor interest and enhance the company's standing in the industry.
- Estimate Revision Dynamics: In the last three months, EPS estimates have seen 16 upward revisions and 4 downward revisions, while revenue estimates have experienced 5 upward revisions and 1 downward revision, indicating increased analyst confidence in the company's future performance, which could have a positive effect on stock prices.

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Continued Performance Outlook: These stocks are expected to maintain their performance even if a cease-fire is established.









