EQT Rises on Institutional Buys as High-Volume Stock Strategy Surpasses Benchmark Despite 423rd Trading Rank

On August 8, 2025, EQT Corporation (NYSE:EQT) closed with a 0.10% increase, trading at $51.94 per share. The stock recorded a daily trading volume of $230 million, ranking 423rd in the market. Institutional investors continued to adjust their positions, with PNC Financial Services Group Inc. boosting its stake by 10.6% in the first quarter to 156,107 shares, valued at $8.34 million. Harbour Investments Inc. and Colonial Trust Co SC also increased holdings, with the latter acquiring 255.5% more shares in the fourth quarter. These moves highlight ongoing institutional confidence in the oil and gas producer despite mixed quarterly earnings results.

Analyst activity remained active, with Zacks Research revising its Q1 2026 earnings estimate for EQT to $1.41 per share, up from $1.35. Barclays and Morgan Stanley maintained "overweight" ratings, while Scotiabank raised its price target to $66. The company’s 1.2% dividend yield, with a $0.1575 per share payout, further attracted investors. However, insider transactions included the sale of shares by EVP Sarah Fenton and Director Vicky A. Bailey, reducing their holdings by 48.33% and 100%, respectively. These sales, while modest, may signal short-term strategic adjustments.

The strategy of purchasing the top 500 stocks by daily trading volume and holding them for one day generated a 166.71% return from 2022 to the present, significantly outperforming the benchmark. This underscores the influence of liquidity concentration in volatile markets, where high-volume stocks like EQT can amplify price movements. The data aligns with institutional buying trends observed in the fourth quarter, suggesting short-term momentum may persist for liquid energy sector names.