Valued at a market cap of $28.3 billion, Expand Energy Corporation (EXE) is an independent natural gas production company based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It acquires, explores, and develops properties to produce oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids.

Companies worth $10 billion or more are typically classified as “large-cap stocks,” and EXE fits the label perfectly, with its market cap exceeding this threshold, underscoring its size, influence, and dominance within the oil & gas E&P industry. The company specializes in low-cost, high-efficiency development of natural gas assets across premier U.S. basins such as the Haynesville, Marcellus, and Utica shales. Its vertically integrated operations, strong infrastructure access, and leading-scale production offer cost advantages and operational flexibility. Additionally, its focus on responsible production and emissions reduction positions it well to meet rising demand for reliable, lower-carbon natural gas. 

This oil and gas company is currently trading 3.5% below its 52-week high of $123.35, reached on Jun. 20. EXE has surged 8.4% over the past three months, outpacing the S&P 500 Index’s ($SPX) 5.5% rise during the same time frame.

In the longer term, EXE has rallied 42.4% over the past 52 weeks, considerably outperforming SPX’s 11.4% rise over the same time frame. Moreover, on a YTD basis, shares of EXE are up 19.6%, compared to SPX’s 3.6% return. 

To confirm its bullish trend, EXE has been trading above its 200-day moving average since late-September, 2024, and has remained above its 50-day moving average since mid-September, 2024, with slight fluctuations.

Despite delivering strong Q1 earnings results on Apr. 29, shares of Expand Energy fell 3.3% in the following trading session. The company reported total revenue of $2.2 billion, representing a strong 103.1% year-over-year increase, driven by a robust rise in its core natural gas, oil, and NGL sales. Moreover, its adjusted EPS came in at $2.02, up 260.7% from the same quarter last year and 9.2% above the analyst estimates. EXE attributed its solid performance to its resilient financial foundation, a deep market-connected portfolio, and low-cost, efficient operations. 

However, Expand Energy has lagged behind its rival, EQT Corporation (EQT), which soared 51.1% over the past 52 weeks and 26.3% on a YTD basis. 

Given EXE’s recent outperformance, analysts remain highly optimistic about its prospects. The stock has a consensus rating of "Strong Buy” from the 26 analysts covering it, and the mean price target of $128.65 suggests an 8% premium to its current price levels.