Morgan Stanley Rates Viper Energy (VNOM) buy, $46 Price Target

Morgan Stanley keeps its buy rating for Viper Energy with a $46 target, a 8.49% upside from the current price.

By TradeTexts Research Desk · Published Jul 1, 2026, 3:02 AM EDT · Updated Jul 1, 2026, 3:01 PM EDT

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Morgan Stanley rated Viper Energy, Inc. ($VNOM) "buy" with a $46 price target on June 29, 2026.

Since the rating, $VNOM is down 4.5% after 1 week, up 1.8% after 1 month and up 7.9% to date (from the $41.74 close on Jun 29, 2026).

VNOM Viper Energy, Inc.

$45.02 +21.05% year to date

Daily close · Oct 16, 2026

Key Points

Morgan Stanley reiterated its buy rating for Viper Energy, Inc. (VNOM) with a $46 price target on June 29, 2026.
Morgan Stanley's $46 price target implies 8.49% upside from Viper Energy, Inc.'s ($VNOM) current $42.40 share price.
Shares of Viper Energy traded near $42.41 on Wednesday, with a market cap of about $8.23 billion and a forward P/E of 17.05.
Major funds like Capital World Investors and BlackRock increased their positions in Viper Energy, while new stakes were initiated by Vanguard Portfolio Management LLC.

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Morgan Stanley, on June 29, 2026, reiterated its buy rating for Viper Energy, Inc. (NasdaqGS:VNOM), setting a price target of $46. Devin McDermott, the analyst, maintained the optimistic outlook, reflecting confidence in the oil and gas midstream company's potential.

Analyst rating track record

Morgan Stanley vs. the S&P 500

YTD return +41.68% hypothetical

All-time return +37.99% S&P 500 +35.07%

vs. S&P 500 +2.92% ahead of the index

Hypothetical returns from Morgan Stanley's disclosed trades, not real profit or advice. How we model this.

Other Institutional Activity in Viper Energy, Inc.

Several institutional investors have shown interest in Viper Energy, Inc. Capital World Investors significantly boosted its holdings by adding 11,100,936 shares, bringing its total to 24,017,493 shares valued at about $1.13 billion, an 85.9% increase. BlackRock, Inc. also increased its stake by 2,618,153 shares, now holding 17,468,606 shares worth approximately $820.85 million, marking a 17.6% rise. Vanguard Portfolio Management LLC opened a new position with 9,373,230 shares valued at $440.45 million. Meanwhile, Price T Rowe Associates trimmed its holdings by 299,937 shares, resulting in 9,112,072 shares worth around $428.18 million, a 3.2% decrease.

Viper Energy, Inc. Stock Up 0.3%

Shares of Viper Energy, Inc. traded near $42.41 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of about $8.23 billion and a forward P/E ratio of 17.05. Viper Energy's beta is relatively low at 0.212, indicating less volatility compared to the market. The stock's 52-week range spans from $35.10 to $51.13, with a 50-day moving average of $46.32 and a 200-day moving average of $41.99. The company maintains a strong liquidity position with a current ratio of 6.17 and a quick ratio of 5.63.

12-month forecast

$VNOM price target

Viper Energy, Inc. daily closes and this analyst's $46 target. Not advice.

Recent Earnings

Viper Energy, Inc. reported revenue of $1.58 billion, experiencing a modest growth of 1.09%. However, the company posted a net margin of -2.92% and a return on equity of -1.84%, indicating financial challenges. The next earnings report is scheduled for August 3, 2026.

Dividend

Viper Energy, Inc. offers an annual dividend rate of $2.31, yielding 5.45%. The company's dividend payout ratio stands at 97.12%, reflecting a commitment to returning value to shareholders.

Insider Buying and Selling at Viper Energy, Inc.

On May 19, 2026, several insiders, including Spencer Armour III, Frank Hu, Laurie Argo, Steven West, William Wesley Perry, and James Rubin, each purchased 3,612 shares. These transactions were not part of a pre-planned trading arrangement.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

On June 29, 2026, Morgan Stanley maintained its buy rating for Viper Energy, Inc. with a $46 price target. RBC Capital initiated coverage with a buy rating and a $58 target on May 29, 2026. Mizuho, Barclays, and Raymond James also maintained buy ratings with targets ranging from $58 to $61 in late May 2026. The consensus among analysts is a strong buy, with an average price target of $57.61 from 18 analyst opinions.

About Viper Energy, Inc.

Viper Energy, Inc. is involved in owning and acquiring oil and natural gas properties in North America, primarily focusing on mineral and royalty interests in the Permian Basin. Headquartered in Midland, Texas, the company operates as a subsidiary of Diamondback Energy, Inc. With its foundation dating back to 2013, Viper Energy has grown its portfolio to exploit energy resources effectively.

Bottom Line

Morgan Stanley's reaffirmation of a buy rating with a $46 price target highlights its confidence in Viper Energy's prospects. With substantial institutional interest and a strong dividend yield, Viper Energy remains a company to watch. Investors should note that analyst ratings are forward-looking opinions and may not reflect current market conditions.