Valued at a market cap of $6.7 billion, APA Corporation (APA) is an independent energy company that explores for, develops, and produces natural gas, crude oil, and natural gas liquids. The Houston, Texas-based company has oil and gas operations in the United States, Egypt, and the North Sea.

Companies valued between $2 billion and $10 billion are generally classified as “mid-cap stocks," and APA fits this criterion perfectly. The company also has exploration and appraisal activities in Suriname and holds interests in projects located in Uruguay and internationally. It maintains a diversified asset portfolio, including conventional and unconventional, onshore and offshore, oil and natural gas exploration and production interests.

APA currently trades 45.6% below its 52-week high of $33.41 recorded on Aug. 1, 2024. APA's stock has declined 12.8% over the past three months, notably lagging behind the broader Dow Jones Industrial Average's ($DOWI) 1.2% rise.

Longer term, APA’s stock has dropped 21.3% on a YTD basis, whereas DOWI has increased 1.3%. Moreover, shares of APA plunged 38% over the past 52 weeks, significantly underperforming the Dow Jones’ 9.3% returns over the same time frame.

The stock has been trading above its 50-day moving average since June. However, the stock has remained below its 200-day moving average since last year.

APA’s stock rose 4.5% in the trading session following the release of its strong Q1 2025 results on May 7. The company reported revenue of $2.6 billion, marking a 35.1% increase year-over-year and surpassing Wall Street expectations. Its adjusted EPS came in at $1.06, up 35.9% from the same quarter last year and beating analysts’ estimates by 27.7%. 

Additionally, significant improvements in drilling efficiency, particularly in the Permian Basin, enabled APA to keep U.S. oil production within its original guidance range while reducing development capital by $150 million.

Compared to its rival, Coteraa Energy (CTRA) has outperformed APA stock. Shares of Coterra Energy have gained 5% on a YTD basis and declined 3% over the past 52 weeks.

Among the 26 analysts covering the APA stock, the consensus rating is a “Hold.” Its mean price target of $22.20 suggests a 22.1% upside potential from current price levels.