Devon Energy is an independent energy company primarily engaged in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas.
It operates as a leading onshore U.S. producer, distinguished for its disciplined capital strategy and a variable dividend policy tied directly to its financial performance.
Updated: February 19, 2026, 16:00 EST
Based on a comprehensive analysis of Devon Energy (DVN), the stock presents a mixed but cautiously optimistic picture. Technically, it shows exceptional momentum but is arguably overbought near its 52-week high. Fundamentally, recent quarterly results reveal a slight softening in revenue and profitability, though the company maintains moderate debt and a favorable cash conversion cycle. The primary concern is valuation; while the P/E ratio appears low, the negative PEG ratio signals weak earnings growth prospects, which may justify the discounted multiple. Despite good downside protection from its low beta, the stock's susceptibility to substantial drawdowns remains a risk.
Recommendation: HOLD.
DVN's current technical overbought condition and negative earnings growth outlook, as indicated by the PEG ratio, suggest its recent strong run may be vulnerable to a pullback. While its undervalued P/E and solid operational footing provide a floor, investors should wait for a better entry point or clearer signs of earnings growth acceleration before committing new capital. This is not investment advice, for reference only.
Based on a comprehensive analysis, here is a 12-month outlook for Devon Energy (DVN):
12-Month Outlook for Devon Energy (DVN)
DVN's trajectory will be primarily dictated by oil price volatility and the company's ability to maintain its disciplined capital returns. A key catalyst is the potential for sustained or higher oil prices, which would directly boost cash flows and support the shareholder return strategy centered on its variable dividend. Major risks include a significant downturn in commodity prices, which would pressure earnings, and the stock's current technically overbought condition, suggesting limited near-term upside and vulnerability to a pullback. Given the mixed fundamental picture with weak earnings growth prospects, a target price is difficult to pinpoint, but the stock is likely to trade in a wide range, with its downside cushioned by the low P/E valuation and its upside capped by the negative growth outlook.
Most Wall Street analysts are optimistic about Devon Energy Corporation's 12-month outlook, with consensus target around $44.66, indicating expected upside potential.
Overall, DVN has investment potential but also faces challenges. Here are key factors to weigh before investing.
Overall Assessment: DVN has demonstrated exceptionally strong performance with significant price appreciation over recent periods, substantially outperforming the broader market.
Short-term Performance: DVN has surged 22.24% over the past month and 25.64% over three months, massively outperforming the market by 25.37% during the latter period, indicating exceptionally strong momentum. This performance is particularly notable given the stock's relatively low beta of 0.625, suggesting the gains have been driven by company-specific factors rather than general market volatility.
Current Position: Currently trading at $44.25, DVN sits near the top of its 52-week range (high: $45.32, low: $25.89), approaching technical resistance levels. The proximity to the 52-week high suggests the stock may be overbought in the short term, though this follows substantial recovery from a maximum 1-year drawdown of -30.48%.
| Period | DVN Return | S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|
| 1m | +23.1% | +1.0% |
| 3m | +27.4% | +1.9% |
| 6m | +34.0% | +6.5% |
| 1y | +15.8% | +12.1% |
| ytd | +17.9% | +0.2% |
Based on the provided data for DVN's Q4 2025 results:
Revenue & Profitability DVN's Q4 revenue of $3.94 billion declined from Q3's $4.25 billion, reflecting a sequential softening. Profitability also contracted, with the net profit margin decreasing to 14.3% from 16.2% in the prior quarter, primarily driven by a lower gross profit margin of 20.1%.
Financial Health The company maintains a moderate debt level with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57 and demonstrates solid interest coverage of 5.52 times. However, liquidity is a concern as the current ratio of 0.98 indicates potential short-term obligations may not be fully covered by current assets.
Operational Efficiency Operational efficiency shows room for improvement, with a return on equity of 3.6% and a low asset turnover of 0.12. The negative cash conversion cycle of -14.7 days is a positive sign, indicating the company collects from customers before paying its suppliers, which benefits working capital management.
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Try Now & Get Tesla Stock RewardBased on the PE ratios below 11, DVN appears undervalued on an earnings basis. However, the negative PEG ratio, which stems from negative earnings growth expectations, is a significant concern that suggests the low earnings multiple may be justified rather than a true signal of value. The elevated EV/EBITDA of nearly 19.5 further indicates the market is valuing the company's core operating cash flows at a premium relative to its net income.
Without specific industry averages for comparison, a definitive peer evaluation cannot be made. However, the negative PEG ratio is a distinctly negative outlier that would generally place the stock at a disadvantage compared to profitable, growing energy peers. The relatively low P/B ratio of 1.78 may offer some support if the company's assets are productive, but the overarching negative growth outlook remains the dominant valuation factor.
Based on the provided metrics, DVN exhibits moderate volatility risk. Its beta of 0.625 indicates the stock is historically 37.5% less volatile than the broader market, providing a degree of downside cushion. However, the significant maximum drawdown of -30.48% over the past year demonstrates that the stock is still susceptible to substantial price declines during market or sector-specific downturns.
Limited data suggests other risks may be minimal. The lack of material short interest implies that professional traders do not have a strong negative conviction on the stock, reducing the risk of a short squeeze or significant downward pressure from that source. However, without further liquidity metrics, it is difficult to fully assess the risks associated with trading volume and bid-ask spreads.
Bullish - DVN is attractive for momentum traders and investors seeking exposure to energy sector strength. The stock demonstrates powerful price momentum with recent outperformance, supported by strong analyst consensus and positive oil price tailwinds. However, the current valuation appears stretched near 52-week highs, making it less suitable for value investors concerned about the negative PEG ratio and moderate liquidity concerns.
Based on the metrics provided, DVN stock appears to be undervalued on a relative earnings basis but fairly valued when considering its weak growth outlook. Its PE ratio of 9.85 is low in absolute terms, and its Price-to-Book (PB) of 1.78 is modest. However, the primary concern is the negative PEG ratio of -0.61, which signals negative earnings growth expectations from the market. This poor growth prospect, combined with declining profitability and low operational returns (ROE of 3.6%), justifies the market's skepticism and suggests the low valuation multiples may be appropriate, leaning toward fair value rather than a clear bargain.
Based on the provided information, here are the key risks of holding DVN stock, ordered by importance:
1. Commodity Price Volatility: As an energy company, DVN's financial performance is highly sensitive to volatile oil and natural gas prices, which directly drove the sequential decline in Q4 revenue and profitability. 2. Near-Term Technical Overextension: The stock is approaching its 52-week high following exceptional recent performance, increasing its vulnerability to a pullback or consolidation as it meets technical resistance. 3. Potential Liquidity Strain: The current ratio of 0.98 indicates the company may face challenges in covering its short-term obligations with its current assets. 4. Operational Inefficiency: Low returns on equity (3.6%) and asset turnover (0.12 turnover) suggest the company is not generating strong profits from its capital investments, which could limit long-term growth.
Based on the provided analysis, Devon Energy's (DVN) forecast through 2026 suggests a performance heavily tied to oil markets rather than significant operational expansion.
Our target price range for 2026 is anchored by a base case of $40-$48, reflecting a stable but low-growth oil price environment, and a bull case of $55-$65, contingent on a sustained rise in crude prices. Key growth drivers will be oil price volatility, the company's execution of its capital returns program (particularly the variable dividend), and maintenance of its current moderate debt level. The main assumptions are that operational efficiency remains challenged with low asset turnover and that the company continues its shareholder-friendly strategy.
Forecast uncertainty is high, as the primary driver is an external factor (oil prices) beyond the company's control, and the negative earnings growth outlook adds significant risk to any bullish projection.