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SDSandRidge Energy, Inc.Buy Wait6.9·$13.72+1.86%
SD · Why this verdict

Why SandRidge Energy (SD) is rated BUY WAIT

Updated

Model-generated analysis — not investment advice. Not a registered investment advisor. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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Methodology · Editorial policy & full disclaimer

VerdictBUY WAIT
Overall score6.9/10
ConfidenceMEDIUM
MacroNEUTRAL

Thesis pillars

SandRidge trades at a forward P/E of 8.9x with a PEG of 0.21, indicating the stock is attractively valued relative to its earnings growth.

Stable
Valuation breakdown
Expectation
The forward P/E should remain below 10x while earnings continue to grow, or the multiple should expand toward peer levels as the value gap closes.

CounterThe cheap multiple may reflect the market pricing in commodity-driven earnings that could reverse if oil & gas prices soften.

The business shows compounder-level quality: 46% margins, a wide economic moat, and a 9/9 Piotroski F-Score.

Stable
Quality breakdown
Expectation
Margins should stay near 40%+ and the Piotroski score should remain at 8 or 9 over the next four quarters.

CounterAn earnings-quality red flag shows free cash flow at -9% of net income, meaning reported quality could be overstated relative to actual cash generation.

SandRidge has beaten earnings estimates in 3 of the last 4 quarters, with a strong earnings catalyst score reflecting this track record.

Stable
Catalyst breakdown
Expectation
The company should maintain a beat rate of at least 3 of 4 quarters (75%) going into the next print.

CounterA single earnings miss already appeared in the most recent print (-8.11% surprise), and the beat streak could break down further as growth normalizes.

Technical momentum has turned bearish, with RSI at 24 flagging capitulation risk, falling on-balance volume, and an elevated put/call ratio of 2.79 signaling defensive options positioning.

Stable
Momentum breakdown
Expectation
RSI should recover above 40 and the put/call ratio should fall back below 1.5 over the next quarter to confirm the technical picture is stabilizing.

CounterThe pullback is occurring within a still-rising 200-day moving average (+4.1% over 30 days), which the data itself notes is a pullback in an uptrend, not confirmed weakness.

The stock has already reached its analyst price target, leaving just -3.7% upside per the engine's valuation check, arguing for a pullback before adding exposure.

Stable
Warnings
Expectation
A meaningful pullback (5%+ from current price) should occur, restoring positive analyst upside before the position is added to.

CounterIf earnings continue to beat and analysts raise price targets, the target-reached signal could be stale and the stock could keep climbing without ever offering the anticipated pullback entry.

TrendMatrix Research · core thesis

Engine thesis — one sentence

SandRidge Energy pairs a cheap valuation (8.9x forward P/E, PEG 0.21) and high-margin compounder quality with a strong 3-of-4 earnings beat streak, but near-term technicals have turned bearish and the stock has already reached its analyst price target, favoring a wait-for-pullback approach over an immediate add.

Falsifiable statement — pillar-level invalidators below. Engine-derived; not personalized advice.

Per-dimension breakdown

Value

9.5/10data confidence 83%
ComponentSub-score
P/E9.7
P/S8.3
EV/EBITDA9.7
Fwd P/E9.5
PEG10.0
  • Forward P/E: 8.8x
  • PEG: 0.21
  • Attractively valued

Quality

6.9/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
ROE5.1
ROA4.3
Gross margin9.9
Op margin10.0
Net margin10.0
Current ratio8.2
FCF quality0.0
Moat8.4
Rule of 403.0
Piotroski F10.0
  • Strong margins: 46%
  • Earnings quality RED FLAG: -9% FCF/NI
  • Wide economic moat
  • Compounder quality: strong returns + growth

Growth

8.3/10data confidence 67%
ComponentSub-score
Rev growth6.7
EPS growth10.0

Momentum

2.6/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
RSI4.5
MACD3.7
OBV1.0
MA position2.2
Volume1.6
  • Volume distribution (falling OBV)
  • Below 200-MA but MA still rising (+3.7%/30d) — pullback in uptrend, not confirmed weakness

Sentiment

5.5/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
Analyst rating5.0
Price target6.4
erm sentiment5.0

Insider

7.3/10data confidence 50%
ComponentSub-score
materiality5.0
holder change9.7
  • No net insider activity — $0 (0.000% of mkt cap)
  • Institutions accumulating

Peer rank

7.3/10data confidence 80%
ComponentSub-score
value rank5.4
quality rank7.8
growth rank6.6
  • Attractive P/E vs peers
  • Best-in-class margins

Technical

5.9/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
bollinger6.1
support resistance7.3
52w position5.3
gap5.0

Risk (lower is worse)

5.5/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
short interest7.3
days to cover5.7
volatility5.2
put call0.6
implied vol0.0
beta10.0
debt equity10.0
  • Elevated put/call: 1.90
  • High IV: 164%
  • Concentration risks: 1 HIGH (10-K Item 1A — sized via position_sizing, validated via buy_confidence)

Catalyst

6.7/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
erm5.0
earnings history6.7
earnings timing5.0
surprise avg10.0
dividend safety7.0
  • Strong earnings: 3B/1M
  • Dividend: 3.9%

How the verdict was assembled

Engine trigger

Fundamentals strong but target reached (-7.1% upside).

Engine technical detail
verdict_path: L4:PATH_A_DEEP_VALUE|V8:TARGET_REACHED|ENTRY_STICKY:PRIOR_STILL_VIABLE
Passed (5)
  • INSIDER:OK
  • NEWS_EVENTS:NONE_RECENT
  • EARNINGS_PROXIMITY:29d clear
  • SEMI_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
  • MATERIALS_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
Failed (2)
  • MOMENTUM:2.6<4.5
  • ASYMMETRY:-1.2=NEGATIVE
Warning (1)
  • 8K_CSUITE_CHANGE:5.02 (officer departure/appointment)
Reward-to-Risk
-1.20
Upside
-7.1%
Downside
5.9%
Sizing output
STARTER

SetupRange Bound RSI 43 mid-range, Bollinger mid-band

EdgeCatalyst-Driven Earnings in 29d with 3/4 beat streak

SuitabilityAggressive MCap $0.5B<$5B

Investment implication

The STRONG_BUY_WAIT verdict reflects the MOMENTUM gate's 2.6<4.5 outcome against Value at 9.5 and asymmetric R:R of -1.20.

The strongest dimensions are Value at 9.5, Growth at 8.3, and Insider at 7.3; the weakest are Momentum at 2.6, Risk (lower is worse) at 5.5, and Sentiment at 5.5. The V9 engine flagged 2 failed gates with 1 warning, producing an asymmetric reward-to-risk of -1.20 and an engine sizing output of STARTER.

What would invalidate the thesis

Falsifying conditions — when triggered, the corresponding pillar's thesis is invalidated.

  • P1Attractive Valuation Vs Earnings

    Trip ifForward P/E rises above 15x from the current 8.9x, or PEG exceeds 1.0 from the current 0.21.

  • P2High Margin Compounder Quality

    Trip ifNet margin falls below 30% from the current 46%, or the Piotroski F-Score drops to 5 or below from the current 9/9.

  • P3Consistent Earnings Beat Streak

    Trip ifThe company misses earnings estimates in 2 consecutive quarters, dropping the beat rate below 50%.

  • P4Bearish Momentum And Options Positioning

    Trip ifRSI stays below 30 for more than 4 weeks, or the put/call ratio rises above 3.5 from the current 2.79.

  • P5Target Reached Limited Upside

    Trip ifAnalyst upside stays negative (below 0%) for more than 2 consecutive quarters without a pullback entry materializing.

Engine reasoning is mechanically derived from pipeline gate outputs. See decision view.

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