Jefferies Begins Coverage of Gulfport Energy with a Buy Rating and Sets Price Target at $250

Gulfport Energy Corporation is an independent natural gas-weighted exploration and production company. It is focused on the exploration, acquisition and production of natural gas, crude oil, and natural gas liquid (NGL) in the United States, with primary focus on the Appalachia and Anadarko basins. Its principal properties are located in eastern Ohio, targeting the Utica and Marcellus formations and in central Oklahoma targeting the SCOOP Woodford and SCOOP Springer formations. The Utica covers hydrocarbon-bearing rock formations located in the Appalachian Basin of the United States and Canada. It has about 208,000 net reservoir acres located primarily in Belmont, Harrison, Jefferson and Monroe Counties in eastern Ohio, where the Utica ranges in thickness from 600 to over 750 feet. The SCOOP play mainly targets the Devonian to Mississippian aged Woodford, Sycamore and Springer formations. It has about 73,000 net reservoir acres, located primarily in Garvin, Grady and Stephens Counties.