Civitas Resources to be Sold to SM Energy with 1.45 Shares per Shareholder
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 07 2026
0mins
Should l Buy CIVI?
Source: PRnewswire
- Transaction Investigation: Former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti and his law firm are investigating Civitas Resources' proposed sale to SM Energy, where shareholders would receive 1.45 shares of SM Energy stock for each share of Civitas, aiming to assess whether this valuation is adequate.
- Shareholder Rights Concern: KSF is seeking to confirm the fairness of the transaction process, ensuring that Civitas shareholders' rights are protected, which could impact shareholder acceptance of the deal.
- Legal Consultation Services: KSF offers no-obligation legal consultations, encouraging shareholders who believe the transaction undervalues the company to reach out, demonstrating a commitment to shareholder rights.
- Market Reaction Anticipation: This investigation may lead to fluctuations in Civitas Resources' stock price, affecting investor confidence and the transparency of future transactions.
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Analyst Views on CIVI
Wall Street analysts forecast CIVI stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for CIVI is 35.00 USD with a low forecast of 27.00 USD and a high forecast of 55.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
11 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
9 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 27.380
Low
27.00
Averages
35.00
High
55.00
Current: 27.380
Low
27.00
Averages
35.00
High
55.00
About CIVI
Civitas Resources, Inc. is an independent exploration and production company. It is focused on the acquisition, development and production of crude oil and liquids-rich natural gas from its premier assets in the Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico and the DJ Basin in Colorado. Its development facilities are in Southeastern New Mexico and West Texas, and in counties across the Front Range of northern and central Colorado. Its DJ Basin assets are comprised of over 274,400 net acres located in Weld, Arapahoe, Adams, and Boulder counties, Colorado. Its operations in the DJ Basin target the Niobrara and Codell formations. Its Permian Basin assets are comprised of over 120,400 net acres located in Upton, Reagan, Glasscock, Martin, Midland, Reeves, and Loving counties, Texas and Eddy and Lea counties, New Mexico. Its operations in the Permian Basin primarily target the Spraberry and Wolfcamp formations of the Midland Basin and the Wolfcamp and Bone Spring formations of the Delaware Basin.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Merger Completion: SM Energy's all-stock merger with Civitas Resources was approved by shareholders on January 27, 2026, officially enhancing SM Energy's position among the top independent oil producers in the U.S.
- Executive Appointments: Following the merger, Beth McDonald was appointed President and CEO, while Blake McKenna became COO, with the board expanding to 11 members, ensuring a diverse and experienced leadership team.
- Synergy Targets: The company aims to achieve annual synergies of $200 to $300 million through resource integration and plans to divest at least $1 billion in assets over the next year, strengthening its financial position and shareholder returns.
- Financial Reporting Schedule: SM Energy is set to report its fourth quarter and full year 2025 results on February 25, 2026, followed by a conference call on February 26 to discuss its 2026 operational plan, boosting investor confidence.
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- Merger Completion: SM Energy successfully completed its all-stock merger with Civitas Resources on January 27, 2026, following shareholder approval, enhancing its position as a top 10 independent oil producer in the U.S.
- Executive Appointments: Post-merger, Beth McDonald was appointed President and CEO, while Blake McKenna became COO, expanding the board to 11 members and increasing management diversity and expertise.
- Synergy Targets: The company aims to achieve annual synergies of $200 to $300 million through integration efforts and plans to divest at least $1 billion in assets over the next year to strengthen its financial stability.
- Financial Reporting Schedule: SM Energy is set to report its Q4 and full-year 2025 financial results on February 25, 2026, followed by a conference call on February 26 to discuss its 2026 operational plans, which is expected to boost investor confidence.
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- Market Recovery: According to Enverus, the U.S. upstream M&A market reached $23.5 billion in announced deals in Q4 2025, pushing full-year activity to $65 billion, indicating a recovery driven by private equity teams and international buyers.
- International Buyer Activity: International investments in U.S. upstream markets soared to $7.4 billion in 2025, with $6 billion in Q4, primarily targeting Gulf of Mexico and DJ Basin assets, reflecting intensified competition for limited resources.
- Major Transactions: The largest deal in Q4 was the merger between SM Energy and Civitas Resources, involving significant holdings in both the Permian and DJ Basins, highlighting a shift towards non-core regional opportunities.
- Future Outlook: Enverus expects active upstream M&A in 2026, supported by private capital and sustained international interest, indicating a market shift towards gas-weighted plays and non-core regional opportunities.
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- Index Changes: TTM Technologies will join the S&P MidCap 400 on January 30, replacing Civitas Resources, indicating an elevation in market standing and likely attracting increased investor interest.
- M&A Activity: Huntington Bancshares is acquiring Cadence Bank, while Fifth Third Bancorp is acquiring Comerica, with both deals expected to close soon, further consolidating resources in the banking sector and enhancing competitive positioning.
- Small Cap Adjustments: TTM Technologies will exit the S&P SmallCap 600 on January 30, replaced by Amneal Pharmaceuticals, reflecting a market reassessment of TTM's growth potential.
- Industry Outlook: Advanced Energy Industries is expected to accelerate growth in 2026, highlighting the sector's investment appeal and potential market demand in the coming years.
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- MidCap Addition: TTM Technologies (TTMI) will be added to the S&P MidCap 400 on January 30, 2026, highlighting its recognition in the information technology sector, which is expected to enhance its market liquidity and investor interest.
- MidCap Deletion: Civitas Resources (CIVI) will be removed from the S&P MidCap 400 on the same date, which may impact its stock performance and market confidence, reflecting its relative weakness in the energy sector.
- SmallCap Addition: Amneal Pharmaceuticals (AMRX) will join the S&P SmallCap 600 on January 30, 2026, strengthening its market position in the healthcare industry and likely attracting more investor attention.
- SmallCap Deletion: TTM Technologies (TTMI) will also be removed from the S&P SmallCap 600 on the same date, indicating its poor performance in the small-cap market, which may lead investors to reassess its investment value.
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- Constituent Changes: TTM Technologies will replace Civitas Resources in the S&P MidCap 400 on January 30, indicating ongoing market interest in tech stocks, which may enhance TTMI's market liquidity.
- Acquisition Activity: SM Energy is acquiring Civitas Resources, expected to close soon, allowing SM Energy to retain its position in the SmallCap 600, thereby strengthening its competitive edge in the market.
- New Additions: Dutch Bros and Advanced Energy Industries will join the S&P MidCap 400 on February 2, highlighting growth potential in the consumer and tech sectors, which may attract more investor attention.
- Liquidation Impact: Elme Communities is undergoing liquidation, leading to its removal from the SmallCap 600, reflecting the market's emphasis on financial health, which could affect investor confidence in related stocks.
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