Expand Energy Rises on Strong Revenue and Institutional Buys Despite 263rd-Ranked Trading Volume

Expand Energy (EXE) rose 0.59% on August 13, with a trading volume of $460 million, ranking 263rd in daily activity. The stock’s recent performance follows a mixed earnings report, where the company posted $1.10 per share, below estimates, but revenue of $3.69 billion exceeded forecasts. A quarterly dividend of $0.575 per share was announced, yielding 2.3% annually, though the payout ratio remains elevated at 589.74%.

Institutional activity highlighted renewed interest in EXE. Terril Brothers Inc. and Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. added to their holdings in the first quarter, with the latter acquiring 68,120 shares valued at $7.58 million. Vanguard Group and Massachusetts Financial Services Co. also increased stakes, collectively owning 97.93% of the company’s shares. Analysts adjusted their outlook, with Barclays raising its price target to $139 and Bernstein upgrading to “strong-buy” with a $150 target. The stock now commands a 251.19 P/E ratio and a market cap of $22.97 billion.

Strategic shifts and sector dynamics further support EXE’s position. The company, formerly Chesapeake Energy, focuses on U.S. natural gas production in key shale regions. Analyst upgrades, coupled with strong revenue growth, suggest confidence in its operational resilience despite earnings shortfalls. The ex-dividend date of August 14 will test investor sentiment, given the high payout ratio.

A backtest of a volume-based trading strategy from 2022 showed a total profit of $2,385.14 by holding top 500 volume stocks for one day, reflecting moderate returns with occasional volatility over the period.