Cowen after the bell rolled out coverage of the Exploration & Production space, naming Anadarko (APC), Pioneer Natural (PXD) and Range Resources (RRC) its top picks. All three were started at Outperform with price targets of $72, $216 and $73, respectively. Cowen recommends buying energy stocks on weakness following the recent rally in the space. The firm says it top picks have low-cost assets and high quality balance sheets that will allow them to emerge from the oil price downturn with higher margins. Other names initiated at Outperform are Devon Energy (DVN), Noble Energy (NBL) and Cimarex Energy (XEC). Cowen started both Apache (APA) and Continental Resources (CLR) at Market Perform.

Piper Sandler analyst Mark Lear raised the firm's price target on Devon Energy to $60 from $59 and keeps an Overweight rating on the shares as part of a Q1 preview for the exploration and production group. Energy has been hot, almost too hot, as $90 crude potentially cools the pace of consolidation and investors looking for ways to play the data center and power demand theme turn to gas equities, the analyst tells investors in a research note. The firm adjusted oil and gas price assumptions, expecting crude pricing to remain strong through Q3 and gas pricing pressure to persist through the balance of fiscal 2024.

Piper Sandler raised the firm's price target on APA Corp. to $35 from $33 and keeps a Neutral rating on the shares as part of a Q1 preview for the exploration and production group. Energy has been hot, almost too hot, as $90 crude potentially cools the pace of consolidation and investors looking for ways to play the data center and power demand theme turn to gas equities, the analyst tells investors in a research note. The firm adjusted oil and gas price assumptions, expecting crude pricing to remain strong through Q3 and gas pricing pressure to persist through the balance of fiscal 2024.