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Primed to grow right now with long-term potential gains of 2X and more.

Primed to grow right now with long-term potential gains of 2X and more.

The pharmaceutical industry continues to grow thanks to an aging population and rising demand for new treatments. Which pharma stocks are best?

The pharmaceutical industry continues to grow thanks to an aging population and rising demand for new treatments. Which pharma stocks are best?

The airline industry covers a wide range of business models and opportunities. See our picks for the Best Airline Stocks to buy now.

The airline industry covers a wide range of business models and opportunities. See our picks for the Best Airline Stocks to buy now.

Here are our picks for the best publicly traded companies in the cryptocurrency business.

Here are our picks for the best publicly traded companies in the cryptocurrency business.

This oil and natural gas company has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increase 241.2% over the last 60 days.

This oil and natural gas company has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increase 241.2% over the last 60 days.

SPCX briefly reclaimed a $2 trillion market cap as Starlink growth, launch dominance and AI ambitions fueled investor optimism despite execution risks.

SPCX briefly reclaimed a $2 trillion market cap as Starlink growth, launch dominance and AI ambitions fueled investor optimism despite execution risks.

The consensus for today is expected to show August jobs up 55,000 (up 53K in the private sector and 2K in the public sector), while the unemployment rate is forecast at 4.2%.

The consensus for today is expected to show August jobs up 55,000 (up 53K in the private sector and 2K in the public sector), while the unemployment rate is forecast at 4.2%.

Amazon, AbbVie and Alibaba face contrasting growth drivers and challenges, from AI investment and drug launches to costly spending cycles.

Amazon, AbbVie and Alibaba face contrasting growth drivers and challenges, from AI investment and drug launches to costly spending cycles.

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#1 Rank After transitioning from a crypto miner to an AI company, things are looking good.

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Zacks #1 Rank Top Movers for Zacks #1 Rank Top Movers Zacks #1 Rank Top Movers for Value Growth Momentum VGM Income Company Symbol Price %Chg Motorsport... MSGM 4.45 +10.70% EuroDry EDRY 55.40 +6.44% Abercrombie... ANF 149.45 +4.12% Polaris PII 63.40 +3.78% TAL Educati... TAL 12.38 +3.25% Zacks #1 Rank Top Movers7/16 The Zacks #1 Rank List is the best place to start your stock search each morning. It's made up of the top 5% of stocks with the most potential. Each weekday, you can quickly see the Zacks #1 Rank Top Movers from Value to Growth, Momentum and Income, even VGM Score.

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Zacks #1 Rank Additions Company (Symbol) Research Caterpillar (CAT) Analyst Report Dell Technologies (DELL) Analyst Report Robinhood Markets (HOOD) Analyst Report MongoDB (MDB) Analyst Report Aurora Cannabis (ACB) Snapshot Report Investment Ideas Earnings Analysis More Analysis Reported Earnings Surprises View All Positive Negative Symbol Time Expected Reported %Surprise KNOP 16:24 -0.03 0.10 +433.33 DLTH 05:49 -0.05 0.06 +220.00 PL 16:08 -0.02 0.02 +200.00 EGAN 16:19 0.03 0.08 +166.67 AOUT 16:15 -0.24 0.03 +112.50 EPS Positive Surprises for Sep 04, 2026

Symbol Time Expected Reported %Surprise CURV 16:06 -0.03 -0.04 -33.33 VBNK 07:04 0.34 0.27 -20.59 LE 06:46 0.10 0.09 -10.00 CPB 07:15 0.40 0.39 -2.50 EPS Negative Surprises for Sep 04, 2026

Upcoming Earnings ESP View More Symbol ESP Most Accurate Estimate Consensus Estimate AVO 21.74% 0.14 0.12 INNV 5.88% 0.09 0.09 LMNR 5.26% 0.20 0.19 Featured Stock Picks

Best Crypto Stocks to Buy for September 2026 Here are our picks for the best publicly traded companies in the cryptocurrency business.

Best Pharmaceutical Stocks to Buy for September 2026 The pharmaceutical industry continues to grow thanks to an aging population and rising demand for new treatments. Which pharma stocks are best?

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Stock to Watch: APA (APA - Free Report) Founded in 1954, Houston, TX-based APA Corporation is one of the world's leading independent energy companies engaged in the exploration, development and production of natural gas, crude oil and natural gas liquids. Geographically, the company’s operations are in the United States, Egypt and in the North Sea of the United Kingdom. APA also holds acreage in offshore Suriname (South America) and other international locations.

APA is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.

It also boasts a Value Style Score of A thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 7.44; value investors should take notice.

Six analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.19 to $5.54 per share. APA boasts an average earnings surprise of +27.8%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, APA should be on investors' short list.

U.S. Patent 12,679,817, covering novel processes for preparing the (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of MDMA and MBDB, granted to PharmAla by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) PharmAla has exercised its option to cancel the proposed licensing of APA-01 to Restora Neurosciences, and will evaluate in-house and co-development pathways Canaccord Genuity LLC has been engaged as exclusive financial advisor and placement agent TORONTO, Aug. 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PharmAla Biotech Holdings Inc. (“PharmAla” or the “Company”) (CSE: MDMA) (OTCQB: MDXXF), a biotechnology company focused on the research, development, and manufacturing of novel MDXX class molecules (including its LaNeo™ MDMA), today announced three corporate updates. 1.  U.S. Patent Granted for Novel Enantioselective Manufacturing Processes PharmAla has been granted United States Patent No.

APA Group Stapled Securities (APAJF) Q4 2026 Earnings Call August 19, 2026 8:30 PM EDT

Company Participants

Adam Watson - CEO, MD & Director
Garrick Rollason - Chief Financial Officer

Conference Call Participants

Tom Allen - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division
Uwan Minogue - Barrenjoey Markets Pty Limited, Research Division
Nik Burns - Jarden Limited, Research Division
Gordon Ramsay - RBC Capital Markets, Research Division
Robert Koh - Morgan Stanley, Research Division
Ian Myles - Macquarie Research
Cameron Needham - BofA Securities, Research Division
Suraj Nebhani - Citigroup Inc. Exchange Research
Nathan Lead - Morgans Financial Limited, Research Division

Presentation

Adam Watson
CEO, MD & Director

Good morning, everyone. Thank you for joining us for today's FY '26 Results Presentation. I'm joined by Garrick Rollason, our CFO, as well as our Investor Relations team. I'd like to acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, traditional custodians of the land on which I'm speaking. First Nations people have taken care of our lands and waterways for the past 60,000 years. We acknowledge and pay our respects to their elders past and present.

I'll start today's presentation with the Safety share on Slide 4. APA is a truly national business with assets and teams operating all over Australia. Most of our frontline workforce operate in remote and regional areas and staying connected via telecommunication and technology platforms is a key part of staying safe, which is why we've undertaken a program of work to enhance connectivity, including the deployment of a range of platforms such as Starlink across 70 of our operational sites.

This investment means our employees are better connected with our integrated operations center. They're better connected to their families and colleagues, and they have the tools to better organize and schedule how and when they undertake their day-to-day work on our assets. In isolation, this is an important initiative to

Why One Energy Expert Is Betting on These 3 Oil Stocks NowAPA NASDAQ: APA outlined a strategy centered on cash-generating operations in the Permian Basin and Egypt, cost reductions and a global exploration portfolio that management believes can support future production growth.

Speaking at the EnerCom conference, Chief Financial Officer Ben Rodgers said the company’s 2026 capital budget is $2.1 billion, with most spending directed toward development activities in the Permian and Egypt. APA also plans to devote roughly 10% to 15% of annual capital spending to exploration over time, though that proportion is lower this year and is expected to rise next year, he said.

Get APA alerts:

3 Oil Stocks Rebounding Off Multi-Month LowsRodgers said APA’s portfolio diversification spans oil and natural gas, conventional and unconventional operations, and multiple geographic markets. The company views that diversity as an advantage because it can allocate capital among assets and access different global pricing points.

Cost cuts and cash flow Rodgers said APA achieved its original target of $350 million in annualized controllable cost savings—including capital, lease operating expense and general and administrative costs—by the end of 2025, a year ahead of its target date. The company subsequently increased its savings goal, and now expects to exit 2026 with $500 million in structural annualized cost reductions.

In addition, APA expects annualized interest expense to be about $175 million lower, resulting in roughly $700 million of lower cash costs as it enters 2027, according to Rodgers.

The company generated $1.2 billion in free cash flow during the first half of the year and used $750 million of that amount to reduce debt, he said. APA expects to end the year with debt near $3 billion, compared with nearly $9 billion when Rodgers joined the company about eight and a half years ago.

APA maintains a framework to return at least 60% of annual free cash flow to shareholders, a policy Rodgers said has been in place since 2021.

Permian and Egypt remain the foundation The Permian Basin and Egypt are APA’s primary sources of stable free cash flow, Rodgers said. APA has operated in Egypt for more than three decades and is the country’s largest oil producer, largest onshore acreage holder and largest U.S. investor, according to the CFO.

In the Permian, APA now expects 2026 production of 123,000 barrels per day while holding its capital plan at approximately $1.3 billion. The outlook has increased several times since the company’s initial November forecast of 120,000 barrels per day, Rodgers said, citing improved capital efficiency and well productivity.

The company has also outlined 10 years of economic drilling inventory in the Permian and expects continued appraisal work to potentially expand that inventory. In Egypt, APA is pursuing additional oil and gas exploration across its approximately 7 million-acre position in the Western Desert. Rodgers said a renegotiated Egyptian gas-price agreement has improved the company’s incentive to explore for and develop gas, with about half of its gas volumes receiving the new price over the past 18 months.

Separately, APA’s gas-trading operations—including Permian takeaway pipelines and an LNG contract with Cheniere—are expected to generate $950 million of cash flow net to APA this year, Rodgers said. That compares with just under $700 million last year and about $500 million in the prior year.

Suriname oil project targets 2028 start APA expects more than 5% oil compound annual growth over the next three years, supported primarily by the Gran Morgu development offshore Suriname. First oil is expected in mid-2028.

The project is operated by TotalEnergies, APA’s 50/50 partner in Block 58. Rodgers said the development is expected to use a floating production, storage and offloading vessel with capacity of 220,000 barrels per day. APA estimates the project’s post-final investment decision breakeven at $30 per barrel.

APA entered Suriname in 2015, drilled its first Block 58 exploration well in 2019 and announced a discovery in 2020. The companies reached a final investment decision on Gran Morgu in October 2024. Rodgers said APA and TotalEnergies expect to drill at least two additional exploration wells in Block 58 next year, with potential for further exploration in subsequent years.

Alaska and Uruguay exploration plans APA is also advancing exploration activities in Alaska and offshore Uruguay. In Alaska, the company plans a two-well program in 2027, including an appraisal well at the Sockeye discovery and an exploration well at Chinook. Ice-road construction is scheduled to begin in November and December, with drilling expected to start in January and February, Rodgers said.

APA recently acquired Savant on Alaska’s North Slope, adding infrastructure that includes 40,000 barrels per day of crude-processing capacity and an 80,000-barrel-per-day crude pipeline connected to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, as well as gravel pads, a dock and an airstrip.

In Uruguay, APA plans to operate an offshore exploration well in the second half of next year in the OFF-6 block. APA holds a 60% interest and Eni holds 40%, although Eni will carry most of the well’s costs under their agreement, Rodgers said. APA also holds a 50% interest in Uruguay’s OFF-4 block alongside Shell.

Rodgers said APA believes years of lower industrywide exploration spending could create future supply constraints, while the company expects global demand for oil and gas to remain durable. The company intends to use cash flow from its established operations to fund exploration rather than relying solely on acquisitions to replenish reserves and production.

About APA (NASDAQ:APA)APA Corporation NASDAQ: APA is an independent exploration and production company engaged in the acquisition, development and production of oil and natural gas resources. The company operates through three core regions: the United States, Egypt and the North Sea. Through its integrated approach, APA combines geological and geophysical expertise with technical innovation to identify and develop hydrocarbons in both onshore and offshore settings.

In the United States, APA's largest position is in the Permian Basin of West Texas and southeastern New Mexico, where it holds substantial acreage dedicated to oil-focused drilling and production.

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Should You Invest $1,000 in APA Right Now?Before you consider APA, you'll want to hear this.

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While APA currently has a Hold rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.

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APA has jumped nearly 100% over the last year, while Woodside Energy Group ADR is up by 32% year to date.

HomeStock IdeasLong IdeasEnergy Analysis

SummaryAPA Corporation has prioritized strict deleveraging, portfolio consolidation, and disciplined capital returns over unbridled production growth since its 2021 reorganization.Recent milestones include the $4.5B Callon Petroleum acquisition, a structural cost-reduction target raised to $500M, and $230M worth of GranMorgu offshore development funding.Technical analysis reveals a confluence of nominal and commodity-ratio targets pointing to a near-term price level of ~$51.95 (an implied ~30% upside), with macro-fractal extensions reaching significantly higher.Key investment risks include unhedged commodity price exposure, persistent Permian gas takeaway bottlenecks, reliance on one-off divestiture gains, and the multi-billion-dollar, multi-year capital demands of the Suriname offshore project. Alvaro Victor/iStock via Getty Images

Since its 2021 corporate reorganization, APA Corporation (APA) has executed a rigorous fundamental transformation, prioritizing balance sheet deleveraging, structural cost efficiencies, and strategic portfolio consolidation over unbridled production growth. With the $4.5 billion Callon Petroleum acquisition successfully integrated

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Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Posted by Defense World Staff on Aug 12th, 2026

Assenagon Asset Management S.A. purchased a new stake in APA Corporation (NASDAQ:APA – Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 187,237 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,098,000. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. owned about 0.05% of APA at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of APA by 6.6% in the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 33,300 shares of the company’s stock valued at $700,000 after buying an additional 2,070 shares during the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its position in APA by 49.6% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 10,785 shares of the company’s stock valued at $227,000 after acquiring an additional 3,578 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its position in APA by 43.3% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 2,668,505 shares of the company’s stock valued at $56,092,000 after acquiring an additional 806,252 shares during the period. Focus Partners Wealth raised its stake in APA by 10.6% during the 1st quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 44,833 shares of the company’s stock valued at $942,000 after acquiring an additional 4,297 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership purchased a new stake in APA during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $5,199,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.01% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research analysts have weighed in on APA shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on APA from $38.00 to $41.00 in a research note on Friday, May 8th. Truist Financial upped their price target on APA from $38.00 to $39.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday. Sanford C. Bernstein increased their price target on APA from $37.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a report on Wednesday, May 20th. Roth Capital set a $39.00 price objective on shares of APA in a research report on Thursday, August 6th. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut shares of APA from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, July 4th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seventeen have assigned a Hold rating and four have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $40.50.

Get Our Latest Analysis on APA

APA Trading Down 1.0% NASDAQ:APA opened at $40.62 on Wednesday. APA Corporation has a 1 year low of $19.84 and a 1 year high of $45.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 0.95. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $35.24 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $34.96. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.59 and a beta of 0.35.

APA (NASDAQ:APA – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The company reported $1.89 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.90 by ($0.01). APA had a return on equity of 24.84% and a net margin of 19.48%.The company had revenue of $2.37 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.46 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.87 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that APA Corporation will post 5.03 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

APA Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 21st. Investors of record on Wednesday, July 22nd will be issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, July 22nd. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.5%. APA’s payout ratio is currently 21.14%.

Insiders Place Their Bets In other APA news, VP Mark D. Maddox sold 9,800 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.04, for a total transaction of $392,392.00. Following the transaction, the vice president directly owned 66,810 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,675,072.40. This represents a 12.79% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.73% of the company’s stock.

APA Company Profile (Free Report)

APA Corporation (NASDAQ: APA) is an independent exploration and production company engaged in the acquisition, development and production of oil and natural gas resources. The company operates through three core regions: the United States, Egypt and the North Sea. Through its integrated approach, APA combines geological and geophysical expertise with technical innovation to identify and develop hydrocarbons in both onshore and offshore settings.

In the United States, APA’s largest position is in the Permian Basin of West Texas and southeastern New Mexico, where it holds substantial acreage dedicated to oil-focused drilling and production.

Further Reading Five stocks we like better than APA Atlassian Just Pulled Off the Software Comeback Wall Street Wanted AST SpaceMobile Earnings Just Reminded Investors How Risky Space Can Be NVIDIA’s Rally Sets Up a Bigger Test Ahead of Earnings Apple’s Next iPhone Could Test How Much Pricing Power Is Left

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Posted by Defense World Staff on Aug 11th, 2026

APA Corporation (NASDAQ:APA – Get Free Report)’s stock price was up 7.7% on Monday after Truist Financial raised their price target on the stock from $38.00 to $39.00. Truist Financial currently has a hold rating on the stock. APA traded as high as $40.51 and last traded at $40.5320. Approximately 2,151,594 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 69% from the average daily volume of 7,006,245 shares. The stock had previously closed at $37.63.

Several other equities research analysts have also commented on APA. UBS Group reduced their price target on shares of APA from $45.00 to $41.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 15th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on shares of APA from $26.00 to $36.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, April 13th. Zacks Research lowered shares of APA from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, May 26th. Sanford C. Bernstein boosted their price objective on shares of APA from $37.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 20th. Finally, Roth Capital set a $39.00 price objective on shares of APA in a research note on Thursday. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seventeen have assigned a Hold rating and four have assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $40.42.

Get Our Latest Analysis on APA

Insider Activity at APA In related news, VP Mark D. Maddox sold 9,800 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.04, for a total transaction of $392,392.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president owned 66,810 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,675,072.40. This represents a 12.79% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 0.73% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On APA A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Friedenthal Financial acquired a new position in APA in the 4th quarter worth about $938,000. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans boosted its position in APA by 85.2% during the fourth quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 80,815 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,976,000 after purchasing an additional 37,180 shares in the last quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank grew its holdings in APA by 59.4% in the fourth quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 112,895 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,761,000 after purchasing an additional 42,068 shares during the period. Prudential PLC grew its holdings in APA by 753.2% in the fourth quarter. Prudential PLC now owns 136,744 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,345,000 after purchasing an additional 120,717 shares during the period. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its position in shares of APA by 20.1% in the fourth quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 193,102 shares of the company’s stock valued at $4,723,000 after buying an additional 32,357 shares in the last quarter. 83.01% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

APA Price Performance The company has a quick ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. The firm has a market capitalization of $14.50 billion, a PE ratio of 8.67 and a beta of 0.35. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $35.19 and a 200 day moving average price of $34.86.

APA (NASDAQ:APA – Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The company reported $1.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.90 by ($0.01). APA had a net margin of 19.48% and a return on equity of 24.84%. The business had revenue of $2.37 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.46 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.87 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that APA Corporation will post 4.91 EPS for the current fiscal year.

APA Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 21st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, July 22nd will be given a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, July 22nd. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.4%. APA’s dividend payout ratio is currently 21.14%.

About APA (Get Free Report)

APA Corporation (NASDAQ: APA) is an independent exploration and production company engaged in the acquisition, development and production of oil and natural gas resources. The company operates through three core regions: the United States, Egypt and the North Sea. Through its integrated approach, APA combines geological and geophysical expertise with technical innovation to identify and develop hydrocarbons in both onshore and offshore settings.

In the United States, APA’s largest position is in the Permian Basin of West Texas and southeastern New Mexico, where it holds substantial acreage dedicated to oil-focused drilling and production.

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Key Takeaways APA raised 2026 U.S. oil guidance to 123,000 barrels per day while keeping U.S. capital at $1.3 billion.APA targets $500 million in annualized run-rate savings by year-end, up from its prior $450 million target.APA plans larger 2027 exploration activity, including Alaska appraisal and drilling the Chinook prospect. APA Corporation (APA - Free Report) used its second-quarter 2026 earnings call to emphasize lower capital intensity, higher U.S. oil output and a larger cost-savings target. CEO John Christmann and CFO Ben Rodgers also reinforced the shareholder-return framework and outlined a more active 2027 exploration program.

Adjusted earnings of $1.89 per share topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.85, while revenue of $2.40 billion was below the $2.43 billion consensus. The call centered on operating efficiency, cash generation and project timing.

APA Raises U.S. Oil OutlookCEO John Christmann said APA raised full-year U.S. oil production guidance to 123,000 barrels per day from 120,000 while keeping U.S. capital at $1.3 billion.

CEO John Christmann said the Permian will run four rigs for the rest of 2026, down from the eight rigs APA once estimated were needed to sustain about 120,000 barrels per day after the Callon integration.

Responding to JPMorgan, President Stephen Riney said APA expects to average 4.5 rigs in 2026 while drilling more lateral feet and completing as many wells as planned with five rigs.

APA Raises the Cost-Savings TargetCFO Ben Rodgers said APA now expects to exit 2026 with $500 million of annualized run-rate savings, up from $450 million. Lease operating expense guidance was cut by $25 million to $1.5 billion.

CFO Ben Rodgers said capital efficiencies, field initiatives and lower corporate costs are driving the savings, even as diesel and service-cost inflation offset part of the improvement.

CFO Ben Rodgers also said APA expects $2.3 billion of free cash flow in 2026 at current strip pricing, supported by operating gains and $950 million of pretax cash flow from gas trading.

APA Keeps Shareholder Returns in FocusCFO Ben Rodgers said APA repaid $752 million of bond debt in the first half of 2026 and expects to reach its $3 billion net debt target in 2027.

A Raymond James analyst asked about the balance between debt reduction and buybacks. CFO Ben Rodgers reaffirmed APA's commitment to return at least 60% of annual free cash flow through dividends and repurchases.

CFO Ben Rodgers said first-half returns were below that annual threshold, making share repurchases a larger part of capital returns in the second half of 2026.

APA Advances Alaska and Uruguay PlansA Wolfe Research analyst asked whether the pending Savant Alaska acquisition signaled a development plan. CEO John Christmann said APA will first appraise Sockeye and drill the larger Chinook prospect in 2027 before defining development plans.

CEO John Christmann said Savant would add a 25-mile pipeline, processing capacity and field infrastructure adjacent to APA's acreage. The acquisition carries $70 million of upfront consideration, plus contingent payments tied to future development.

Executive vice president of Exploration Tracey Henderson said the planned Uruguay Block 6 well will test deeper Cretaceous objectives in late 2027. APA will retain a 60% working interest, with Eni funding most of the initial well.

APA Q&A Details Egypt and GranMorguCEO John Christmann said GranMorgu remains on budget and on schedule for first oil in mid-2028. He said the Total partnership structure helps APA fund the project while investing in the Permian and Egypt, reducing debt and returning capital.

CEO John Christmann said stronger rich-gas discoveries in Egypt led APA to defer some lower-pressure Qasr volumes. Full-year gross oil production is expected at about 118,000 barrels per day and gross gas at 535 million cubic feet per day, with the BOE outlook unchanged.

Responding to JPMorgan, CEO John Christmann said Western Desert exploration is increasingly targeting deeper conventional gas opportunities after the revised gas-pricing agreement changed the portfolio economics.

APA Keeps Its Priorities ConsistentCEO John Christmann closed by emphasizing higher production, lower capital intensity and continued cost reductions across the core portfolio. He also reiterated progress toward the $3 billion net debt target and the 2026 shareholder-return commitment.

CEO John Christmann said GranMorgu provides a path to production growth, while Suriname, Alaska and Uruguay remain the main exploration opportunities management is advancing into 2027.

APA Zacks Rank and Style ScoresAPA carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), an A Value Score, B Growth Score, B Momentum Score and A VGM Score. Under the Zacks framework, favorable Style Scores complement stronger Zacks Ranks but do not override a weak Rank.You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

APA therefore has favorable style grades alongside an unfavorable near-term Rank signal. The Zacks Rank can change as earnings estimates are revised after the just-reported results.

Why One Energy Expert Is Betting on These 3 Oil Stocks NowAPA NASDAQ: APA reported second-quarter 2026 net income of $747 million, or $2.11 per diluted share, as operational performance and cost-cutting initiatives supported free cash flow generation across its portfolio.

Adjusted net income was $669 million, or $1.89 per diluted share, excluding an after-tax unrealized gain of $92 million related to basis hedges and other smaller items, Chief Financial Officer Ben Rodgers said. The company generated $738 million of free cash flow during the quarter and returned $189 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.

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3 Oil Stocks Rebounding Off Multi-Month LowsThrough the first half of 2026, APA generated more than $1.2 billion in free cash flow, Rodgers said. The company attributed the result to commodity prices as well as structural changes including lower costs, capital-efficiency gains and portfolio high-grading.

Cost-Savings Target Raised Chief Executive Officer John Christmann said APA now expects to exit 2026 with approximately $500 million in annualized run-rate savings, exceeding the $450 million target established at the start of the year. The company had previously captured $300 million in savings during 2025, according to Rodgers.

Rodgers said APA expects lease operating expense for the full year to total $1.5 billion, $25 million below prior guidance. Savings in the U.S. and North Sea are expected to more than offset inflation in diesel and certain service costs.

The company also expects annualized interest expense savings of about $175 million exiting 2026 as debt declines. Rodgers said the combined impact of controllable-spend reductions and lower interest expense would amount to roughly $675 million of costs lower than at the end of 2024.

Full-year 2026 free cash flow is expected to reach about $2.3 billion at current strip pricing. APA expects its gas trading portfolio, including basis hedges, to generate about $950 million of pretax cash flow in 2026. The company said changes in Waha pricing have limited effect on consolidated free cash flow because its unhedged transportation portfolio is closely matched with Permian equity gas production. Permian Guidance Rises as Rig Activity Falls APA raised its full-year Permian oil production outlook to 123,000 barrels per day while maintaining its $1.3 billion capital budget. Christmann said the company originally estimated that sustaining roughly 120,000 barrels per day following the Callon integration would require eight rigs and about $1.7 billion in capital.

APA now plans to operate four rigs for the rest of 2026. President Stephen Riney said the company began the year planning for five rigs and expects to average 4.5 rigs for the year. Those rigs are expected to drill more lateral footage and complete as many wells as the original five-rig plan, he said.

Christmann said improvements in drilling, completions and base-production management have reduced capital intensity. The company is also pursuing a target of $3.5 million per month in run-rate Permian operating-cost savings by year-end.

In Egypt, adjusted production was in line with guidance. Gross gas production increased during the quarter, and APA said about half of its gas production now benefits from the revised pricing agreement. The company maintained its overall BOE production outlook for Egypt but updated expectations for gross oil production to approximately 118,000 barrels per day and gross gas production to 535 million cubic feet per day.

Christmann said stronger results from recent rich-gas discoveries led APA to defer some lower-pressure gas volumes at Qasr. Higher associated liquids are expected to offset the resulting near-term gas impact, leaving the expected BOE production profile largely unchanged.

Debt Reduction and Shareholder Returns APA repaid $752 million of bond debt during the first six months of 2026, including $673 million during the second quarter. The company expects to end the year with net debt of approximately $3.3 billion and said it could reach its $3 billion net debt target in 2027 based on current strip pricing.

Rodgers said achieving that target would be ahead of the three- to four-year timeline discussed when APA announced it last year. The company reiterated its commitment to return at least 60% of free cash flow to shareholders annually through dividends and share buybacks.

“We’ve not returned that much in the first half of the year,” Rodgers said in response to an analyst question, adding that this implies “quite a bit of share buybacks” in the second half.

Christmann said APA intends to maintain the 60% return framework even as exploration spending rises from a comparatively light level in 2026. Rodgers said 2027 exploration spending could include two Alaska wells costing approximately $100 million to $120 million, one to two Suriname wells estimated at $50 million to $75 million each net to APA, and a Uruguay well where APA is expected to receive a substantial carry from partner Eni.

Exploration Portfolio Advances In Suriname, APA said the Gran Morgu development remains on budget and on schedule for first oil in mid-2028. Christmann said the project, operated with TotalEnergies, is expected to provide production and free-cash-flow growth while the joint-venture structure helps APA fund its domestic and international activities.

The company also said it will return to Block 58 in Suriname next year for additional exploration aimed at potentially adding to the Gran Morgu plateau or supporting more infrastructure.

APA recently agreed to acquire Savant Alaska, gaining infrastructure adjacent to its eastern North Slope acreage, including a processing facility, pipeline access to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, a gravel pad, airstrip and dock. Christmann said APA’s Alaska position now spans nearly 500,000 acres and includes the King Street and Sockeye discoveries.

The company plans to build ice roads late this year and spud two Alaska wells in 2027: an appraisal well at Sockeye called Hungry Horse and an exploration well targeting the larger Chinook prospect. Christmann said it remains too early to define development plans.

In Uruguay, APA brought Eni into Block OFF-6, retaining a 60% working interest. Eni will fund a significant portion of the initial exploration well, which APA expects to drill in late 2027. Executive Vice President of Exploration Tracey Henderson said the planned well will test deeper Cretaceous targets than the Raya well, which APA does not believe was drilled deeply enough to test its objectives.

About APA (NASDAQ:APA)APA Corporation NASDAQ: APA is an independent exploration and production company engaged in the acquisition, development and production of oil and natural gas resources. The company operates through three core regions: the United States, Egypt and the North Sea. Through its integrated approach, APA combines geological and geophysical expertise with technical innovation to identify and develop hydrocarbons in both onshore and offshore settings.

In the United States, APA's largest position is in the Permian Basin of West Texas and southeastern New Mexico, where it holds substantial acreage dedicated to oil-focused drilling and production.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

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APA (APA - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.89 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.85 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.87 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +2.16%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this oil and natural gas producer would post earnings of $1.01 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.38, delivering a surprise of +36.63%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times.

APA, which belongs to the Zacks Oil and Gas - Exploration and Production - United States industry, posted revenues of $2.4 billion for the quarter ended June 2026, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.48%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $2.61 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates two times over the last four quarters.

The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.

APA shares have added about 46.4% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 13%.

What's Next for APA?While APA has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?

There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.

Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.

Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for APA was unfavorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to underperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.87 on $2.05 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $4.92 on $8.76 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Oil and Gas - Exploration and Production - United States is currently in the bottom 13% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

One other stock from the same industry, California Resources Corporation (CRC - Free Report) , is yet to report results for the quarter ended June 2026. The results are expected to be released on August 10.

This company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.31 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +19.1%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 34.3% lower over the last 30 days to the current level.

California Resources Corporation's revenues are expected to be $979.33 million, up 0.1% from the year-ago quarter.

The upcoming report from APA (APA - Free Report) is expected to reveal quarterly earnings of $1.85 per share, indicating an increase of 112.6% compared to the year-ago period. Analysts forecast revenues of $2.43 billion, representing a decline of 6.8% year over year.

Over the last 30 days, there has been a downward revision of 21.1% in the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter, leading to its current level. This signifies the covering analysts' collective reconsideration of their initial forecasts over the course of this timeframe.

Before a company announces its earnings, it is essential to take into account any changes made to earnings estimates. This is a valuable factor in predicting the potential reactions of investors toward the stock. Empirical research has consistently shown a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and the short-term price performance of a stock.

While investors typically rely on consensus earnings and revenue estimates to gauge how the business may have fared during the quarter, examining analysts' projections for some of the company's key metrics often helps gain a deeper insight.

Given this perspective, it's time to examine the average forecasts of specific APA metrics that are routinely monitored and predicted by Wall Street analysts.

Analysts predict that the 'Oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids production revenues- Oil revenues' will reach $1.76 billion. The estimate suggests a change of +27.6% year over year.

Analysts forecast 'Oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids production revenues' to reach $2.03 billion. The estimate points to a change of +18% from the year-ago quarter.

According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids production revenues- Natural gas liquids revenues' should come in at $168.19 million. The estimate suggests a change of +9.9% year over year.

Analysts expect 'Oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids production revenues- Natural gas revenues' to come in at $96.53 million. The estimate points to a change of -47.5% from the year-ago quarter.

It is projected by analysts that the 'Revenues- United States' will reach $1.20 billion. The estimate suggests a change of -12.8% year over year.

Analysts' assessment points toward 'Revenues- North Sea' reaching $191.08 million. The estimate indicates a change of +15.1% from the prior-year quarter.

The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Revenues- Egypt' of $799.78 million. The estimate points to a change of +27% from the year-ago quarter.

The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Production volume per day - Total' will likely reach 408 thousands of barrels of oil equivalent per day. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported 465 thousands of barrels of oil equivalent per day in the same quarter of the previous year.

Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Production volume per day - Oil - Total' should arrive at 213.61 thousands of barrels of oil. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of 235.24 thousands of barrels of oil.

The consensus estimate for 'Production volume per day - Natural gas - Total' stands at . The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of .

The average prediction of analysts places 'Production volume per day - NGL - Total' at 69.33 thousands of barrels of oil. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of 80.82 thousands of barrels of oil.

The consensus among analysts is that 'Average price per barrel - NGL - Total' will reach $26.95 . The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $20.49 .

View all Key Company Metrics for APA here>>>

Over the past month, shares of APA have returned +13.6% versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.7% change. Currently, APA carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), suggesting that it may underperform the overall market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

On July 29, 2026, APA Corp (APA) shares rose by 5.0%, bringing the current price to $36.71. This price is significantly higher than the 52-week low of $17.87 bu

On July 27, 2026, APA Corp (APA) shares fell 3.9%, closing at $34.74. The stock has experienced a 52-week range of $17.87 to $45.66, indicating a significant le

Posted by Defense World Staff on Jul 23rd, 2026

D.A. Davidson & CO. lessened its stake in shares of APA Corporation (NASDAQ:APA – Free Report) by 57.7% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 31,904 shares of the company’s stock after selling 43,596 shares during the period. D.A. Davidson & CO.’s holdings in APA were worth $1,354,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC bought a new position in APA during the first quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Summit Securities Group LLC increased its stake in APA by 115.1% in the 4th quarter. Summit Securities Group LLC now owns 1,327 shares of the company’s stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 710 shares during the last quarter. Camelot Portfolios LLC bought a new stake in APA in the 4th quarter worth approximately $37,000. Global Assets Advisory LLC bought a new stake in APA in the 1st quarter worth approximately $44,000. Finally, Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC purchased a new stake in shares of APA during the 4th quarter worth approximately $47,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.01% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth APA has been the subject of a number of research reports. Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on APA from $26.00 to $36.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, April 13th. Mizuho upped their price target on shares of APA from $32.00 to $36.00 and gave the company an “underperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 27th. Raymond James Financial lowered their price objective on shares of APA from $57.00 to $50.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, July 13th. Zacks Research cut shares of APA from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 26th. Finally, Stephens boosted their target price on shares of APA from $43.00 to $47.00 in a report on Wednesday, June 10th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eighteen have assigned a Hold rating and four have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $40.35.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on APA

APA Trading Up 1.1% APA opened at $36.18 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a current ratio of 0.92. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $35.63 and its 200-day moving average price is $33.82. APA Corporation has a one year low of $17.86 and a one year high of $45.66. The stock has a market cap of $12.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.43 and a beta of 0.35.

APA (NASDAQ:APA – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 6th. The company reported $1.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.11 by $0.27. The firm had revenue of $2.33 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.13 billion. APA had a return on equity of 20.70% and a net margin of 17.38%.APA’s quarterly revenue was down 11.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.06 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that APA Corporation will post 4.92 EPS for the current year.

APA Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 21st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, July 22nd will be given a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.8%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, July 22nd. APA’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 23.31%.

Insider Activity In other news, VP Mark D. Maddox sold 9,800 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.04, for a total transaction of $392,392.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president directly owned 66,810 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,675,072.40. The trade was a 12.79% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.73% of the company’s stock.

Key APA News Here are the key news stories impacting APA this week:

Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research raised earnings estimates for APA in several future periods, including Q4 2027, Q2 2027, Q1 2027, Q4 2026, and FY2028, suggesting improved longer-term earnings potential. Neutral Sentiment: Zacks Research initiated or reiterated a Hold rating on APA and kept its FY2026 and Q2 2026 estimates in line with current expectations, which does not materially change the near-term outlook. Neutral Sentiment: Susquehanna lowered its price target on APA from $47 to $45, but maintained a positive rating, implying continued upside from current levels despite a slightly less bullish valuation view. Article: Susquehanna lowers APA price target Negative Sentiment: Some near-term earnings estimates were cut, including Q3 2026 and Q1 2028, which could temper enthusiasm if investors are focused on shorter-term results. About APA (Free Report)

APA Corporation (NASDAQ: APA) is an independent exploration and production company engaged in the acquisition, development and production of oil and natural gas resources. The company operates through three core regions: the United States, Egypt and the North Sea. Through its integrated approach, APA combines geological and geophysical expertise with technical innovation to identify and develop hydrocarbons in both onshore and offshore settings.

In the United States, APA’s largest position is in the Permian Basin of West Texas and southeastern New Mexico, where it holds substantial acreage dedicated to oil-focused drilling and production.

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Posted by Defense World Staff on Jul 22nd, 2026

Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC reduced its stake in APA Corporation (NASDAQ:APA – Free Report) by 7.0% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 284,860 shares of the company’s stock after selling 21,335 shares during the quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC owned 0.08% of APA worth $11,779,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of APA during the first quarter worth about $28,000. Global Assets Advisory LLC bought a new stake in APA in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $44,000. Summit Securities Group LLC lifted its stake in APA by 115.1% in the 4th quarter. Summit Securities Group LLC now owns 1,327 shares of the company’s stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 710 shares in the last quarter. Camelot Portfolios LLC acquired a new position in APA during the 4th quarter worth approximately $37,000. Finally, Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC acquired a new position in APA during the 4th quarter worth approximately $47,000. 83.01% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth APA has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Stephens raised their target price on shares of APA from $43.00 to $47.00 in a research report on Wednesday, June 10th. Evercore boosted their price target on shares of APA from $25.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 24th. Roth Capital upgraded shares of APA from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $37.00 to $38.00 in a research note on Monday, June 22nd. Susquehanna decreased their price objective on APA from $47.00 to $45.00 and set a “positive” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday. Finally, Weiss Ratings downgraded APA from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 23rd. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eighteen have given a Hold rating and four have issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, APA has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $40.35.

Read Our Latest Report on APA

APA Stock Performance NASDAQ APA opened at $35.77 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $12.64 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.34 and a beta of 0.35. The company has a current ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $35.65 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $33.74. APA Corporation has a 1 year low of $17.86 and a 1 year high of $45.66.

APA (NASDAQ:APA – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, May 6th. The company reported $1.38 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.11 by $0.27. The business had revenue of $2.33 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.13 billion. APA had a return on equity of 20.70% and a net margin of 17.38%.The firm’s revenue was down 11.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.06 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that APA Corporation will post 5 EPS for the current year.

APA Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 21st. Investors of record on Wednesday, July 22nd will be paid a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, July 22nd. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.8%. APA’s payout ratio is 23.31%.

Insider Buying and Selling In other APA news, VP Mark D. Maddox sold 9,800 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $40.04, for a total value of $392,392.00. Following the transaction, the vice president directly owned 66,810 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,675,072.40. This represents a 12.79% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.73% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

APA Company Profile (Free Report)

APA Corporation (NASDAQ: APA) is an independent exploration and production company engaged in the acquisition, development and production of oil and natural gas resources. The company operates through three core regions: the United States, Egypt and the North Sea. Through its integrated approach, APA combines geological and geophysical expertise with technical innovation to identify and develop hydrocarbons in both onshore and offshore settings.

In the United States, APA’s largest position is in the Permian Basin of West Texas and southeastern New Mexico, where it holds substantial acreage dedicated to oil-focused drilling and production.

Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than APA Confidence Is Back, But Earnings Show the Consumer Is Being Picky AeroVironment’s Stock Is Down, But Drone Demand Is Taking Off 3M’s Redemption Arc: Can Q2 Earnings Change the Narrative? 3 Photonics Companies Making Quantum Tech Possible Want to see what other hedge funds are holding APA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for APA Corporation (NASDAQ:APA – Free Report).

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APA (APA - Free Report) closed the most recent trading day at $33.29, moving -5.05% from the previous trading session. This move lagged the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.81%. Elsewhere, the Dow saw an upswing of 0.27%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq appreciated by 1.3%.

The oil and natural gas producer's stock has dropped by 7.74% in the past month, falling short of the Oils-Energy sector's loss of 3.61% and the S&P 500's gain of 1.13%.

The upcoming earnings release of APA will be of great interest to investors. The company's earnings report is expected on August 5, 2026. The company is expected to report EPS of $1.83, up 110.34% from the prior-year quarter. Meanwhile, our latest consensus estimate is calling for revenue of $2.5 billion, down 4.36% from the prior-year quarter.

Looking at the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates suggest analysts are expecting earnings of $5.29 per share and revenue of $9.09 billion. These totals would mark changes of +40.32% and -1.37%, respectively, from last year.

Investors should also take note of any recent adjustments to analyst estimates for APA. These revisions help to show the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends. With this in mind, we can consider positive estimate revisions a sign of optimism about the business outlook.

Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. To take advantage of this, we've established the Zacks Rank, an exclusive model that considers these estimated changes and delivers an operational rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, running from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), holds an admirable track record of superior performance, independently audited, with #1 stocks contributing an average annual return of +25% since 1988. The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 3.86% lower within the past month. APA currently has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

In terms of valuation, APA is presently being traded at a Forward P/E ratio of 6.63. This indicates a discount in contrast to its industry's Forward P/E of 9.61.

The Oil and Gas - Exploration and Production - United States industry is part of the Oils-Energy sector. Currently, this industry holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 177, positioning it in the bottom 29% of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank is ordered from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Make sure to utilize Zacks.com to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and more, in the coming trading sessions.

July 08, 2026 16:15 ET  | Source: APA Corporation

HOUSTON, July 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- APA Corporation (Nasdaq: APA) today provided supplemental information regarding certain second-quarter 2026 financial and operational results. This information is intended only to provide additional information regarding current estimates management believes will affect results for the second quarter of 2026. It is provided to assist investors, analysts and others in formulating their own estimates and is not intended to be a comprehensive presentation of all factors that will affect second-quarter 2026 results. Actual results and the impact of factors identified here may vary and are subject to finalization of the financial reporting process for the second quarter of 2026.

Estimated Average Realized Prices – 2Q26 Oil (bbl)NGL (bbl)Natural Gas (Mcf)United States$93.20$25.10($2.20)International$99.90$73.40$4.80 Egypt tax barrels:36 MBoe/dDry hole costs (before tax):$41 millionNet gain on oil and gas purchases and sales (before tax)*:$345 million *Includes $109 million realized loss from commodity derivatives

Production update

APA curtailed approximately 137 MMcf/d of U.S. natural gas production and 12,300 barrels per day of U.S. natural gas liquids production in the second quarter in response to weak or negative Waha hub prices.

Weighted-average shares outstanding

The estimated weighted-average basic common shares for the second quarter are 353 million. APA repurchased 2.8 million shares at an average price of $35.25 per share during the second quarter.

General and administrative

During the second quarter, APA incurred general and administrative expenses totaling $65 million. This includes approximately $10 million in stock-based compensation, reflecting the mark-to-market impacts of APA’s share price during the quarter.

Second-quarter 2026 earnings call

APA will host a conference call to discuss its second-quarter 2026 results at 10 a.m. Central time, Thursday, Aug. 6. The conference call will be webcast on APA’s website at www.apacorp.com and investor.apacorp.com. Following the conference call, a replay will be available for one year on the “Investors” page of the company’s website.

About APA

APA Corporation owns consolidated subsidiaries that explore for and produce oil and natural gas in the United States, Egypt and the United Kingdom and that explore for oil and natural gas offshore Suriname and elsewhere. APA posts announcements, operational updates, investor information and press releases on its website, www.apacorp.com.

Forward-looking statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “seeks,” “believes,” “continues,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “goals,” “guidance,” “may,” “might,” “outlook,” “possibly,” “potential,” “projects,” “prospects,” “should,” “will,” “would,” and similar references to future periods, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about future plans, expectations, and objectives for operations, including statements about our capital plans, drilling plans, production expectations, asset sales, and monetizations. While forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by us that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, whether actual results and developments will meet our expectations and predictions depends on a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause our actual results, performance, and financial condition to differ materially from our expectations. See “Risk Factors” in APA’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a discussion of risk factors that affect our business. Any forward-looking statement made in this news release speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. APA and its subsidiaries undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future development or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

APA-F

It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.

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Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.

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Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: APA (APA - Free Report) Founded in 1954, Houston, TX-based APA Corporation is one of the world's leading independent energy companies engaged in the exploration, development and production of natural gas, crude oil and natural gas liquids. Geographically, the company’s operations are in the United States, Egypt and in the North Sea of the United Kingdom. APA also holds acreage in offshore Suriname (South America) and other international locations.

APA is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.

Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. APA has a Growth Style Score of B, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 41.9% for the current fiscal year.

For fiscal 2026, six analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.52 to $5.35 per share. APA boasts an average earnings surprise of +50.6%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, APA should be on investors' short list.

In its current form, APA trades at a significant discount to Permian focused companies. This discount is not reflective of the growth potential held by both Suriname or Alaskan development programs. The company continues to trade at double digit free cash flow yields. This figure should only improve after the GranMorgu project is online.

Key Takeaways APA shares are up nearly 63% in a year, outperforming Chord Energy and SM Energy.APA trades at about 7.3X forward earnings, below the subindustry's 9.5X multiple.Suriname's GranMorgu project could drive long-term growth, with first oil targeted for mid-2028. APA Corporation (APA - Free Report) has delivered a strong run, with its shares rising nearly 63% in the past year. The rally raises a fair question: is APA still attractive, or has the market already priced in most of the upside? The answer looks balanced. APA has stronger execution, a deep Permian base, improving costs and a major future catalyst in Suriname. At the same time, investors must consider commodity-price risk, Egypt exposure, debt and the long wait before Suriname contributes meaningfully. Compared with Chord Energy (CHRD - Free Report) , which is more focused on the Williston Basin, and SM Energy (SM - Free Report) , which is scaling its U.S. shale platform after the Civitas deal, APA offers a different mix of near-term cash flow and long-term offshore growth.

Price Performance Shows APA’s Strong Momentum

APA’s one-year gain easily tops Chord Energy, up 17.7%, and SM Energy, down 1.5%. The outperformance reflects improved confidence in APA’s operating progress, cash generation and future project pipeline. Still, a rally of this size raises the bar. CHRD has a simpler Williston-focused story built around steady production, long laterals and shareholder returns. SM is trying to improve scale, reduce debt and capture merger synergies. APA sits between these peers, with a large Permian position, international assets and a visible offshore catalyst.

1-Year Price Performance Comparison Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Earnings Estimates and Valuation Remain Supportive

APA’s earnings picture is mixed. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 EPS indicates a 49% increase, supported by cost savings, better operating efficiency and cash flow from gas trading. However, the 2027 estimate points to a 36% decline, suggesting that analysts expect some normalization after a stronger 2026.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Valuation, however, remains positive. APA trades at around 7.3 times forward earnings, below the subindustry’s 9.5X. That discount shows the market is still cautious about debt, geopolitical exposure and commodity sensitivity.

Suriname Could Be the Hidden Value Driver for APA

APA’s Suriname position may be the most important part of the long-term story. The GranMorgu development in offshore Block 58, being advanced with TotalEnergies, includes more than 750 million barrels of estimated recoverable resources tied to the Sapakara and Krabdagu discoveries. Production is expected through a floating production, storage and offloading unit with a capacity of 220,000 barrels per day, with first oil targeted for mid-2028. That gives APA a growth lever beyond its mature production base. Chord Energy does not have a comparable offshore project, while SM Energy is mainly focused on U.S. shale. For APA, GranMorgu could become a high-margin oil and free cash flow engine after 2028. The project is already approved, and a carry arrangement helps reduce APA’s near-term funding burden.

Image Source: APA Corporation

Operational Discipline Strengthens the Case

APA’s current business is anchored by the Permian and Egypt. The Permian accounts for most adjusted production and offers more than 10 years of economic inventory. Management has reduced drilling and completion costs in the Permian, lowered drilling costs in Egypt and continues to target meaningful run-rate savings by year-end 2026. The company is also working toward a $3 billion net debt target, while gas trading provides another source of cash flow. Chord Energy also emphasizes capital returns and balance sheet strength, while SM uses divestitures and synergies to improve leverage. APA’s advantage is that it combines operational discipline with a larger future project.

APA’s Risks Should Keep Expectations Realistic

APA remains exposed to oil and gas price swings. While oil prices have cooled somewhat following the U.S.-Iran deal, easing some of the geopolitical supply-risk premium, this could become a factor for APA going forward if crude prices remain under pressure. Weak Permian gas pricing, including Waha-related pressure, can also hurt realized prices and lead to curtailments. Egypt adds geopolitical and fiscal risk, while U.K. taxes remain a headwind. Suriname is promising, but first oil is not expected until mid-2028, so investors must wait for the biggest catalyst. APA also carries a broader and more complicated portfolio than CHRD and a different risk profile than SM Energy. If commodity prices fall further or GranMorgu faces delays, the stock could struggle after its strong one-year advance.

Conclusion

APA stock still looks reasonably attractive for investors seeking value, cash flow and long-term oil growth, but it is not an obvious buy after a significant rally. The valuation discount, ongoing cost reductions and Suriname upside support the investment case, while debt, commodity-price volatility, Egypt exposure, and the long lead time before Suriname contributes meaningfully, warrant some caution. Overall, the stock offers a balanced mix of opportunity and risk at the current levels. Given this risk-reward profile, APA stock is currently a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

For Immediate ReleaseChicago, IL – June 24, 2026 – Today, Zacks Equity Research APA Corp. (APA - Free Report) , W&T Offshore (WTI - Free Report) and Ring Energy (REI - Free Report)

Industry: Oil & Gas E&P - U.S.

Link: https://www.zacks.com/commentary/2941262/3-us-ep-stocks-backed-by-rising-2026-earnings-outlooks

The Zacks Oil and Gas - Exploration and Production - United States industry remains closely tied to commodity prices, and firm crude prices are giving domestic producers a useful cash-flow lift. Higher oil realizations can support drilling, debt reduction and shareholder returns, especially as global supply concerns keep the value of reliable U.S. production in focus.

Still, the picture is not without pressure. Rising service, labor, maintenance and decommissioning costs can limit upside, while weak natural gas prices may weigh on producers with meaningful gas exposure. Even so, the industry’s improving discipline is encouraging. Companies are focusing on better wells, controlled spending, workovers and free cash flow rather than growth at any cost.

The group’s Zacks Industry Rank in the top 50% and rising 2026 earnings estimates point to a healthier near-term setup. Against this backdrop, APA Corp., W&T Offshore and Ring Energy stand out as attractive names to watch.

About the IndustryThe Zacks Oil and Gas - US E&P industry consists of companies primarily based in the domestic market and focused on the exploration and production (E&P) of oil and natural gas. These firms find hydrocarbon reservoirs, drill oil and gas wells, and produce and sell these materials to be refined later into products such as gasoline, fuel oil, distillate, etc.

The economics of oil and gas supply and demand are the fundamental drivers of this industry. In particular, a producer’s cash flow is primarily determined by the realized commodity prices. In fact, all E&P companies' results are vulnerable to historically volatile prices in the energy markets.

A change in realizations affects their returns, causing them to alter their production growth rates. The E&P operators are also exposed to exploration risks where drilling results are comparatively uncertain.

4 Key Trends to Watch in the Oil and Gas - US E&P IndustryHigher Oil Prices Can Quickly Lift Cash Flow: The U.S. exploration and production industry remains highly sensitive to oil prices. When crude prices rise, producers usually see a direct benefit because each barrel sold brings in more cash. That can improve margins, fund drilling, support debt reduction and leave more room for shareholder returns.

Current geopolitical tensions also keep attention on energy security and a reliable domestic supply. This helps U.S. producers because local barrels become more valuable when global supply feels uncertain. For investors, the key attraction is simple: if oil stays firm, many producers can generate strong free cash flow without needing aggressive production growth.

Rising Costs and Obligations Limit Upside: The industry still faces meaningful cost and liability pressures. Diesel, power, equipment, labor, maintenance, workovers and facility upgrades can become more expensive when activity improves or oil prices rise. Offshore operators also carry large decommissioning and asset-retirement obligations, which can absorb cash that might otherwise go to growth or shareholder returns.

Some producers are still focused on reducing debt, so stronger cash flow may be directed toward balance-sheet repair instead of aggressive drilling. For investors, this creates a practical limit on upside. Higher commodity prices help, but they do not remove the need for spending discipline and careful liability management.

Better Efficiency Supports Returns Through Cycles: A more disciplined operating model is becoming a strength for U.S. exploration and production companies. Many producers are focusing less on growth at any cost and more on lower spending, better well performance, workovers, recompletions and selective infrastructure upgrades. This can make each dollar of capital work harder.

Low-decline assets are also useful because they require less spending just to keep production steady. For investors, this matters because the industry can create value even when commodity prices are choppy. Strong cost control, careful capital allocation and a focus on free cash flow can make earnings more durable over time.

Weak Natural Gas Prices to Drag Results: Not every part of the commodity mix is supportive. In some U.S. basins, natural gas prices have been weak, and local pricing can sometimes fall far below benchmark levels. This can force producers to curtail gas volumes or accept poor realized prices. Even oil-focused companies can feel the pressure because many wells produce associated gas along with crude.

Lower gas and NGL values can reduce total revenue per barrel of oil equivalent and hurt reported production economics. For investors, the risk is that strong oil prices may not fully offset weak gas markets, especially in areas with limited takeaway capacity.

Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Positive OutlookThe Zacks Oil and Gas - US E&P industry is a 34-stock group within the broader Zacks Oil - Energy sector. The industry currently carries a Zacks Industry Rank #104, which places it in the top 42% of 247 Zacks industries.

The group’s Zacks Industry Rank, which is basically the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates fairly strong near-term prospects. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperforms the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

The industry’s position in the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries is a result of improving earnings outlook for the constituent companies in aggregate. Looking at the aggregate earnings estimate revisions, it appears that analysts are becoming optimistic about this group’s earnings growth potential. As a matter of fact, the industry’s earnings estimates for 2026 have gone up 34.6% in the past year.

Considering the encouraging dynamics of the industry, we will present a few stocks that you may want to consider for your portfolio. But it’s worth taking a look at the industry’s shareholder returns and current valuation first.

Industry Underperforms Sector and S&P 500The Zacks Oil and Gas - US E&P industry has fared worse than the broader Zacks Oil - Energy Sector and the Zacks S&P 500 composite over the past year.

The industry has moved down 1.2% over this period against the broader sector’s increase of 26.2%. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 has gained some 27%.

Industry's Current ValuationSince oil and gas companies are debt-laden, it makes sense to value them based on the EV/EBITDA (Enterprise Value/ Earnings before Interest Tax Depreciation and Amortization) ratio. This is because the valuation metric takes into account not just equity but also the level of debt. For capital-intensive companies, EV/EBITDA is a better valuation metric because it is not influenced by changing capital structures and ignores the effect of noncash expenses.

On the basis of the trailing 12-month enterprise value-to-EBITDA (EV/EBITDA), the industry is currently trading at 11.01X, lower than the S&P 500’s 18.62X. It is, however, well above the sector’s trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA of 6.57X.

Over the past five years, the industry has traded as high as 17.10X and as low as 3.42X, with a median of 6.08X.

3 Stocks to Focus OnW&T Offshore: W&T Offshore is a Houston-based oil and gas company focused on the Gulf of America. Founded in 1983 by Tracy Krohn, it has been listed on the NYSE since 2005 under the ticker WTI. Over four decades, the Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company has grown from a small independent operator into a seasoned offshore player, mainly through acquisitions and selective drilling.

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The company operates across 48 offshore fields and holds a large acreage base in shallow and deepwater areas. Its strategy is simple: improve existing assets, control costs, add reserves, and pursue smart acquisitions. With strong technical experience, operating production, and a focus on cash flow, W&T Offshore aims to support steady long-term growth.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s 2026 earnings per share indicates 67.6% year-over-year growth. Over the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for W&T Offshore’s 2026 loss has narrowed from 32 cents per share to 12.

Ring Energy: Ring Energy is a Texas-based oil and gas company focused on conventional assets in the Permian Basin, mainly the Central Basin Platform and Northwest Shelf. It uses modern drilling and completion methods to improve older fields, extend well life and raise recovery. The #2 Ranked company operates more than 96,000 net acres and has built a large, mostly operated asset base.

Its strategy centers on steady cash flow, disciplined spending and lower operating costs. Ring has more than 500 identified drilling locations, over 10 years of inventory and a reserve life above 20 years. Recent results show production in line with guidance, cost reductions and continued positive adjusted free cash flow.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s 2026 earnings per share indicates 57.9% year-over-year growth. Over the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ring Energy’s 2026 earnings has moved up from 22 cents per share to 30 cents.

APA: APA Corporation explores for and produces oil and natural gas through subsidiaries in the United States, Egypt and the United Kingdom, while also pursuing offshore opportunities in Suriname and other areas. Its portfolio is anchored by the Permian Basin and Egypt, giving the Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company a steady operating base and room for long-term growth.

APA focuses on safe, efficient and responsible operations, backed by financial discipline. It plans to return at least 60% of free cash flow to investors through dividends and share buybacks, while reducing debt. Growth plans include first oil from Suriname’s GranMorgu project in mid-2028 and continued cost savings across operations.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s 2026 earnings per share indicates 48.5% year-over-year growth. Over the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for APA’s 2026 earnings has moved up from $4.28 per share to $5.60.

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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance  for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.

Here at Zacks, our focus is on the proven Zacks Rank system, which emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find great stocks. Nevertheless, we are always paying attention to the latest value, growth, and momentum trends to underscore strong picks.

Looking at the history of these trends, perhaps none is more beloved than value investing. This strategy simply looks to identify companies that are being undervalued by the broader market. Value investors use tried-and-true metrics and fundamental analysis to find companies that they believe are undervalued at their current share price levels.

Luckily, Zacks has developed its own Style Scores system in an effort to find stocks with specific traits. Value investors will be interested in the system's "Value" category. Stocks with both "A" grades in the Value category and high Zacks Ranks are among the strongest value stocks on the market right now.

One stock to keep an eye on is APA (APA - Free Report) . APA is currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and an A for Value. The stock is trading with a P/E ratio of 8.22, which compares to its industry's average of 10.57. Over the past year, APA's Forward P/E has been as high as 8.88 and as low as 4.09, with a median of 6.45.

Another notable valuation metric for APA is its P/B ratio of 1.23. Investors use the P/B ratio to look at a stock's market value versus its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. APA's current P/B looks attractive when compared to its industry's average P/B of 3.09. Within the past 52 weeks, APA's P/B has been as high as 1.63 and as low as 0.79, with a median of 1.20.

Value investors also love the P/S ratio, which is calculated by simply dividing a stock's price with the company's sales. Some people prefer this metric because sales are harder to manipulate on an income statement. This means it could be a truer performance indicator. APA has a P/S ratio of 1.48. This compares to its industry's average P/S of 1.96.

Finally, we should also recognize that APA has a P/CF ratio of 2.42. This metric focuses on a firm's operating cash flow and is often used to find stocks that are undervalued based on the strength of their cash outlook. This stock's P/CF looks attractive against its industry's average P/CF of 5.08. Over the past 52 weeks, APA's P/CF has been as high as 3.06 and as low as 1.46, with a median of 2.05.

Riley Exploration Permian (REPX - Free Report) may be another strong Oil and Gas - Exploration and Production - United States stock to add to your shortlist. REPX is a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy) stock with a Value grade of A.

Riley Exploration Permian sports a P/B ratio of 1.05 as well; this compares to its industry's price-to-book ratio of 3.09. In the past 52 weeks, REPX's P/B has been as high as 1.57, as low as 0.92, with a median of 1.16.

These figures are just a handful of the metrics value investors tend to look at, but they help show that APA and Riley Exploration Permian are likely being undervalued right now. Considering this, as well as the strength of its earnings outlook, APA and REPX feels like a great value stock at the moment.

After reaching an important support level, APA (APA - Free Report) could be a good stock pick from a technical perspective. APA surpassed resistance at the 20-day moving average, suggesting a short-term bullish trend.

A well-liked tool among traders, the 20-day simple moving average offers a look back at a stock's price over a 20-day period. This is very beneficial to short-term traders, as it smooths out short-term price trends and gives more trend reversal signals than longer-term moving averages.

Similar to other SMAs, if a stock's price moves above the 20-day, the trend is considered positive, while price falling below the moving average can signal a downward trend.

Over the past four weeks, APA has gained 9.1%. The company is currently ranked a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), another strong indication the stock could move even higher.

Once investors consider APA's positive earnings estimate revisions, the bullish case only solidifies. No earnings estimate has been lowered in the past two months, compared to 7 raised estimates, for the current fiscal year, and the consensus estimate has increased as well.

Investors may want to watch APA for more gains in the near future given the company's key technical level and positive earnings estimate revisions.