Topeka Capital Markets Initiates Coverage On Gulfport Energy

Topeka Capital Markets initiated coverage on Gulfport Energy Corporation GPOR Monday with a Buy rating and $58 price target.

Analyst Gabriele Sorbara noted that “with the recent reset of expectations and weakness in natural gas prices, we believe a strong entry point has emerged ahead of a tremendous production growth story, driven by the Utica.”

According to Sorbara, the company’s “Utica position has been largely de-risked, and we now believe GPOR is set up to execute, given:

1) “its Utica acreage is primarily in the core (~184,500 net acres) and the transition to greater activity in the dry gas window presents upside;

2) “its strong balance sheet and liquidity position, with options to further enhance liquidity; and

3) “its solid hedge book, with the best firm takeaway capacity in the basin, ensures ongoing activity. Lastly, with its rich asset base and upside potential concentrated in the core Utica shale, we believe GPOR stands out as an attractive takeout candidate.”

Gulfport Energy Corporation recently traded at $41.98, up 1.28 percent.