Liberty Energy Inc. (LBRT) AI Stock Analysis

NYSE: LBRTAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

LBRT AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

Liberty Energy Inc. (LBRT) provides hydraulic fracturing, wireline services, and proppant solutions to onshore exploration and production operators across North America. Trailing twelve months revenue stands at $4.20B with an operating margin of 1.6%, while annual revenue contracted 7.2% in FY2025 to $4.01B. The company closed at $16.60 on October 16, 2026, delivering a 1-year return of 41.2% alongside a forward dividend yield of 2.17%.

Market cap
$2.71B
Revenue (TTM)
$4.20B
P/E
22.4x
fwd 29.5x
1Y return
41.2%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$28.46
71.5% vs last close

Bull case

  • LBRT outperformed the S&P 500 over the past year with a 41.2% gain compared to the benchmark index return of 16.8%.
  • The company maintains strong earnings momentum by beating consensus EPS expectations in all 4 of the last 4 quarters.
  • Liberty Energy has increased its payout aggressively, generating a 5-year annualized dividend growth rate of 45.9% with a low payout ratio of 2.6%.

Bear case

  • Net income dropped sharply from $556.3M in FY2023 to $147.9M in FY2025 as annual operating margin compressed to 2.0%.
  • Free cash flow decreased significantly from $411.3M in FY2023 to just $14.1M in FY2025.
  • The stock trades 32.8% below its 200-day moving average and remains 9.1% lower year-to-date.

What Liberty Energy does

Founded in 2011 and based in Denver, Colorado, Liberty Energy Inc. provides hydraulic fracturing, wireline services, and associated products to onshore oil and natural gas exploration and production companies in North America. Its services include hydraulic fracturing pressure pumping, pumpdown perforating, wireline services, proppant delivery, and data analytics. The company operates two sand mines in the Permian Basin to support its operations and supply chain. As of December 31, 2021, Liberty Energy maintained approximately 30 active frac fleets, operating across major basins including the Permian Basin, Eagle Ford Shale, Denver-Julesburg Basin, Williston Basin, and Powder River Basin.

Growth and profitability

Liberty Energy generated a 5-year revenue CAGR of 32.9% from FY2020 to FY2025, but top-line performance has softened recently. Annual revenue declined 9.1% in FY2024 to $4.32B and fell 7.2% in FY2025 to $4.01B. Profitability has compressed alongside sales, as gross margin dropped from 20.6% in FY2023 to 11.4% in FY2025, while operating margin fell from 16.0% to 2.0%. Net income shrank from $556.3M in FY2023 to $147.9M in FY2025, with EPS dropping to $0.15. Over the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2026, revenue stood at $4.20B with a profit margin of 2.9%. In the latest quarter, quarterly revenue grew 14.0% year-over-year, but quarterly earnings declined 39.5%.

LBRT income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of June 30, 2026, Liberty Energy held $555.4M in cash and short-term investments against total debt of $1.61B, resulting in net debt of $1.06B. Total assets reached $4.49B against shareholders' equity of $1.96B, supported by a current ratio of 1.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82. Operating cash flow in FY2025 was $609.6M, which funded capital expenditures of $595.5M, leaving free cash flow of $14.1M. That year, the company allocated $24.9M toward share buybacks and paid $54.5M in dividends.

LBRT balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

Liberty Energy trades at a trailing P/E of 22.4x and a forward P/E of 29.5x, compared to medians of 15.0x and 12.7x, respectively, for its US-listed Energy peers. Its EV/EBITDA multiple of 6.1x sits below the peer median of 8.0x, while its price-to-sales ratio is 0.6x versus 1.8x for peers. Over the past year, the stock gained 41.2%, outperforming the S&P 500 (SPY) return of 16.8%. Over a 5-year span, however, LBRT rose 16.4%, lagging the S&P 500 return of 83.0%. The stock trades 32.8% below its 200-day average.

LBRT key metrics →

LBRT dividend

Liberty Energy offers an annualized forward dividend of $0.36 per share, representing a dividend yield of 2.17% with a payout ratio of 2.6%. The company has distributed dividends quarterly for 5 consecutive years, achieving a 5-year annualized dividend growth rate of 45.9%. Its last ex-dividend date was September 4, 2026.

LBRT dividend history →

What analysts expect

Wall Street coverage on Liberty Energy consists of 5 Strong Buy, 4 Buy, and 5 Hold ratings, with zero Sell or Strong Sell recommendations. The mean price target is $28.46, representing an upside of 71.5% from the last close of $16.60. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, analysts estimate revenue of $4.54B and EPS of $0.20, representing EPS growth of 36.6%. The company has beaten EPS expectations in each of the last 4 quarters, with its next earnings report scheduled for October 21, 2026.

LBRT forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • Net debt of $1.06B and total debt of $1.61B could pressure liquidity if operating cash flow declines below the $609.6M generated in FY2025.
  • Substantial capital expenditures of $595.5M in FY2025 left free cash flow at only $14.1M, which did not fully cover the $54.5M paid in dividends.
  • A short interest level of 14.9% of float signals that market participants anticipate continued downside volatility.
  • The trailing twelve months operating margin of 1.6% remains well below the US-listed Energy peer median of 28.5%.

AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer

About this LBRT AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of Liberty Energy Inc. (LBRT). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.

Related: LBRT income statement, LBRT balance sheet, LBRT key metrics, LBRT analyst forecast, LBRT chart. See the LBRT stock overview for the latest quote and news.

LBRT AI stock analysis FAQ

What does Liberty Energy Inc. do?

Liberty Energy Inc. provides hydraulic fracturing, wireline services, proppant delivery, and data analytics to North American onshore oil and gas exploration and production companies. It also operates two sand mines in the Permian Basin to support its operations.

What is Liberty Energy's dividend yield and payout schedule?

Liberty Energy pays a quarterly dividend with an annualized forward rate of $0.36 per share, yielding 2.17%. The payout ratio is 2.6%, and the company has paid dividends for 5 consecutive years.

How does LBRT's valuation compare to sector peers?

LBRT trades at a forward P/E of 29.5x and a price-to-sales ratio of 0.6x, compared to US-listed Energy peer medians of 12.7x and 1.8x, respectively. Its EV/EBITDA of 6.1x is lower than the peer median of 8.0x.

When is Liberty Energy's next earnings release?

Liberty Energy is scheduled to report its next earnings on October 21, 2026. For the current fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, analysts estimate EPS of $0.20 and revenue of $4.54B.

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