Top Wall Street Analysts Share Insights on 3 High-Dividend Energy Stocks
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Source: Benzinga
Investor Interest in Dividend Stocks: In uncertain market conditions, investors are increasingly drawn to dividend-yielding stocks, which typically feature companies with strong free cash flows that provide substantial payouts to shareholders.
Vitesse Energy Inc (VTS): VTS has a dividend yield of 10.41%. Analysts have mixed ratings, with Evercore ISI maintaining an In-Line rating and lowering the price target, while Roth MKM raised its target and maintained a Buy rating.
Western Midstream Partners LP (WES): WES offers a 9.18% dividend yield. Citigroup reinstated a Neutral rating with a price target of $39, while Mizuho raised its target and maintained an Outperform rating, following weak quarterly results.
Plains All American Pipeline LP (PAA): PAA has a dividend yield of 9.09%. Analysts have differing views, with Raymond James reiterating a Strong Buy but lowering the price target, while Barclays cut its target and maintained an Underweight rating after the company announced a public offering of senior notes.
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Analyst Views on VTS
Wall Street analysts forecast VTS stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for VTS is 20.00 USD with a low forecast of 20.00 USD and a high forecast of 20.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
2 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 20.310
Low
20.00
Averages
20.00
High
20.00
Current: 20.310
Low
20.00
Averages
20.00
High
20.00
About VTS
Vitesse Energy, Inc. is focused on owning financial interests predominantly as a non-operator in oil and gas wells drilled by the United States operators. The Company invests in non-operated minority working and mineral interests in oil and natural gas properties with its core area of focus in the Bakken and Three Forks formations of the Williston Basin of North Dakota and Montana. It also has interests in wells in the Denver-Julesburg Basin located in Colorado and Wyoming and the Powder River Basin located in Wyoming. Its assets consist of more than 50,000 net acres and interests in over 7,000 gross producing wells.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Diamondback Energy Offers Better 2026 Investment Outlook Than Vitesse Energy
- Business Model Comparison: Vitesse Energy diversifies risk by investing in over 7,600 wells, currently offering an 11.7% dividend yield, but its shift from a non-operator model may jeopardize future earnings.
- Diamondback's Advantage: Focused on the low-cost Permian Basin, Diamondback estimates a free cash flow of $20 per share at a $60 oil price in 2025, indicating strong capital return potential.
- Risk Management Strategy: Vitesse has 60% of its 2025 oil production hedged at nearly $70, with 40% unprotected, posing a dividend risk if oil prices decline.
- Flexible Capital Return Policy: Diamondback's capital return policy is flexible, offering a base dividend and opportunistic buybacks, ensuring stable shareholder returns amid oil price fluctuations.
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Vitesse Energy's Dividend at Risk, Diamondback Energy Offers Better Investment Value
- Dividend Risk: Vitesse Energy's dividend yield of 11.7% is at risk as 60% of its 2025 oil production is unhedged below $70, which could jeopardize investor confidence if oil prices decline significantly.
- Diamondback's Advantage: With a base dividend of $4 per share and a current yield of 2.6%, Diamondback Energy's protection down to $37 per barrel allows it to maintain stable capital returns even in falling oil price scenarios, enhancing its investment appeal.
- Business Model Divergence: Vitesse Energy's acquisition of Lucero Energy and its operation of 10% of its assets diverges from its original non-operator strategy, potentially indicating management's struggles in finding viable non-operating investments.
- Cash Flow Forecast: Diamondback's projected free cash flow per share ranges from $19 to $21 in 2025, and its flexible capital return policy, coupled with strong cash flow generation at the current oil price of $59, positions it as more resilient amid market fluctuations.
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