Jefferies Downgrades Gulfport Energy Stock Amid Near-Term Natural Gas Price Risks
Gulfport Energy stock rose by 1.37 percent to USD 161.91 on the NYSE on September 24, 2026. This follows a downgrading of the producer from 'Buy' to 'Hold' and a lower price target from USD 239 to USD 180 by Jefferies.
The downgrade was due to near-term natural gas price risks linked to a potentially warm winter and rising associated gas production, according to Investing.com. The firm also pointed out higher leverage for acreage acquisitions and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.5 as factors limiting financial flexibility.
Despite this, Gulfport reported USD 323.23 million in Q2 2026 revenue, net income of USD 87.1 million, and adjusted EBITDA of USD 179.1 million. The company's diluted EPS was USD 4.85, exceeding the consensus estimate by USD 1.03 or 26.96 percent.
The stock remains below its yearly high of USD 225.78 and is currently trading at a market capitalization of USD 2.91 billion.