Devon Energy upgraded to Outperform Wolfe Research on valuation

Wolfe Research upgraded Devon Energy (DVN) to Outperform from Peer Perform with a $45 price target The stock had underperformed the Russell 3000 Energy Index by 31% last year due to several issues including concerns over the oil macro, the company’s $5B, acquisition of Grayson Mills that may now be viewed as relatively expensive given it was based on $80 WTI, as well as continued questions on the depth & quality of the corporate inventory, though at their current levels, Devon Energy shares imply a mid-teens free cash flow yield, at strip prices essentially discounting a sustainable inventory below 10 years, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Critically, Devon is changing its development model to incorporating a mix of incrementally lower return formations, thereby potentially extending inventory life, the firm adds.