Jefferies Financial Group Upgrades Antero Resources (NYSE:AR) to Strong-Buy

Antero Resources (NYSE:AR) was upgraded by stock analysts at Jefferies Financial Group to a “strong-buy” rating in a report issued on Thursday,Zacks.com reports.

A number of other research analysts have also weighed in on AR. UBS Group reissued a “buy” rating and set a $45.00 target price on shares of Antero Resources in a report on Friday. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of Antero Resources from $46.00 to $41.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on shares of Antero Resources from $37.00 to $40.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 9th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Antero Resources from $49.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Antero Resources from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Friday, November 28th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have assigned a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $45.93.

Antero Resources Stock Up 2.7%

Antero Resources stock opened at $34.73 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a current ratio of 0.55 and a quick ratio of 0.31. The company’s 50-day moving average is $34.08 and its 200-day moving average is $33.37. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.71 billion, a PE ratio of 17.19 and a beta of 0.55. Antero Resources has a fifty-two week low of $29.10 and a fifty-two week high of $44.01.

Antero Resources (NYSE:AR) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The oil and natural gas company reported $0.62 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.49 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $1.41 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.33 billion. Antero Resources had a return on equity of 6.71% and a net margin of 12.02%.Antero Resources’s quarterly revenue was up 20.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.48 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Antero Resources will post 2.74 earnings per share for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Antero Resources

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Huntington National Bank increased its holdings in Antero Resources by 91.3% during the 2nd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 656 shares of the oil and natural gas company’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 313 shares in the last quarter. Root Financial Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Antero Resources during the third quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Sunbelt Securities Inc. bought a new stake in Antero Resources during the third quarter worth $30,000. IFP Advisors Inc raised its position in Antero Resources by 59.2% in the 3rd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 928 shares of the oil and natural gas company’s stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 345 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its stake in Antero Resources by 114.2% during the 2nd quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 938 shares of the oil and natural gas company’s stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 500 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 83.04% of the company’s stock.

Trending Headlines about Antero Resources

Here are the key news stories impacting Antero Resources this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Company reported strong headline results — management’s Q4 commentary and slides highlighted improved revenue and cash generation that beat some consensus metrics, supporting the bullish reaction. Antero Resources Corp (AR) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Strategic Moves and Financial …
• Positive Sentiment: Major analyst support: Wells Fargo raised its price target to $52 and moved to “overweight” (material upside vs. current levels), and other firms (TD Cowen, BofA) have maintained or reiterated Buy ratings — these notes lift sentiment and can spur buying. Benzinga
• Positive Sentiment: Strategic items cited by analysts — the planned HG acquisition (Antero Midstream-related), ongoing deleveraging and hedging strategy — are being framed as value-accretive and cash-flow supportive, reinforcing buy-side views. Antero Resources: HG Acquisition, Deleveraging, and Hedging Drive Buy-Rated Upside…
• Neutral Sentiment: Company published full Q4 results, press release and slide deck with 2026 guidance — investors will parse guidance details and capex/cash‑flow targets; the guidance itself is being treated as a mixed but actionable data point. Antero Resources Corporation 2025 Q4 – Results – Earnings Call Presentation
• Negative Sentiment: Some outlets flagged an earnings miss or weaker per‑share metrics on alternative measures (Zacks highlighted EPS misses and oil-production pressures), creating mixed headlines that can temper enthusiasm. Antero Resources Q4 Earnings Miss Estimates, Revenues Increase Y/Y
• Negative Sentiment: Unusually large put option volume was reported (significant uptick vs. average), signaling hedging or short interest that could add volatility and act as a short-term headwind. (Options data reported in market summaries.)

About Antero Resources

Antero Resources Corporation is an independent exploration and production company focused on the development of natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs) and oil properties in the Appalachian Basin of the United States. The company’s operations target the Marcellus and Utica shales, where it applies advanced drilling and completion techniques to optimize recovery from its large acreage position. Antero’s portfolio encompasses significant reserves of ethane, propane and other NGLs, alongside dry gas volumes that are positioned to serve both domestic and export markets.

Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Antero Resources holds approximately 1.8 million net acres of leasehold interests across parts of West Virginia and Ohio.