Bull case
APA would need investors to value it at roughly 8x earnings — about 3x more generous than today's 5x forward P/E. That requires meaningful multiple expansion on top of continued earnings growth.
Wall Street verdict, consensus price target, and analyst rating breakdown — everything needed to frame the risk/reward at today's price.
Three scenarios for where APA stock could go
APA would need investors to value it at roughly 8x earnings — about 3x more generous than today's 5x forward P/E. That requires meaningful multiple expansion on top of continued earnings growth.
At 6x on FY1 earnings, the base case reflects a reasonable but not stretched valuation. It prices in continued growth without assuming an exceptional setup.
If investor confidence fades or macro conditions deteriorate, a 1x multiple contraction could push APA down roughly 26% from where it trades now.
Not financial advice. Model confidence reflects internal scenario assumptions, not a guarantee of returns. Past performance does not predict future results.

APA Corporation is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company with operations primarily in the United States, Egypt, and the United Kingdom. It generates revenue from oil and natural gas sales — with production roughly split between U.S. onshore assets (primarily the Permian Basin) and international operations — supplemented by midstream income from its West Texas gathering and pipeline assets. The company's competitive advantage lies in its diversified geographic portfolio, which provides operational resilience, and its established position in the prolific Permian Basin.
Quarterly beat-or-miss track record against analyst estimates, plus forward revenue and EPS outlook for the next two fiscal years.
| Quarter | EPS (Actual / Est) | EPS Surprise | Revenue (Actual / Est) | Rev Surprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q3 2025 | $0.87/$0.45 | +93.3% | $2.2B/$2.1B | +5.6% |
| Q4 2025 | $0.93/$0.79 | +17.3% | $2.1B/$2.1B | +2.7% |
| Q1 2026 | $0.91/$0.64 | +41.3% | $2.0B/$1.8B | +12.1% |
| Q2 2026 | $1.38/$1.11 | +24.3% | $2.2B/$2.1B | +3.8% |
APA beat EPS estimates in 4 of 4 tracked quarters. A perfect track record raises the bar for the upcoming report.
Product and geographic revenue mix from the latest annual disclosure, with year-over-year growth by segment.
Latest annual revenue by segment or product family
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Latest annual revenue by reported region
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Current multiples compared to the S&P 500, the company's sector, and its own five-year average.
Fair value est. $65 — implies +95.7% from today's price.
| Metric | APA | S&P 500 | Energy | 5Y Avg APA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forward PE | 5.1x | 18.8x-73% | 12.5x-59% | — |
| Trailing PE | 8.3x | 24.4x-66% | 15.5x-46% | 7.0x+19% |
| PEG Ratio | — | 1.66x | 0.52x | — |
| EV/EBITDA | 3.0x | 15.2x-80% | 7.8x-61% | 3.2x |
| Price/FCF | 6.6x | 20.7x-68% | 13.8x-52% | 8.0x-18% |
| Price/Sales | 1.3x | 3.1x-58% | 1.4x | 1.2x+12% |
| Dividend Yield | 3.04% | 1.91% | 3.47% | 2.61% |
Forward P/E and PEG reflect analyst consensus estimates. Historical averages use trailing ratios where forward data is unavailable.S&P 500 and sector benchmarks both use trailing median P/E — similar readings indicate the broader index and sector are priced alike.
Open valuation toolAPA generates $1.5B in free cash flow at a 17.2% margin — 17.8% ROIC signals a durable competitive advantage · returns 5.4% of market cap to shareholders annually.
Revenue, margins, and cash generation
ROIC, leverage, and debt serviceability
~2.9 years to full repayment at current FCF run-rate
How capital is returned to owners
All figures from the trailing twelve months. ROIC uses invested capital (equity + net debt).
Open full ratios pageKey factors that could pressure the stock price, compress the multiple, or weigh on future results.
AI analysis · updated June 18, 2026
A bear case scenario with WTI crude prices below $65/bbl could significantly reduce APA's earnings per share (EPS).
APA's long-term growth is highly dependent on exploration success, particularly in regions like Suriname, which carries inherent uncertainty.
While APA has demonstrated strong free cash flow generation, its performance remains tied to volatile oil and gas prices.
APA has made progress in de-leveraging its balance sheet, but residual debt could pose risks in a prolonged downturn.
These are risk mechanisms, not predictions. The key question is which would force a cut to earnings estimates or a lower multiple than the market currently prices in.
Structural drivers behind the upside case and why the stock could outperform over the next 12 months.
AI analysis · updated June 18, 2026
APA's valuation is supported by a sum-of-the-parts approach, highlighting the potential undervaluation of its diverse assets.
APA benefits from a trading business with infrastructure-like characteristics, providing stable cash flows and reduced volatility.
APA holds significant optionality in Suriname, offering potential upside from exploration and development opportunities in the region.
APA reported robust net income of $446 million in Q1 2026, demonstrating strong operational and financial results.
Analysts have published bullish theses on APA, emphasizing its attractive valuation and growth potential in the energy sector.
A real bull case compounds — each driver matters most when it strengthens margins, supports capital returns, and keeps the company above the market's minimum growth bar simultaneously.
52-week range context and price returns across multiple time horizons. Dividend contribution is shown separately in the Capital Return section.
Range context matters because valuation compression and earnings misses rarely hit from the same starting point. A stock already far below its high can still fall, but it is no longer carrying the same embedded optimism as one pressing a fresh peak.
Valuation, growth, and margin comparison against the closest publicly traded peers for this company.
| Company | Mkt Cap | Fwd PE | Rev Grw | Margin | Rating | Upside |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
APA APA APA Corporation | $11.7B | 5.1x | +3.7% | 17.8% | Hold | +16.6% |
DVN DVN Devon Energy Corporation | $26.2B | 7.5x | +14.3% | 17.6% | Buy | +39.5% |
COP COP ConocoPhillips | $131.3B | 10.6x | +7.8% | 12.6% | Buy | +23.4% |
OVV OVV Ovintiv Inc. | $14.7B | 6.6x | +1.4% | 8.6% | Buy | +25.5% |
CTR CTRA Coterra Energy Inc. | $24.7B | 11.3x | +4.2% | 25.7% | Buy | +5.0% |
PR PR Permian Resources Corporation | $15.3B | 11.1x | +15.7% | 17.6% | Buy | +32.9% |
This peer comparison reflects companies with similar business models, product lines, or market positioning, supplemented by industry grouping when direct matches are limited.
APA returns 5.4% total yield, led by a 3.04% dividend. Buybacks add another 2.4%.
Yield, cadence, and growth quality
How much per-share support comes from repurchases
| Year | Div / Share | YoY Grw | BB Yield | Total Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $0.75 | — | — | — |
| 2025 | $1.00 | 0.0% | 3.2% | 7.3% |
| 2024 | $1.00 | 0.0% | 3.0% | 7.3% |
| 2023 | $1.00 | +60.0% | 3.0% | 5.7% |
| 2022 | $0.63 | +354.5% | 9.2% | 10.5% |
Common questions answered from live analyst data and company financials.
APA Corporation (APA) is rated Hold by Wall Street analysts as of 2026. Of 51 analysts covering the stock, 19 rate it Buy or Strong Buy, 27 rate it Hold, and 5 rate it Sell or Strong Sell. The consensus 12-month price target is $39, implying +16.6% from the current price of $33. The bear case scenario is $25 and the bull case is $51.
The Wall Street consensus price target for APA is $39 based on 51 analyst estimates. The high-end target is $57 (+72.6% from today), and the low-end target is $24 (-27.3%). The base case model target is $39.
APA trades at 5.1x times forward earnings. The stock currently trades at a discount to the broader market. Based on current multiples versus the peer group, the relative model signals cheap versus peers. Whether the stock is over or undervalued ultimately depends on whether consensus earnings estimates are achievable.
The primary risks for APA in 2026 are: (1) Oil Price Sensitivity — A bear case scenario with WTI crude prices below $65/bbl could significantly reduce APA's earnings per share (EPS). (2) Exploration Risk — APA's long-term growth is highly dependent on exploration success, particularly in regions like Suriname, which carries inherent uncertainty. (3) Volatile Cash Flow — While APA has demonstrated strong free cash flow generation, its performance remains tied to volatile oil and gas prices. Each factor has the potential to pressure earnings or compress the stock's valuation multiple.
Analyst consensus estimates APA will report consensus revenue of $8.9B (+3.7% year-over-year) and EPS of $5.24 (+21.0% year-over-year) for the upcoming fiscal year. The following year, analysts project $9.1B in revenue.
APA Corporation is expected to report its next earnings on approximately 2026-08-05. Consensus expects EPS of $2.10 and revenue of $2.6B. Over recent quarters, APA has beaten EPS estimates 67% of the time.
APA Corporation (APA) generated $1.5B in free cash flow over the trailing twelve months — a free cash flow margin of 17.2%. APA returns capital to shareholders through dividends (3.0% yield) and share repurchases ($280M TTM).