Traders Purchase High Volume of Call Options on Antero Resources (NYSE:AR)

Antero Resources Co. (NYSE:AR) was the recipient of unusually large options trading activity on Wednesday. Investors acquired 15,248 call options on the company. This represents an increase of 143% compared to the typical volume of 6,263 call options.

Antero Resources Trading Up 1.0 %

Shares of AR opened at $30.86 on Friday. Antero Resources has a 1-year low of $20.56 and a 1-year high of $36.28. The company has a current ratio of 0.28, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $30.04 and its 200-day moving average price is $29.75. The firm has a market capitalization of $9.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 220.43 and a beta of 3.42.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have issued reports on AR shares. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on shares of Antero Resources from $33.00 to $34.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research report on Friday, October 4th. Roth Mkm started coverage on Antero Resources in a research note on Tuesday, August 27th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $32.00 target price for the company. UBS Group raised their price target on Antero Resources from $31.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, December 9th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on Antero Resources from $39.00 to $38.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, September 16th. Finally, Barclays dropped their price objective on Antero Resources from $32.00 to $30.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $34.78.

Institutional Trading of Antero Resources

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its position in shares of Antero Resources by 4.0% in the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 17,460,062 shares of the oil and natural gas company’s stock worth $500,231,000 after buying an additional 675,053 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Antero Resources by 1.3% in the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,852,246 shares of the oil and natural gas company’s stock worth $139,054,000 after purchasing an additional 61,490 shares during the period. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. grew its holdings in Antero Resources by 10.4% in the third quarter. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. now owns 4,378,849 shares of the oil and natural gas company’s stock worth $125,452,000 after purchasing an additional 411,549 shares during the period. Merewether Investment Management LP lifted its holdings in shares of Antero Resources by 4.6% during the second quarter. Merewether Investment Management LP now owns 2,943,948 shares of the oil and natural gas company’s stock valued at $96,061,000 after purchasing an additional 128,200 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its position in shares of Antero Resources by 4.8% in the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 2,664,628 shares of the oil and natural gas company’s stock worth $76,342,000 after purchasing an additional 122,815 shares in the last quarter. 83.04% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Antero Resources

Antero Resources Corporation, an independent oil and natural gas company, engages in the development, production, exploration, and acquisition of natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and oil properties in the United States. It operates in three segments: Exploration and Development; Marketing; and Equity Method Investment in Antero Midstream.