Vitesse Energy Shares Slip to 12‑Month Low as Analysts Cut Earnings Forecast

Vitesse Energy (NYSE: VTS) saw its stock fall to a new 52‑week low, trading around $15.00 with a low of $15.00 and closing near $15.02. The decline follows a series of analyst actions: Zacks Research downgraded the stock to a "strong sell," Weiss Ratings lowered its rating, and Northland Securities, while maintaining an "outperform" rating and an $18.50 price target, reduced its Q2 2026 earnings‑per‑share estimate to $0.06 from $0.09. Consensus ratings remain "hold" with a target price of $19.25.

The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.4375 per share (annualized $1.75, yielding about 11.7%). Insider director Joseph S. Steinberg purchased 59,118 shares at $17.00 each, raising his holding to over 60,500 shares. Institutional investors also increased stakes, with MIRAE Asset Global ETFs and Millennium Management adding significant share amounts. Financial metrics include a debt‑to‑equity ratio of 0.25, current and quick ratios of 0.56, and a beta of 0.57.